Rhandee Garlitos on LGBTQIA+ Stories for Children

May panayam ang blog kay Rhandee Garlitos, manunulat, makata at bonggang-bonggang nilalang tungkol sa panitikan para sa kabtaan na may tenant LGBTQA+.

1. Kamusta ang reception at readership ng LGBTQ book mo na Bonggang-bonggang Batang Beki? 

Since it was first published in 2013, it has made milestones in both children’s book publishing and in LGBTQIA+-friendly books.  As the very first Southeast Asian children’s picture book to discuss about sexual orientation and gender identity and expression (SOGIE) way before the term was even invented, it blazed the trail for other SOGIE books in the Philippines to be published and read by a wider audience of not only children but also grown-ups who now recognize what used to be a “taboo” topic that is too unsafe to be published in a country that has strong religious traditions and its prevailing biases or homophobia. 

2. Sa observation mo, ano ang status ng LGBTQ stories for children sa context at environment natin? Excluding provinces and rural areas.

Unti-unti nang namumulat ang ating mga mambabasa na may ganitong klaseng babasahin o mga aklat na maaari na ring basahin o ipabasa sa mga bata.  This would not have happened a few years ago. It also pays that the Internet, social media and mass media like TV and newspapers/news websites now feature LGBTQ stories and experiences.  One aspect that has become mainstream are stories like boys’ love dramas in very recent times or the Batang Poz series that tackle HIV-positive teenagers. Hindi na lamang ito para sa mga mambabasa sa  highly-urbanized areas kundi maging sa mga rural areas.

Of course, may initial shock ito noong unang lumabas. May iba na nagsasabing hindi ito inaakala given the situation of those times. May nagsasabi ring di dapat lumabas ito dahil it would encourage children to become gay, etc. o na hindi pa handa ang audiences sa ganitong mga paksa.  Still, a good majority welcomed the book because they thought it is time for children to get exposed to this kind of literature with proper guidance from the adults that rear them.

Hindi pa rin mawawala ang homophobia sa panahon ngayon at dapat nating gawin ang lahat para tuluyan itong mawala. Maganda siguro na ang lipunan, sa pamumuno ng mga religious institutions, ay maipaunawa na bahagi ng ating komunidad ang mga miyembro ng LGBTQIA+ community. 

3. Ano-ano pa ang dapat gawin ng book industry para mabigyan ng boses ang mas maraming authors and illustrators na gustong lumikha ng mga LGBTQ stories for kids? 

Simple lang – mag-publish lang nang mag-publish hanggang may magagandang mga kuwento na may ganitong paksa. Mas maging open-minded ang mga publisher at editor sa paglathala ng ganitong mga kuwento. Also, makakatulong din kung mas maraming independent presses hindi lamang sa Manila kundi maging sa iba’t ibang lugar sa bansa na maglalakas ng loob na maglathala. Maganda rin kung may mga kuwentong nasusulat sa iba’t ibang wika sa Filipinas. 

Ang kuwento ng kasarian at kalayaang maipahayag sa mundo ang ninanais ng kanilang puso ay hindi lamang personal; ito rin ay kuwento ng mundong ating ginagalawan. Bawat miyembro ng LGBTQIA+ ay ating kapamilya, kaibigan, katrabaho, kapanalig, katuwang sa lipunan.

4. Your top 5 LGBTQ stories for kids

   In no particular ranking or order:

a.    Dalawa ang Daddy ni Billy (Tahanan Books, 2018), written by Michael P. De Guzman and illustrated by Daniel Palma Tayona

b.    Ang Ikaklit sa Aming Hardin (Publikasyong Twamkittens, 2012), written by Bernadette Neri and illustrated by CJ de Silva

c.    Mga Batang POZ (Lampara Books, 2018), written by Segundo Matias Jr.

d.    My Princess Boy (Simon and Schuster, 2009), written by Cheryl Kilodavis and illustrated by Suzanne DeSimone 

e.    Sanctuary (Scribner Books, 1997), written by Paul Monette