Pride: Meet Jake Zyrus, formerly Charice

Jake Zyrus

IT'S FITTING that during Pride Week celebrations around the world, the singer formerly known as Charice Pepengco announced a name change to Jake Zyrus.
In his first posting under his new monicker, Zyrus wrote: "From the bottom of my heart, thank you for the love and respect. I love you back and I'm sending peace to everyone," the singer wrote in the caption.

Zyrus, shot to international fame after Oprah Winfrey took him under her wing. Then introduced as Charice, the Filipina singer was noted for her powerful voice comparing her prowess to diva Celine Dion. Winfrey brought the two together and Celine Dion invited the Filipina to sing a duet with her at Madison Square Garden. The video of that performance went viral.

In 2013, the singer came out as a lesbian. The following year, she revealed to Winfrey, "Basically, my soul is like male," he said. "But I'm not going to go through that stage where I change everything."

He cut of his long hair and changed his appearance completely. The transformation didn't hurt his career.

Her newfound fame led to a recording contract and a singing career. The diminutive singer starred in several episodes of the TV hit Glee in 2014 as Sunshine Corazon, a rival singer to star Lea Michele.

His fans remain loyal to the singer.

AAPI transgender activists fight Trump rollback

Janet Mock on her Instagram

OUTSIDE of Caitlyn Jenner, two of the most visible transgender women in the U.S. today are a Hawaii-born journalist and an internationally famous model, who is an immigrant from the Phiilippines.

When the Trump administration rolled back federal mandates for the use of school bathrooms for transgender people, Janet Mock and Geena Rocero had to act. They had to speak out.

Mock's medium was the New York Times where she published an oped stating recalling her experience in school.

"I was a black and Native Hawaiian trans girl from a single-parent home. I was not naïve," Mock wrote. "I knew that struggle was part of my coming of age, so I wore a smile every day as part of my armor. I didn’t want anyone to see that I was in pain, that I felt like I did not belong and that my body, my clothing, my being was wrong.

"When trans students are told that they cannot use public facilities, it doesn’t only block them from the toilet — it also blocks them from public life," wrote Mock, whose mother is Hawaiian. "It tells them with every sneer, every blocked door, that we do not want to see them, that they should go hide and that ultimately they do not belong. When schools become hostile environments, students cannot turn to them. Instead they are pushed out. And without an education, it makes it that much more difficult to find a job, support themselves and survive.

"That is the situation the Trump administration is creating. Despite the culture of fear, ignorance and intolerance that permeates our country right now, I am here to tell each and every student that you belong, and that nothing — absolutely nothing — is wrong with you." 

The day the current administration announced the 180-degree policy shift, Geena Rocero took to the streets and joined the rally Thursday night at New York City's Stonewall Inn, a historically important site in  the gay rights movement

Geena Rocero at theh New York protest.

"I stand here with all of you, as a VERY PROUD Transgender Woman of color, an immigrant born and raised in the Philippines," Rocero said.

"No amount of Hate, No amount of ignorance will diminished our will to honor the beauty, the diversity, the hope of your trans youth.

"In this very moment, in this powerful gathering, in this historic place," she continued. "History has tried to erase us! I asked you to look at each other, recognize the power in our family, because they will NEVER, EVER ERASE the CIVIL RIGHTS that we deserve. LOVE will win! "

Despite Trump's campaign promise to support the rights of the LGBTQ community, the former Olympic athelete Jenner was perhaps the most surprised by the turnaround from the candidate whom she strongly supported in 2016. 

Using this administration's favorite form of communication, Jenner tweeted:

"I have a message for President Trump from well, one Republican to another. This is a disaster. And you can still fix it. You made a promise to protect the LGBTQ community," she said, holding up her hand like a mock telephone. "Call me."

On Thursday after the policy reversal was signed, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo sent a letter urging the State Education Department “to issue a directive to all school districts making it clear that – regardless of Washington’s action – the rights and protections that had been extended to all students in New York remain unchanged under state law.

“In New York, whether you are gay, straight or transgender, Muslim, Jewish or Christian, rich or poor, black or white or brown, we respect all people – and we will continue to enforce our laws and stand united against those who seek to drive us apart,” Cuomo said.

In Connecticut, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced that in light of action by the Trump administration to roll back federal guidelines, he has signed an executive order ensuring that the rights of transgender students continue uninterrupted.
California’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson, issued a strident press release on Wednesday vowing that the Golden State will protect the “rights of transgender students.”

“All students deserve a safe and supportive school environment. California will continue to work to provide that environment for our lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students regardless of any misguided directives by the federal government and the Trump administration,” Torlakson said.

“... California students will continue to have their civil rights protected,” he said. “In California we move forward, not backward.”

“Every child deserves to attend school without fear of discrimination, no matter where they are in the country," said Sasha W, Organizing Director of the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance. "This a continuation of the administration’s attack on trans people – trans and gender nonconforming people were affected by the Muslim ban, by the escalation of this country’s deportation machine, and by the increase of power in the hands of police. This administration shamelessly continues to enact policies that simply do not work and that make our communities feel more unsafe in this country.”

