Michele Gumabao, Arci Muñoz and Richard Armstrong. Image: Instagram/@gumabaomichele, @ramonathornes, @_richie77
Athlete and beauty queen Michele Gumabao said she is so grateful to the LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and others) community because both fields she has thrived in had grown because of them.
“Thank you, because the [community] is the driving force for both pageantry and sports. Both industries won’t be where they are today if it wasn’t for the strong, passionate fans of the LGBT community, so thank you,” she said at the AIBC Asia forum on “Tech Trends in Sports, Media and Entertainment” held in Pasay City on June 4.
The 2018 Binibining Pilipinas Globe titleholder and member of the Creamline Cool Smashers professional volleyball team also encouraged content creators “to spread knowledge on certain things, so that we are all knowledgeable about the things we say, about the things we read, and how we react to certain things, and also to use our platform to send that message to others, and to just create a safe space for everyone, and to also be an example for other people.”
For Gumabao, playing the sport she loves in front of a lot of people, and making a lot of people happy, is a “big blessing.” And she told the LGBTQIA+ community that “you’ve come a long way. And there’s still more to come, and a long way to go. And everybody, especially me, we’re all here to support and to rally behind you.”
Actress Arci Muñoz, who also spoke at the forum, shared the role the community played in her career. “We all know that in the show biz industry I am surrounded with these wonderful people who has helped me throughout my career, my manager, everybody,” she said.
“The technology right now can help us to be more authentic to ourselves, to be open. And we just want to remind them that it is okay to be you. And you know you’re equally loved and we are here to support you. I am here to support my brothers and my sisters. And that is okay to be yourself. And Happy Pride Month,” she continued.
Josh Yugen (left) moderates the forum with (from right) Richard Armstrong, Amira Al Alawi, Michele Gumabao and Arci Muñoz. Image: INQUIRER.net/Armin P. Adina
Thai actor and entrepreneur Richard Armstrong also flew to Manila after attending the Pride March in Bangkok with his sister to attend the forum. “This is something we extremely support. And for me, everyone is equal no matter what gender they are. So, I’m super supportive of that,” he said.
He also shared his observation that there will be “a lot of technology to advance towards the LGBTQ community. Because if you look at a lot of the Gen Z population, there’s a lot of LGBT pride in that area of society, and things like this. A lot of the industries that own technologies and apps, and things like this, will be geared towards also the LGBT community. And I think these can be very, very massive companies, and standalone businesses that impact millions of lives.”
Actress and content creator Ivana Alawi’s sister Amira, CMO of Ivana Skin PH, revealed at the forum that she recently came out as bisexual. “A big part of the LGBTQ is being seen. And it might not be widely accepted, but I think with technology you can just create more visibility and hyper visibility, and you can choose to support who you’re supporting. The technology will just allow you to reach more people. And to create more acceptance, and change the narrative,” she said.
Public relations practitioner, magazine publisher, and Miss Universe franchise holder for multiple countries Josh Yugen, who moderated the forum, also shared his message for Pride Month: “Being a member of the LGBT community is both a pride and a responsibility. I think it’s also about taking risks. And my message is, take risks, especially when it comes to innovation and technology.”
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