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Visibility and solidarity

Immigrants who identify as 2SLGBTQI+ often face challenges being a ‘triple minority’ — queer, a newcomer and a person of colour. But they say obstacles can be overcome by standing strong and starting conversations.

October 3, 2024

David Deocera still remembers the shame he felt being called a particular name while growing up in his home country, the Philippines.

When Deocera, now 58, was a child, “bakla” was a Tagalog term hurled at queer Filipinos who didn’t fit accepted gender norms.

Bakla has various translations, including drag queen, gay, homosexual, queer, third sex and transgender, and was often used in a derogatory manner.

“I was called this as a boy, a young man… even by my own family,” Deocera recalls. “I felt guilt. Shame. Like I was an outsider.”

He was too young to have words for his emotions, but he knew how he felt: “I was unwelcome.”

Deocera says he grew up in a society and time when differences in sexual orientation were frowned upon. 

“The suicide attempts among LGBTQ young people? Young LGBTQ people who did not feel acceptance from their own family, churches and community? Those were very real,” he says.

Today, “bakla” is largely embraced by the queer, trans, non-binary, bisexual and gay Filipino community, which is steadfastly turning what was once a slur into a celebratory proclamation of pride.

The Philippines, in fact, became the first country in Asia to host a Pride march — in Manila in 1994 — and continues to be home to one of the largest Pride celebrations in the region.

Deocera, however, who left his homeland at age 27 to come to Canada, says there is still work to do. 

“In the Philippines, queer people are looked at a little bit like clowns… they are entertainment-based,” he says. “They are still in the flamboyant phase, where North America was decades ago.”

As a newcomer, Deocera remembers thinking that Vancouver would be a queer mecca. He’d left behind a stifling Southern Baptist-influenced family culture for the “gaybourhood” of Davie Village, resplendent with rainbow banners and pops of pink.

“Queer here is as normal as your neighbour mowing their lawn, or picking up their children at school,” Deocera says. 

But he soon learned there was another obstacle for certain queer folx to overcome in Canada that Deocera wasn’t expecting: Racism. 

Being a person of colour and gay, Deocera often found himself the recipient of double discrimination.

“In jobs, for example,” he says, “applying for a waiter but always ending up as a cleaner, a janitor or on the graveyard shift. By the time I got here, homophobia was largely gone, but racism remained.”

Challenges in life’s journey

Joshna Hirani was born in Kenya, and at the age of 17 she moved to the UK, which was her home for most of her life until she decided to come to Canada in 2020. She wanted to join her wife Angit Modaher, who moved here in 2018.

While Hirani, whose professional background is occupational therapy, expresses gratefulness for being able to learn from various cultures, in Canada, she observed evidence of white privilege more than in any other place she had been when it came to the experiences of Indigenous Peoples.

She says seeing the affluence of white settlers in some parts of the Lower Mainland who are living on traditional First Nations lands, and learning about the atrocities — such as residential schools — inflicted on Indigenous Peoples, led her to the conclusion that Canada is steeped in systemic colonialism, which filters down to new immigrants. This means they are often viewed as “less than.”

As a woman who identifies as 2SLGBTQI+, Hirani says racism has brought challenges to her life. 

“Dealing with racism and discrimination as a pan sexual Gujarati woman married to a queer non-binary Punjabi person has certainly brought many challenges in my life journey,” Hirani says.

“To protect my sanity, I try to take time for self-care, have a healthier work/life balance, choose to surround myself with those who are accepting of me and engage in raising awareness about 2SLGBTQI+ issues. Resilience and determination are key factors, although these waver at times.”

Hirani is a peer navigator at Ribbon Community (formerly AIDS Vancouver), and is the manager of community engagement at Sher Vancouver. 

Sher Vancouver is a community-based organization that seeks to protect human rights by ending all forms of discrimination, prejudice and exclusion towards 2SLGBTQI+ people whose cultural roots are in the diverse South Asian community. 

Sher means “lion” and is a symbol of strength and resilience. Through educating, empowering, connecting and assisting individuals, Sher strives to provide supports through arts, culture and outreach to queer South Asians and their friends and allies.

Sher, which was founded in 2008, does its work through counselling, peer support, referral, resources, films, youth awards and workshops.

Hirani says having an organization such as Sher Vancouver serve specifically South Asians is a much-needed resource, because not all queer spaces are safe and inclusive for queer-identified people of colour, or have a good understanding of the cultural intersectionalities.

