Mela: “Understanding that there is gender diversity… won’t hurt you.”
Ellen Adarna caught the attention of Miss Trans Global 2020 Mela Habijan in a recent fan interaction.
It all started with an inquiry about “situationships,” or relationships falling between friendship and commitment, during the actress’ Instagram live session.
Ellen expressed her views, likening them to the complexity of current non-binary gender pronouns.
Her candid reply, “It’s as confusing as the non-binary gender pronouns that are out right now. So confusing. Ang sakit sa bangs.”
Unimpressed by this comparison, Mela swiftly put out an open letter across her social-media platforms on December 23, 2023.
In it, Mela extended a warm invitation to engage in a thoughtful conversation, acknowledging the confusion surrounding non-binary gender pronouns.
The beauty queen wrote, “Dear @maria.elena.adarna, I welcome your thoughts.
“And while it is confusing, a true compassionate and respectful person will try to learn and understand.”
Understanding them, she said, requires time and patience.
“Parang Math. It is confusing but we try to learn it because it will teach us the value of logic.
“It also allows us how to embrace problems and finding solutions.
“Above all, appreciating Math, no matter how confusing it is, [lets] us discover that there’s no single or absolute solution to a problem.
“Understanding that there is gender diversity — kahit gaano man ito kasakit sa bangs mo — won’t hurt you.
“But it will help you gain a deeper appreciation of human life.”
Concluding the letter, Mela issued a compelling call to action, urging the celebrity mom and others to approach the topic with an open heart.
“I hope you become more open, be patient, and be compassionate of people who are not like you. [emojis]
“Because if your kid happens to tell you that they are non-binary, I think you will try your best to learn.
“PS. AKO, IKAW, AT SIYA are non-binary pronouns.”
Here’s to quote a portion from the guidelines put together by the National Center for Transgender Equality, a 20-year-old organization founded by transgender activists in Washington, DC.
Different nonbinary people may use different pronouns. Many nonbinary people use “they” while others use “he” or “she,” and still others use other pronouns. Asking whether someone should be referred to as “he,” “she,” “they,” or another pronoun may feel awkward at first, but is one of the simplest and most important ways to show respect for someone’s identity.
