Michelle Dee, inaming noon pa miyembro ng LGBTQIA+

Inamin ni Miss Universe-Philippines Michelle Dee na isa rin siyang miyembro ng LGBTQIA+ community. Kinumpirma niyang isa siyang bisexual sa exlusive interview sa kanya ng Mega Magazine kung saan ay siya ang cover girl.

“I definitely identify myself as bisexual. I’ve identified with that for as long as I can remember,” ang buong tapang niyang pag-amin.

“I’m attracted to all forms of beauty, all shapes and sizes,” aniya pa.

Kwento niya, bata pa raw siya ay medyo boyish na siya at mahilig sa sports tulad ng basketball, volleyball, taekwondo, swimming, at iba pa.

“I liked doing sports; my sister did ballet. So I grew up in an environment where we’d appreciate pogi, maganda,” aniya.

One time nga raw ay tinanong siya ng kanyang inang si Melanie Marquez kung girlfriend ba niya ‘yung girl na ipinakilala sa kanya at sinabihan siyang dapat ay mas maganda sa kanya ang kanyang gf.

“I never had to identify myself. I never had to quote, unquote come out. I was never really confronted about it by my parents or people who matter,” she said.

Aniya ay hindi raw naging issue ito for her kaya for the longest time ay hindi niya kinailangang mag-come out pa.

“It was never an issue because I felt—and I still feel like—I’m so much more than how I identify myself.

“I have so much more to offer the world and the universe than how I identify myself. This is also the reason why I chose not to come out despite the pressure to come out during the competition,” sey niya.

Noon pa man ay suportado na raw niya ang LGBTQ community at dumadalo pa raw siya sa mga pride marches.

“I’ve been an advocate for LGBTQIA+ for as long as I can remember. Even before coming out, I’ve been attending pride marches. I have too many friends and best friends in the community. I’ve been a loud and proud ally. It’s just that I never gave a confirmation,” pahayag niya.

She also recalled the first time na nagkagusto siya sa isang babae noong grade 5 or 6 siya. Nagkaroon na rin siya ng mga relationships pero hindi rin naman daw nagtatagal.

Sa ngayon daw ay single siya at naka-focus sa kanyang laban sa Miss Universe pageant na gaganapin sa El Salvador later this year.

“I’m just going to continue to train, train, train, manifest it, and put in the work. Hopefully that pays off because I know I have the qualities to be the transformational leader that the organization needs, and I know I can use this platform as a force for good. I hope the Filipinos see that. I will do my best to raise our country’s flag loud and proud,” she said.