“I first heard about Sher Vancouver via my partner, who had sought it out for support when they first moved to Canada in 2018,” says Hirani. “I initially joined as an outreach liaison worker. This role required me to be a guest speaker and outreach liaison worker at some of the screenings for the film Emergence, Out of the Shadows, which follows the coming-out journeys of three South Asian individuals in Metro Vancouver. I now help raise awareness about Sher Vancouver’s programs and services at various events, help organize one of the in-person peer support groups — Dosti (Friendship) Project — and help with grant writing, among another supportive roles.”

Hirani has witnessed heartbreaking struggles of those seeking support, including clients who have been “punished” for their identities through being incarcerated in the mental health care system because they are queer.

 “Unfortunately, this scenario is common. Many people who contact Sher Vancouver, many who I’ve personally met, too, share their individual stories of alienation, discrimination, assumptions and rejection from loved ones… and much more,” Hirani says.

The South Asian experience is diverse, so within the various communities there will be varying levels of understanding and acceptance of 2SLGBTQI+ people, she explains.

Hirani points out that many members of the diaspora are often rooted in conservative cultural and religious beliefs that are less accepting. 

For her, stigma and taboo surrounding these issues can lead to discrimination, rejection and isolation.

“Family and community expectations of marriage, children and traditional gender roles can also conflict. There is limited representation and visibility of 2SLGBTQI+ South Asians in mainstream media and society, although this is improving,” she says.

Some families send their 2SLGBTQI+ loved ones to be “cured” of being queer, she says, adding that South Asian queer folx frequently face ideas such as “they will grow out of it,” or “it’s just a phase they are going through.”

They are often accused of being selfish or bringing shame to the family, and the suggestion that a marriage of convenience is a solution is a prevalent experience.

Alternatively, they are urged to find the right partner of the opposite gender, or failing that, remain single. 

South Asians also face opposition outside their families. Hirani says she personally experienced vile hate speech while participating in protests in Surrey last year.

But Hirani remains hopeful. She believes that in Canada, due to the legal protections against discrimination and hate crimes enshrined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, there is more safety, acceptance and support for equality for 2SLGBTQI+ communities.

Representation in media, politics and other sectors is also changing, she adds. SOGI education (Sexual Orientation Gender Identity) is now included in B.C. school curriculums, even though there is wide misunderstanding and misinformation about this issue, with more work to be done.

Starting conversations

For Deocera, the life he’s crafted in Canada is a good one, and he’s found peace with being what he calls a “triple minority.”

“First, being a person of colour, second, being an immigrant and third, being a part of the 2SLGBTQI+ community, which I now consider as my strengths,” he says. “I am thankful I made it to Canada. In Canada, I can become who I am.”

Deocera joined Megaphone as a vendor in 2012, and became a member of The Shift peer newsroom in 2023. He says Megaphone has helped him to stand firm in his beliefs and communicate them to a wider community.

“Megaphone gave me a sense of meaning and purpose in life,” Deocera says. “I used to live in the Downtown Eastside. I drifted from shelter to shelter. Now, when I am selling on the street, I represent the people of colour who are affected by poverty.” 

“I found a home in Megaphone for my subtle radicalism. Every day, I’m trying to break many glass ceilings with my actions—not to disagree with the people who oppose my beliefs, but to start conversations.”

He has a message for Pride season that is both simple and strong: “Be proud of being you.”

Hirani, who loves her community and her place in it, says seeing people being able to be their authentic selves in safe spaces is truly rewarding. 

“Living without fear of judgement — though hard for many to fully achieve — is inspiring. There is a sense of community when we find a supportive connection with like-minded people,” she says.

“Chosen families is a term familiar with many from the 2SLGBTQI+ communities… and the vibrant and colourful Pride events provide a platform for celebrating visibility and solidarity. There is a lot of joy at these events whilst remembering all those who made these freedoms possible for us.”

Resources:

Those who live in Surrey say there are less representation, support and safety for South Asian queer folx, even though there is a large  population of South Asians. Groups such as Sher Vancouver, Surrey Pride Society and New West Pride provide valuable support.
    • Sher offers Queer in Colour meetups on the first and third Sunday of the month from 2-4:30 p.m. at City Centre Library in Surrey.
    • There is also the Dosti Project Monthly Meetup, held at Surrey City Centre, and Sher Lotus, which is a monthly peer support group that focuses on the highly marginalized community of queer South Asian women, trans, non-binary and two spirit people.
    Everyone is welcome at Sher events. Visit shervancouver.com for more information and follow shervancouver on Instagram.   

— with files from Paula Carlson