Timothy Brian Black, better known as the drag queen Naia Black or simply Naia, is calling for a united LGBTQIA+ community as Pride Month comes to a close.
Naia expressed her hopes for unity after PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) inquired about her thoughts on the recent online conflicts within the LGBTQIA+ community following the mishaps at the Love Laban 2, the Pride March event organized by Pride PH in partnership with the Quezon City government.
Many members of the LGBTIA+ community expressed their disappointment with the unruly crowd at the event, who attended primarily to watch the performers rather than support the advocacy for the SOGIE Equality Bill.
Read: LGBTQ community blames non-ally for chaotic Pride March 2024
This was just one of several issues, including various production problems, that surfaced after the event.
Addressing the issue, Naia said, "My opinion on the gays on Twitter fighting the gays on Twitter... Mama! We have bigger fights to fight. We have bigger fights to fight.
"We cannot keep fighting each other on petty issues. Oh, my God. It is pride month.
"And... Pride [Month] is almost over. And we're still fighting each other. No. Stop. Don't fight. Please. That's it. Please!"
Read: Naia wins Drag Den Philippines
NAIA BLACK ON REPRESENTATION
PEP.ph caught up with Naia on June 26, 2024, at SM Beauty’s So Much Pride 2024 event held at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
Naia was tapped as the face of the brand's nationwide campaign for Pride month.
Naia was particularly excited about this project, as it marks her first campaign following her victory as the Drag Supreme of Drag Den Philippines Season 1 in 2023.
The drag queen told PEP.ph, "I was so excited to work with SM. I just wasn't ready for something as big as this. I think at the time wala pa akong nationwide campaigns.
"So when they approached me for this, they said, 'This is gonna be seen in Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, [yung] mukha mo.'
"I was like, 'Oh my gosh, sana hindi magsawa yung mga tao.'
"But I'm so blessed and so grateful to have this opportunity.
"And it's so great that SM is teaming up with drag queens and real people in the community to be the face of the campaign."
Naia is grateful for the growing support from brands for the LGBTQIA+ community, especially in mainstream media representation.
"I think it's also a good thing that drag is seeing a bigger audience.
"And now more and more people can see the art form for what it is, you know... it was an underground art form.
"And in many ways, it still is because it still carries the voice of the people who came before us. And it's still founded on a lot of political power."
Although drag as an art form has been gaining mainstream popularity, Naia believes that members of the community continue to face significant criticism.
NAIA REMAINS STEADFAST IN FIGHT FOR LGBTQIA+ RIGHTS
Nevertheless, she emphasizes the importance of drag in the fight against attacks on the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly during Pride Month, and expresses happiness that drag queens are leading this cause.
"Right now, drag, even though it's getting more and more mainstream, it has not been watered down.
"And we still need drag more than ever because of all of the attacks against our community.
"And that's what Pride Month's all about anyway. I'm so happy that drag queens are still at the forefront of this fight."
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