In the NYTimes, Mock concluded: "I know first hand how utterly vital it is for young people -- for all of us actually -- to be met with nods, applause, and open doors. It’s even more urgent for marginalized students, regardless of their ability, race, class, immigration status, religion, sexual orientation or gender expression and/or identities.

"To young trans folk (and all the people who love them) I just want you to remember that this is your school too. You deserve to be there just as much as any other student. You deserve equal access, affirmation and an education, and you must recognize and I know you know, that you are powerful. You have agency and voice. Use it to organize, combat against ignorance and resist.

"You belong, and nothing -- absolutely nothing -- is wrong with you."

***

Janet Mock is the author of “Redefining Realness” and the forthcoming book “Surpassing Certainty: What My 20s Taught Me.”

Geena Rocero is the founder of Gender Proud, whose work supports transgender communities and their legal rights around the world.

GLAAD Media awards will recognize Geena Rocero's 'Beautiful As I Want to Be'

International model Geena Rocero produced and hosted 'Beautiful As I Want to Be.'

LOGO TV's original series Beautiful As I Want to Be is receiving special recognition from the 27th GLAAD Media Awards, which will be held April 2 in Los Angeles.

Beautiful As I Want To Be paired young and dynamic trans people with mentors like Trace Lysette, Our Lady J, Jen Richards and Caitlyn Jenner, was produced and hosted by Filipina/American model Geena Rocero,  who came out when she gave a TED talk in 2014. Since then she has become active in trans advocacy founding an organization Gender Proud.

“Creating Beautiful As I Want To Be was and is about elevating visibility, most especially by allowing trans youth to define beauty for themselves,” says Rocero, who noted the record number of transgender subjects, actors, creators and producers being nominated this year.

“We’re so grateful Logo immediately saw and supported this vision and we’re grateful to be working alongside such supportive media makers.”

The GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives.

It's a busy weekend for Geena. The next day (April 3), its the debut of ASPIREist, where she has been hired as one of news show's correspondents.

ASPIREist is created by Emmy award-winning producers including Solly Granatstein of 60 Minutes.

“I think there is a different way to present the news to the Millennials,” said Granatstein. “I don’t think they’re looking for this “objective,” Voice of God, kind of standard, anchor driven news. I think they’re looking for something more experiential, more interactive, they can get involve with that has more an activist bent to it.”

The hosts are not traditional news anchors. They are t20- and 30-something personalities who are themselves inspiring and passionate activists, environmentalists, social entrepreneurs and educators. And they all have one thing in common, they all have appeared in Ted Talks.

“Geena, from the very moment that we met her, we were absolutely charmed by her,” said Granatstein. “She has such an incredible charisma and it’s really grounded being a very real person.”

###

For more news about Asian/Americans & Pacific Islanders, read AsAm News.

Model and transgender activist Geena Rocero: featured in Covergirl's #GirlsCan movement

During her TED talk last year, she showed a picture, left, of herself growing up as a young boy in the Philippines.

GEENA ROCERO, the best-known transgender person from the Philippines and who grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, was featured in Covergirl's #GirlsCan campaign and interviewed last week by journalist Soledad O'Brien.

“At COVERGIRL, we’ve always celebrated strong, inspiring women who don’t let anyone or anything stand in their way,” said Esi Eggleston Bracey, VP and General Manager, COVERGIRL Cosmetics. 

“Our family of feisty, fabulous COVERGIRLs embody this spirit, as each of them have broken boundaries in their own lives and careers. We feel so strongly about empowering women that with #GirlsCan, we’re putting $5 million dollars worth of funding into people and programs with the same passion that we have to motivate women to kick ‘can’t’ to the curb – for good.”

O’Brien’s story focuses on how Rocero has used her celebrity as an international model, to bring change for transgender Filipinos in the Philippines.Rocero came out in 2014 during a TED talk. Until then, even some of the people closest to her, including the photographers who used her as a model, didn't know her complete story.

The model-turned-activist founded an organization Gender Proud to help people to discover and proclaim their true selves.

With courage, determination, and passion, Rocero isn’t “afraid anymore to think small” and plans to change civil rights for her transgender community across the globe—proving that #GirlsCan change the world! 

COVERGIRL#GirlsCan is a movement with a mission: to help young women overcome barriers to break boundaries, empowering them to be the next generation to rock the world. The movement was kick-started earlier this year with an inspiring video starring COVERGIRLs Queen Latifah, Ellen DeGeneres, P!nk, Sofia Vergara, Becky G, Katy Perry and Janelle Monáe. With more than 10 million views already and counting, this movement of positivity and #GirlsCan power struck a chord and inspired a provocative conversation.

RELATED: Geena Rocero, trans community embrace Caitlyn Jenner

COVERGIRL announced it will donate a minimum of $5 million over the next five years to support the work of individuals and nonprofit organizations that are helping women break barriers and blaze trails. Additionally, COVERGIRL announced through #GirlsCan the first two beneficiaries of its financial commitment: Girls Who Code and the Soledad O’Brien + Brad Raymond Starfish Foundation.

The COVERGIRL #GirlsCan movement will be further ignited by a calendar of content creation, social conversations, funding partnerships, events and activations with a variety of organizations and media partners over the next five years. 

Girls — and women — are encouraged to share their own stories on social media using the movement's built-in hashtag #GirlsCan.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter or at his blog Views From the Edge.