Love will always win!
This LGBTQIA+ couple is loud and proud of their unique love story.
“Siguro gasgas na gasgas na itong sinasabi ko. Love wins. So, no matter who the person is, regardless of what’s in between our legs, as long as you see the person, you’re attracted to it, emotionally, mentally, and you feel connected, it doesn’t matter. Parang, you accept. You learn to, you learn to adjust, adapt, and such,” Jan Pablo said in an exclusive interview with The Philippine STAR.
“I was born male and I wanted to be female. And Jan is born female and wanted to be male. I really want people to see that any kind of love is something to be celebrated for,” his partner Kylie Celebre echoed.
Jan is a transman while Kylie is a transwoman. They met at a dating app in July 2023.
For Kylie’s part, it was love at first swipe.
“Sabi ko talaga sa kanya [friend], pinakita ko ‘yung phone ko. “Kita mo ‘to? Jojowain ko ‘to.” Tapos nag-swipe ako and then we matched. Tapos I started talking to him. Minessage ko siya ta’s nung una pa nga, hindi pa nga siya masyado nagre-reply,” she recalled the moment they matched on the dating app.
After being in a long-term relationship, Jan admitted that he stepped back from the dating world until he met Kylie.
“One year ako single tas wala lang tinry ko, bored ako, mag-isa ako sa apartment ko. Ang hirap out there, na makipag-date na, ‘Oh, by the way, I’m trans.’ Meron mga, experiences na, nare-reject. Nakita ko naman na trans siya. Aware naman ako. Siya ‘yung una nag-message sa akin. The rest is history,” he shared.
After constant communication, their relationship became official on October 3, 2023. Since it was Jan’s first time having a relationship with a transwoman, they became very open to their relationship.
“Hindi ako nagka-boyfriend eh. So I never experienced anything sa born male. Pero na-attract ako sa kanya, ang ganda talaga eh. Physically attracted ako eh, anong magagawa natin. So sinearch ko lang kung paano, ganyan, how to deal with it,” Jan noted.
When asked about their respective coming out stories, the two opened up how they slowly revealed their identity.
“I actually came out three times. I came out Bi [bisexual] first, and then I came out gay, and then eventually came out trans. I started transitioning around the age of 18. I went through a breast augmentation nung November lang. So, I’m still in the process of fully transitioning. I do not want to do bottom surgery,” Kylie said.
“I never said, ‘Oh, lesbian ako or trans ako.’ I never said that even to my family. I think coming out is important to my family na lang. Kasi sa friends, parang they knew how I appear. Siguro ever since I was a kid, I will dress up as a boy. And then ‘yun, as in wala siyang, I’m a lesbian, I’m a Bi. “I think I like girls.” Wala siyang ganon,” Jan said.
As they are fully aware that some families aren’t very open and accepting to have a family member who is part of LGBTQIA+, the two acknowledged their privilege for having an understanding and supportive family.
“Blessing because not a lot of families are very open to this kind of situation. Naiintindihan ko naman ‘yung privilege na meron tayo. And I always speak to any parent that I talk to. Na parang if you see any signs na parang your children is part of the community, it really takes time to really get to know them and know yourself din as well and learn along the process of it,” she said.
Jan and Kylie are open to getting married but as for building their own family, they have to consider possible health complications.
“I’ve only dated cis females back then, so hindi ko siya iniisip na ikasal ako, honestly. Tapos, nung dinate ko siya, ‘Ay, oo nga, pwede tayo ikasal.’ ‘Yung marriage, yes. ‘Yung family gusto lang namin, financially ready kami. Basically, sino bang may matres? ‘Yun lang naman ‘yung tanong nila eh. Siyempre siya ‘yung bubuo. It’s gonna be a big-big risk. Kasi for me to be brave enough to put myself out there nang pregnant,” Jan stressed.
Kylie added, “Medically, it is a risk. It is something that requires money, patience, and courage.”
The couple has a message to the public as they encourage them to be more open to these kinds of relationships.
“If they have a little more understanding. It won’t hurt them to have knowledge. It won’t hurt you. It won’t. We won’t hurt you,” Jan assured.
“We’re really not trying to step on anyone’s toes. We’re just really trying to be ourselves. We’re also not trying to force ourselves. We’re just trying to exist,” Kylie added.
