Former child star Ice Seguerra shared he already knew at a young age his sexual orientation, or what sex to which he is sexually attracted. But when it came to his gender identity, he admitted to being confused.
“All the while I thought I was lesbian,” he shared. “It was difficult then because even though I had assigned myself a label, it was still very different because for some weird reason I still can’t relate. It all fell into place when I found out about trans.”
Seguerra, now an LGBTQ rights advocate, had a gender dysphoria, a condition wherein a person does not identify emotionally or psychologically with the sex that his or her outward appearance suggests.
The roots of gender-related confusion can be genetic, psychological, and hormonal.
Despite regularly ranking well on several international surveys on gay-friendliness, in terms of religion, healthcare, and human rights, the Philippines still lacks on vital factors to be regarded as truly an accepting and compassionate society.
ManilaMed decided to make an assistive stand as it opens the first Gender Diversity Center in the country. The center aims to serve the Filipino LGBTQ community as well as their families.
Dr. Susana Padilla, ManilaMed’s medical director, said the decision to open the center was not made lightly. She recalled the loss of the life of a patient she was seeing for a thyroid condition whom she suspected had a gender identity problem, along with the many other conversations she had with patients and their parents in her practice as a Pediatric Endocrinologist had opened her eyes to the atmosphere of fear and intolerance toward those in the LGBTQ community.
The center offers a comprehensive array of services and handles inquiries with utmost discretion, respect, and compassion.
Each person is thoroughly assessed by a multi-disciplinary team that includes an adolescent pediatrician, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, an endocrinologist, a surgeon, a reconstructive surgeon, a urologist, and a family therapist.
Seguerra expressed how happy he is that such a facility now exists.
Dr. Padilla, however, clarified it is not the center’s aim to “fix” those who consult with them so that they conform to what society or even their families are comfortable with or accepting of.
The aim of the Gender Diversity Center, Dr. Padilla said, is to help each person work out his or her own gender identity, assess his or her biological sex, allow him or her to choose his or her sexual preference, and help them transition to that gender role.
Equally important, the center aims to help people and their loved ones accept and embrace whatever the outcome turns out to be.
Call (02) 523-8131 to 65 local 3008 for inquiries.
