On October 5, 2024, Jesi Corcuera, an alumni of StarStruck 2006, shared his beautiful maternity photos on social media, which had netizens talking about the stigma surrounding LGBTQIA+ parenthood.
In today’s generation, gender norms are being broken every day, as more and more embrace their freedom, authenticity, and inclusivity. But, in the Philippines, stigma still remains, especially around the idea of LGBTQIA+ individuals becoming parents. However, despite the challenges, countless brave souls are stepping forward to redefine what family means—and Jesi is one of those.
A Man Bearing A Child
Jesi’s journey as a trans man showed his resilience, courage, and determination. But, becoming a parent is a deeply personal choice that requires tons of patience and financial stability, especially for those going through the process of transitioning.
He faced numerous challenges on his path to parenthood, not only from societal misconceptions but also from the intensive medical processes involved, including in vitro fertilization, which began in 2018.
“Naisip kong parang sign na yata ito ni Lord sakin.”
Jesi Corcuera on Instagram
Jesi is not just celebrating his upcoming role as a parent; he’s also challenging deep-rooted Filipino beliefs and stigma about gender and parenthood. He took a moment to reach out to netizens, urging them to understand the difficulties he faced along the way. “Hindi naging madali ang prosesong ito para sa akin kaya sana hindi niyo rin ganun kadaling husgahan kung anong nakikita niyo ngayon,” he shared.
A Call for Inclusivity
Jesi’s journey to parenthood is a powerful statement showing the beauty of diversity in family structures; but, it begs the question, is the Philippines ready to take the next step towards gender equality and inclusivity? Or will the stigma remain even if many countries have already opened their arms towards the subject matter?
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