Spectrum | A Step Closer to Gender Equality
Spectrum is an Enderun Organization that stands for one of the strongest fights our society is facing right now, gender inequality. Cha Martin as the team’s President (they/them) and Ashley Perez (she/her) as the Vice President. They both have been interviewed to gain more insight about what exactly the new organization stands for and the services they offer. The team’s main advocacy is to provide the safe space you’re looking for regardless of your gender, sexuality, and race. Spectrum advocates building better allies for the LGBTQIA+ community and listening to people about their struggles striving in a discriminatory society. Cha experienced prejudice first-hand, these experiences pushed them to support the organization so it can educate and inspire people to do the same. As for Ashley, she involved herself in this community because her upbringing was built among uptight beliefs about gender identity. This did not hinder her from growing though; she was grateful to have a friend part of the pride community. Because of this, she was able to learn about them and she became more determined in fighting for equal rights.
The organization aims to let people stop judging the book by its cover, and see what’s on the inside. No, queer people are not all colorful and loud. No, we are still professional even if we look “different”. No, I am not a lesbian just because I said girls are pretty. These statements are said almost everyday, just for nonbinary people to justify how they act, where in fact, they are human– just like cisgendered (straight) people. Don’t just be an ally, be a better ally. Don’t assume that they are queer just because they “act like it”. What if their personality is just like that? Just ask who they are, don’t gossip, support them instead. We are all on the journey of becoming better people and these are some of the best ways to do so. Keep in mind that they are not just an organization, they are a movement. Spectrum wants to make sure that the Enderun community and even outside societies will accept all genders, and realize that it is a social construct, not limited to two genders. They want peers to realize that slurs are old, it is the bare minimum to accept a human being, and acts of microaggression are just as hurtful as slurs.
On the 5th of October 2021, Enderun Spectrum’s held their first event, “Ako, Ikaw, Siya at Tayo” and it was indeed a memorable experience. The keynote speaker, Mr. Benedict Bernabe (he/him), gave us a fantastic presentation about how important it truly is for everyone to use someone’s correct pronouns. He emphasized that it is a vital part of respecting and validating someone’s identity. His presentation included normalizing asking for someone’s pronouns and that we should not assume someone’s gender identity merely by what they are physically presenting, ie. If someone is wearing a dress or a skirt, many would already have a distinct gender stereotype in their heads. It can be harmful to people who do not conform to those stereotypes and just all around an old way of thinking. Remember, clothing is just a piece of fabric! It should not represent someone’s gender identity nor their pronouns.
There were also 3 other guest speakers: Miel Ochoa (they/them), CK Mendoza (she/her), and Rocky Rinabor (he/him). Their inputs towards gender identity and pronouns were undoubtedly informative and eye-opening. Moreover, they mentioned how we could use features such as adding our pronouns on our social media bios as a simple way of helping normalize the concept of using the correct pronouns that the person prefers to be addressed. The speakers acknowledged that the masses living in the Philippines are not yet still educated regarding this topic, but they all hoped that this would change in the near future.
There are those who have struggled with their gender identity at any given point in their lives have had the burden of being called “she” or “he” when in reality, they do not feel comfortable being addressed by this. The tradition of assuming someone’s pronouns just by their physical appearance or distinct characteristics can lead to misgendering and harmful outcomes. Although we cannot be entirely sure what someone’s respective pronouns are at first glance, unless they specifically tell us, we should remember that these stereotypes that have been deeply ingrained in our brains can be harmful. We should be respectful and ask them what their pronouns are, and if they are not sure themselves, we should accept that answer as it is. Enderun Spectrum’s first event was truly unforgettable, and we hope that those who attended learned a thing or two about the importance of pronouns!
If you are interested to get to know about Enderun Spectrum’s events, might as well take a peek at what inspires them to do them. Ashley and Cha get their inspirations from pride marches (online and in real life), webinars, active communities, panel discussions and similar activities that help educate people about societies’ struggles. Hopefully, they motivate people to use learnings from their events in their overall livelihood. To be more involved in their endeavors, you can find them on Facebook and Instagram. Spectrum was also featured in a podcast, and it is highly recommended because it educates, enlightens, and ensures that you are enough as an LGBTQIA+ person.
After reading this article, we do hope the one moral you carry throughout your life is to accept us. The LGBTQIA+ community is still struggling for normal human rights and the problem will never be fixed until we expose ourselves to the outside world and create a better future for ourselves and future generations. We also move you to join their events and webinars. If you know people who would love to collaborate with this organization, send them a DM through their socials mentioned above! As simple as supporting the organization is a step forward to a better society. If you feel like you have not done enough, know that just tapping on to students and openly talking about identity and listening to them will make their day, maybe even year. Make a difference and you will change the future, no matter how big or small.
