Stars of ‘Drag You and Me’ TV series speak out on LGBT+ plight

Screen grab from Zoom interview with CJ Alcantara (left) and Andrea Brillantes (right), lead stars of TV romance-comedy series Drag You and Me.

It has been a long journey for Filipino drag queens to be truly accepted in the mainstream entertainment business in the Philippines, from as far back when they were relegated to small-time barrio or barangay stage shows or peryahan on feast days.

Now comes a television romance-comedy series “Drag You and Me” that dares tackle the lives of drag queens in the Philippines, one of the most conservative countries in the world with a mostly Roman Catholic population.

Headlined by actress Andrea Brillantes as Betty Bettina Catapang, also known by her drag name, Valentine Royale, a cisgender woman and a strong LGBTQIA+ ally, and JC Alcantara, who has a dual role as straight male Jason Sabas and as an irresistible bisexual drag queen Shania Lacroix. Jason develops a love triangle with Betty and JC’s drag mother, Bubbles Lacroix, played by Christian Bables, who is also known in the show as Charlie Bautista.

In a Zoom media conference recently, Brillantes thanked the LGBTQIA+ movement for continuing the fight for their rights and remaining united.

“If not for them we will not have the courage to create a platform like the TV series ‘Drag You and Me’ clubs for the LGBTQIA community to participate in and perform. I am proud for what this community has gone through from being relegated to barangay fairs to now in the mainstream with their own beauty contests, competitions, our TV show, and they are all over social media platforms too,” beamed Brillantes. “We hope this will continue and that they will eventually have the rights they are entitled to here in the Philippines as our next goal and achievement.”

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Alcantara is happy that their TV show gives importance to the contributions of drag queens to the LGBTQIA community’s struggle for understanding by the public.

“We know that in the Philippines they still are suffering from discrimination and it is encouraging that they have platforms like this that serve to understand what these drags are going through including that they will be represented in the society,” Alcantara opined.

Alcantara is also proud of the good feedback from viewers. “We hear that cisgender (or straight) and gay alike are thrilled and they giggle even when gays fall in love with a character like Betty’s who is a straight girl. They fall in love with the pair we portray just the same and they accept us. This shows that they support us wholeheartedly,” Alcantara explained.

One of the things that stands out in the show is the importance that Filipinos place on love for family and Filipino family values, evident in the twist and turns of the show.

“Although, here we also show that not all families are perfect, as Betty’s family is not readily accepted by the people around them and by society as a whole. Our TV series shows the struggle of those readily accepted even in their own families,” Brillantes elaborated.

“Betty is fortunate that her family gets along well with parents who are both members of the LGBTQIA community, but JC is unfortunate to have a family who does not readily accept his drag persona.”

Brillantes also remarked that the show was produced so all can relate to whatever kind of family they belong to, and that it  tackles domestic abuse, infidelity and all other family conflicts.

 “There is no need to hate. There is nothing wrong with being drag queens. As we have shown since the first episode, drag is just an expression and a form of art. Being gay is just loving a person also. Sadly, there are only the usual ugly stereotypes attached to gay people,” rued Brillantes.

“I also hope that this show will be able to help those who are still finding the courage to come out with their real gender identity and find their proper place where they truly belong and can thrive,” Brillantes wished.

“As long as you are not hurting anyone, there is nothing wrong with what you are doing. The LGBTQIA +community deserves to be loved,” echoed Alcantara.