MANILA, Philippines – Nagsalita si Philippine bet Beatrice Luigi Gomez tungkol sa pagiging miyembro ng LGBTQ+ community sa kanyang introduction video, na ipinalabas noong Lunes, December 6, para sa Miss Universe 2021 competition.
“I’m very grateful that the Philippines is very supportive of sending an LGBTQ+ member to represent our country. It’s a big deal because we are here to give positivity and be an inspiration, especially to the young children who are looking up to us. That they can be whoever they want to be when they grow up,” sinabi niya.
Noong Setyembre 2021, gumawa ng kasaysayan si Beatrice bilang kauna-unahang openly-bisexual Filipina candidate na nanalo sa titulo. Sa oras ng pageant, tapat na ibinahagi ng beauty queen ang ilang detalye ng relasyon nila ng noo’y nobya na si Kate Jagdon. Noong Nobyembre, gayunpaman, inihayag ni Kate na natapos na nila ang kanilang anim na taong relasyon.
Sa ilang mga pagkakataon, naging malakas din si Beatrice sa kalagayan ng komunidad ng LGBTQ+. “Tulad ng inaasahan ng lahat sa LGBTQIA+, hangad ko ang pagtanggap at pagkakaisa — lalo na ang pantay na karapatan at proteksyon para sa mga nakababatang henerasyon na kadalasang dumaranas ng pambu-bully,” minsan niyang sinabi.
Sa kanyang introduction video, ikinuwento rin ng 26-year-old beauty queen ang tungkol sa pagpapalaki sa kanya ng isang single mother at kung paano siya nabigyan ng scholarship bilang isang atleta.
“I was raised by a single mom and she had quite a hard time managing our household. My sister and I tried out for the volleyball varsity team and we were able to get an athletic scholarship, and that’s how we were able to go to a good school from high school to college.
“Being part of the volleyball varsity team is not just something that I take as an achievement, but it is something that really changed my life for the better,” she added. “Because I was able to help my mom in some way, and I was able to make her proud.”
Bukod sa pagiging community development worker, sinabi rin ni Beatrice na isa siyang Philippine Navy reservist.
Kasalukuyang nasa Israel si Beatrice para makipagkumpetensya sa Miss Universe pageant. Nakatakda ang coronation night sa December 12 (December 13 sa Manila).
