Jake Zyrus is a Filipino singer who is credited with being the first solo Asian artist with a Top 10 album on the Billboard chart
As a child, I didn't yet know transgender people and I didn't know what it meant to be trans. Yet, I always knew, deep in my heart, that I was born in the wrong body. In my 20s, a friend and I were talking about Cher's son, Chaz Bono, and his transition journey. After researching him, something profound and phenomenal clicked for me.
The person who inspired me most directly was Ellen DeGeneres, who was one of the first to give me a great opportunity in the United States. Beyond that, I always think back to the moment he came out years ago and how he lost his job, his friends, many people in his life, even his supporters. How many did she have to go through and, in the end, what did she become? An incredible journey.
Sometimes I draw strength from his story. I appreciate cultural changes, I live them. It's things like this that give me the strength to fight, in the hope that one day people will focus again on my talent
How has your style evolved since you found your identity?
At first I came out as a lesbian and before coming out I dressed very androgynous, to the point of confusing many people. I wore clothes that were very flashy and provocative. Since I've transformed, though, I've gotten more sober. I keep combining both feminine and masculine styles, but the amazing thing about fashion is that it has no gender, or at least it shouldn't have. I like what I think is beautiful and genre doesn't have to define my style too.
What are the most pressing issues for trans people in the Philippines?
Violence against transsexuals is one of the most pressing problems in the Philippines. We all know that violence is genderless and can happen to anyone. However, more than 50 transgender people have been killed in the Philippines since 2010.
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