Drag queen comes out to family through Angel Locsin’s show

• He said that he decided to hide it because he was scared that people will judge his parents for raising a kid like him.

“I wasn’t completely happy,” this is what Jace Lamban wrote in his lengthy post as he finally came out to his family after four years of doing drag.

On the ABS-CBN show Iba Yan hosted by Angel Locsin, artists from Drag Playhouse Philippines told their stories and how their source of income is being affected by the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Though the Kapamilya show, the group of drag queens held Kinang: An Online Celebration of Philippine Drag where they showcased their uniqueness and talents. The show collected around Php300,000.

But before all these happened, Lamban posted his situation on his Facebook account. He stated that he has yet to come out to his family, not because he was scared of their reactions, but because he was scared that people would judge them for raising someone like him.

“We live in a society where people think tolerance is acceptance. That gay kids like me need to be successful as if there is a need to compensate for my sexuality. That you can be ‘gay’ but ‘not too gay’. I was scared coz I know how ruthless and cruel those people could be. I needed to protect them,” he wrote.

And no matter how much he’s done with his career, he didn’t have the chance to tell them without outing himself. This is what pains him.

“Do you imagine how painful it was to celebrate the happiest days of your life and come home pretending that it never happened? I had to hide it like an ugly skeleton in the closet – when it was the very thing that kept me alive.”

As he declared that he is “done” holding himself back, he decided to show the world, and his family, who he really is through ABS-CBN.

In Iba Yan’s drag special, Lamban shared the story of how it was for him and what he felt when his family found out who he really is.

“Parang eto na yung pinaka coming out ko eh. Kahit alam na nila, na-interview na sila, napanood na nila sa TV yung show, parang pakiramdam ko dapat sakin pa rin manggaling. The whole coming out process, it’s something na very perconal yan eh. So nag log-in ako dun sa account ko, nag come out ako in public.”

He also shared the reactions of his friends and family.

“Ni-isang negative comment, wala,” he said.

“Talagang verry supportive lahat and siguro sa Facebook kong yun, yun na yung post kong may pinaka-maraming likes.”

Lamban also narrated how he convinced his family to watch the episode with him.

“Pag hindi ko hiningi sa kanilang panoorin naming magkakasama isang pamilya yung episode, habang buhay ko nang mami-miss yung pagkakataon na yun. Tumayo ako at kinatok sila sa kwarto. ‘Ma, Pa, handa na ba kayong makita ako sa TV? ‘Tapos nung nakita na nilang nag-transform ako, hindi ko talaga sila tinitignan. Tapos tahimik. Natapos na yung buong episode, susunod na yung Kinang so para sakin, baby steps lang, wag nating biglain.”

Then what he didn’t expect was when his father actually asked to watch his drag performance. His family’s reactions were very light-hearted. They even complimented Precious Paula Nicole, which is his drag persona.

“Hindi man sila nag-comment tungkol sakin, para sakin nakikita nila yung artistry and na-appreciate nila yung drag. Ang totoong acceptance po goes both ways. Kung gusto mong matanggap ka ng mga magulang mo as you are, dapat matanggap mo rin na they need time.”

Through this process, Lamban also learned that at the end of the day, your family is still family.

“Maraming maraming salamat siyempre sa Iba ‘Yan team at kay Ms. Angel Locsin sa pagkakataong ito. Hinding hindi po namin ito makakalimutan. Mabuhay ang Bayanihan! At mabuhay ang Pinoy Drag Queens,” he wrote at a follow-up post.