“All through life there were gender distinctions: toilets for men, toilets for women; clothes for men, clothes for women; but then at the end, all graves are identical…!” – Leile Aboulela
If during the 19th century slavery was the core human right dispute and freedom from despotism or authoritarianism became the battlecry of the next generation, easily then the current century’s paramount moral challenge is the struggle for gender equality and gender identity recognition.
The Genesis has profoundly recognized that God created man from His image and later a woman out of a former’s ribs…and that, in the quixotic point of view based from literary masterpieces, writers and poets established that men are from Mars and women are from Venus…then, where does that leave transgenders, bisexuals, lesbians, gays, and queers? Are they merely the results of sexual evolution?
How does one justifiably quantify this plausible theory? Is this a biological case of gender dysphoria? …of chromosomal abnormalities? If scientists and medical researches firmly concluded that a normal male has an X and a Y sex chromosome and a normal female has two X chromosomes, then what’s the rightful explanation when the anatomical sex genital of a person is a male but the gender identity that the brain dictates is that of a female?
Transgenders is an umbrella term for persons whose gender identity and behavioral patterns don’t conform to the normal type associated with the sex to which they were assigned at birth.
For whatever there was and whatever there will be, gay men or gay women have gradually found their much-deserved social acceptance while earnestly carving their distinct niches and stamping their own marks in the various fields. Transgenders are equal to both men and women in essence and being as neither exist such ontological distinction nor sociological norms.
The more educated the community becomes there exists a better understanding and acceptance of transgenders and their instituted reality. Homophobic mind-set and gender discrimination are slowly obliterated.
In the diverse realm of the Filipino-American community dwells a most esteemed and well-liked transgender woman with an intriguingly stylized moniker—Chelle Lhuillier. She, with a petite size (barely standing 5’2” and tips the scale at 110 lbs.) and possesses a high fashion sense, has consistently conquered the approval and support of the people around her. She has eventually mastered the art of feminine nuances like second nature with acute daintiness, has profitably feminized her facial features, and naturally enhanced her physical contours through conscientious exercises and diet.
Physically, Chelle appears by far more fragile-looking than most true-blooded females.
Born a male on September 10, 1972 in Quezon City (Delgado Clinic along Kamuning Road), Chelle is actually a junior of her father who was a retired Marine Engineer from Mogpog, Marinduque. Life could have been more normal for Chelle had it not for her being trapped in a man’s body. And what made matters worse was the fact that she was the first (male) born followed by two sisters so their father had high expectations of her.
“Growing up wasn’t as normal as my peers,” Chelle opened her revelation with a dash of apprehensiveness. “I knew I was different from among boys my age. While they were kept occupied with their toy guns and engaged in physically exhausting rough games, I opted to be alone in a secluded corner playing with my sisters’ dolls or surreptitiously trying on my mom’s dresses and shoes,” she candidly recalled.
“Dancing was already in my system even when I was young. I was always the class dancer in all our school events. My being consistently with girls gave my intimidated classmates the idea that I was quite different from them and that inevitably fueled occasional bullying incidents.”
At one instance when the bullying was too much to ignore, Chelle was extremely provoked that resulted in a fistfight with a classmate in the open playground. The two warring youths found themselves before the school principal. For fear that she would be castigated by her father, she begged the principal not to divulge to her family the cause of the brawl.
Innately equipped with an exceptional intelligence, Chelle was on the top of her class without fail that won for her her father’s consent when she decided to take up BS Biology at the Far Eastern University and was instantaneously sent to Fatima College of Medicine later despite still feeling worn-out.
The tragic death of her grandmother due to medical malpractice left a harrowing occurrence that haunted her incessantly and finally triggered her disinterest in Medicine. She abandoned her course with just a year in Medicine proper.
If there was one redeeming factor during her college days, easily, that would be her entry into the beauty pageant world where she constantly bagged titles at stake but totally kept everything from her parents.
“My joining beauty pageants gave me a different kind of thrill especially when being hailed and crowned. That was when I started to adopt the name “Michelle” which I merely shortened to plain “Chelle” when I fully embraced my transformation,” she voluntarily said.
To utilize her acquired education, Chelle enrolled at the Philippine Normal University for the required units in Education and applied as a Biology teacher at the O.B. Montessori High School in Greenhills, San Juan where she was affiliated for 8 years (1995-2003).
Her outstanding performance as a classroom teacher and adviser merited a two-year contract and a scholarship grant to Thailand where she observed horticulture trends, trained in plant tissue culturing, and extensively toured orchid farms.
