Wala pa sa plano ng dating Sparkle contract artist na si James Graham, 19, ang mag-come out bilang miyembero ng LGBTQIA+ community sa publiko.
Kaya labis siyang nabigla nang kumalat sa social media ang mga ulat na umamin na siya sa kanyang tunay na katauhan, kahit hindi pa niya intensiyong ibahagi iyon sa publiko.
Nagsimula ito nang lumabas kahapon, Hulyo 19, 2026, ang Tiktok video ni James na babaeng-babae na ang hitsura at nili-lip synch ang kantang "The Sign" ng Ace of Base.
Naka-embed sa video ang makahulugang mensaheng ito: "Start the new life you always wanted"
Nakasaad pa sa caption: "You don’t have to be scared anymore. People will judge you regardless of who you are, so just live your life to the fullest.
"Do it out of kindness, not fear or hate. Don’t let people dictate how you live your life."
@brazillian.queef You don’t have to be scared anymore. People will judge you regardless of who you are, so just live your life to the fullest. Do it out of kindness, not fear or hate. Don’t let people dictate how you live your life.
? The Sign - Ace of Base
Maraming nagpalagay na iyon na ang official announcement ng "coming out" ni James.
Sa eksklusibong panayam ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) ngayong Linggo, Hulyo 19, ibinahagi ni James ang saloobin matapos siyang pangunahang maglantad ng personal niyang kuwento.
Saad niya: “I’m still in shock because the account I’ve been showing the real me was initially just for me and my close friends who knew who I actually was.
"I never expected it to blow up all of the sudden.
“I came out to my friends and family around May.
"I was so scared but the reason why I came out was because I got tired of pretending to be someone I’m not.
“I’m tired of pleasing everyone and trying so hard to force myself in a standard they expect me to be.”
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TRAUMATIC CHILDHOOd
Ibinahagi ni James na malungkot ang naging kabataan niya dahil sa mga panunukso at diskriminasyong kanyang naranasan na epekto umano ng kaibahan niya sa ibang mga batang lalake.
Lahad niya: “Ever since bata pa ako, I’ve always been feminine.
"So, I’ve received a lot of discrimination because I was 'different' or I was not acting 'normal.'
"During my tapings before, I would always have directors tell me, ‘Tikasan mo pa at ang lambot mo masyado!’
“Doon ko na na-realize na iba ako.
"And it’s not really a decision of mine. I’ve always just been like this.
"I’ve always felt like this ever since I was in elementary school.
“I believe I was nine years old when I started realizing I was different, but I never told anyone up until I was 16.
“Ang mga una kong pinagsabihan about it was three of my sisters Jeminah, Katherine, and Daniella.
"Nagulat lang ako noon kasi ang reply nila about it was ‘We know,’ and they weren’t even surprised.”
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FREEDOM AFTER COMING OUT
Sa kabila ng hindi planadong paglalantad sa publiko, sinabi ni James na mas magaan na ang kanyang pakiramdam ngayon.
Aminado siyang hindi niya inaasahang magiging positibo ang pagtanggap ng mga tao, lalo na ng kanyang mga tagahanga.
Ayon kay James: “Wala na yung bigat sa chest ko and I finally feel like I can express myself however I want.
“My fans and my supporters will always have a special place in my heart, seeing all of them celebrating and being proud for showing the real me makes me feel seen and heard.
“That’s all I ever wanted. I don’t think I can thank them enough.
“I never expected it to be positive. I was always scared about what people might think.
"But now that I’m looking back at it, I wish I would’ve done it sooner. But, hey, better late than never."
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
Nang tanungin ng PEP.ph ung may plano siyang magpalit ng pangalan, sinabi niyang hindi pa iyon ang kanyang prayoridad.
“Maybe in the future. That’s not really on my mind as of now since I’m mostly focused on my well-being and my future.”
Ano ang mensahe niya para sa sarili dahil sa kanyang matapang na pagharap at pagtanggap sa katotohanan?
Sabi ni James: “People may or may not like you, and it’s perfectly fine.
“You have yourself and you’re happy, healthy, and that’s what matters.
"You don’t have to be scared anymore, and even if you are, do it scared, do it because you are resilient and brave.”
Si James ay kasalukuyang naninirahan at nag-aaral sa Amerika mula nang magdesisyon siyang lisanin ang Pilipinas at iwan ang kanyang showbiz career noong Pebrero 2025.
Pagbabahagi ni James: “I moved here in the United States back in February 1, 2025, to focus on myself, and my studies.
"I am currently in college studying Nursing so I don’t think I have time for showbiz as of now."
Ano ang mga plano ngayon ni James para sa kanyang kinabukasan?
Sagot ni James: “My goals now are pretty much all healthcare and all about helping people.
“I’ve been working on getting an EMT [Emergency Medical Technician] certification at a fire department to be a first responder to build experience while I’m in college for nursing.”
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JAMES GRAHAM ON LEAVING SHOWBIZ BEHIND
Sampung taong gulang lamang siya nang magsimulang mag-model para sa iba't ibang clothing brands bago tuluyang mapasok ang telebisyon.
“I started as a model for clothing brands when I was 10, and then I got scouted during my Mossimo kids fashion show.
“I auditioned for ABS-CBN when I was 12 and that’s where I had my very first TV show."
Kabilang sa mga ginawang proyekto ni James sa Kapamilya network ay Make It with You, Lyric and Beat, at 2 Good to be True.
Pagpapatuloy niya, “I then auditioned for GMA when I was 16, joined Sparkle Teens."
Kabilang sa mga programang nilabasan niya sa Kapuso network ay Wish Ko Lang, Widows War, Makiling, Pepito Manaloto, and Family Feud.
Ngunit mas tumatak sa mga manonood ang kanyang role sa primetime series na Royal Blood (2023).
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