To say that man, by nature, is insatiable holds true in Chelle’s case. Despite a well-paying job and the luxurious lifestyle she was enjoying the proverbial beacon for a greener pasture and promising career in America were irresistible. To work and reside in New York was a childhood dream that was all the more rekindled when she watched Jennifer Lopez’s Maid In Manhattan at Robinsons Galeria. “Oh my God, in just a few months I will be in that very place…I have to be there,” she couldn’t help but scream in excitement every time familiar landmarks were shown on screen.
And what she decreed eventually became a reality. After applying for a US job, she underwent a lot of rigorous training, excruciating tests, knee-shaking interviews and orientation and all her privations were worth the working visa she needed.
In this so-called Land of Milk and Honey, Chelle uncomplainingly shared a bunk bed in a room of four. She was prepared for it knowing that she was merely starting and her patience paid off when she was able to move in to a private room upon vacancy.
Chelle started as a 7th and 8th Grade Middle School Science teacher at the Middle School 53Q in Far Rockaway, Queens, NY from 2003 – 2005. Having successfully passed the New York State Board Examination for Teachers it was trouble-free for Chelle to apply for possible teaching opportunities but sadly, an unforeseen incident marred her claim for a better teaching position. In spite of the torturing court process and encouraging support from colleagues Chelle failed to win the case which she just charged as one of those traumatic experiences she has had.
The disheartening episode in her two-year stint in the Big Apple induced her to return home for a brief respite and timely empowered her will to survive in the asphalt jungle which left her more determined and focused.
Upon her return, she wasn’t only armed with resolute mind to work again but also determined to embrace a complete physical, mental, and psychological gender transformation. She started to grow her hair, disposed her men’s wardrobe and began investing in female dresses, accessories, and make-up. Chelle supplies herself with the prescribed dosage of hormonal replacement drug like estrogen and the likes.
Through the encouragement of a friend she trained as a health care practitioner that enabled her to land a steady job since 2006 to present as a Health Care Assistant and part time Care Giver.
When born to dance, dancing will forever be in one’s system. Here in America, Chelle put on her dancing shoes once again and frequented community events and ballroom dancing venues, Maryann’s Woodside Events, in particular. “Dancing has always been my way of escaping from all the harshness and monotony of my daily routine. I feel renewed and re-energized after dancing all night long,” Chelle said of her therapeutic skill.
Gifted with an alluring aura and incontestable poise it was easy for Chelle to, once again, liberate herself from the bondage of gender discrimination and prove her worth as a stunner. She was crowned Miss Pearl of the Orient, Miss Asia Popularity, 2014 Outstanding Fil-Am Fashionista in America Awardee during the Glambassadors Ball, and Miss LGBT-Philippines-USA 2014, a title she still holds to date.
The summer of last year saw her as the Reina Elena in CAFAF Santacruzan (Connecticut Association of Filipino-American families), represented the LGBT Community in a ground-breaking first during the Philippine Independence Day Parade in NYC, and one of the lady participants in the 2013 Fiesta in America’s Rigodon de Honor during the People’s Ball.
Passionately fashionable, Chelle is an in-demand model for every visiting Manila-based fashion designer particularly Leonard Co.
What made her feel totally recognized was when she stood as an inspirational speaker at the 2014 TDOR (Transgender Day of Remembrance) at the LGBT Center in Manhattan, NY which landed her in the Human Rights Campaign blog as a featured transgender advocate.
Recognition begets responsibility. In her capacity as an LGBT spokesperson, as a revered social entity, as a supportive community member, and as a professional with valuable ideas, Chelle was catapulted to various positions as Board of Director of Elmhurst Queens Of Hearts Lions Club (2012 – present), Volunteer member of the Human Rights Campaign of Greater New York Diversity Committee Transgender Engagement Team, and LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Queers) and gender Equality advocate.
`”It is important to build relationships with the key decision makers in the highest echelons of the community,” the demure-looking trans-woman enlighteningly opined. “The world has openly accepted who and what we are here for…it’s just a matter of time when all avenues will lead to our general approval. After all, we are potential assets in any undertaking and we’ve capably proven our significance.”
What’s life in ten year hence for Chelle Lhuillier?
Coyly biting her lips as she arched her brows, Chelle readily responded: “I could see myself financially stable and retiring in the Philippines. Helping less fortunate children by providing them the right education is also one among my plans. Actually, I have sent two scholars to college…a daughter of our neighbor and the daughter of my Nanny. I want to continue this personal advocacy.”
“I’ll be a hypocrite when I say I don’t think about settling down. I’m just waiting for the right guy who will take me for who and what I am…and will be willing to spend the rest of his life with me,” she said. “It is my wish and prayer that I will be able to further my advocacy and that transgender people will be able to enjoy more stable, safer, and comfortable lives free from discrimination, hatred, and violence!”
“We should all be equiponderant before the eyes of society…regardless of sex, color, creed, education and political orientation,” Chelle concluded.
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