WITH LOVE

WHAT WE WISH WE KNEW ABOUT BEING QUEER AND FILIPINO IN AMERICA

“out” now!

ABOUT

With Love is a groundbreaking project that captured the stories and perspectives of 50 LGBTQIA+ Filipinos living in the United States. This project culminated in a published book which includes a collection of letters written by individuals to their younger selves to address “what we wish we knew about being queer and Filipino in America.” Common themes existed across these letters. As the primary author and editor, Dr. Domingo framed these themes in this book as 10 life lessons we wish to impart to the community.

Participation in this project, whether as a writer contributing a letter or as a supporter sharing this project with friends, is an opportunity to empower LGBTQIA+ Filipinos in the US to take steps towards a sense of belonging, self-actualization, and liberation. With that in mind, this project specifically: 

  1. Uplifts and educates other LGBTQIA+ Filipinos, especially younger generations, who are living in the US.

  2. Adds to the growing body of work by/for the LGBTQIA+ and Filipino communities.

  3. Documents the diversity of perspectives in history. 

  4. Invites the community to participate in an exercise that will help them reflect on their personal growth, resilience, strength, and contributions to society.

SUBMISSIONS from contributing writers

(Submissions are now closed.)

In collaboration with Kuwento Co. (Publisher), Dr. Dustin Domingo (Author) sought submissions from contributing participants. We found 50 Filipinos who identify as members of the LGBTQIA+ community and who also currently live in or have lived a substantive number of years in the United States. These folks were invited to write up to three (3) letters to your younger selves; these letters were published with others as an Epistolary Collection in a book entitled, “With Love: What We Wish We Knew About Being Queer and Filipino in America."


Contributing writers responded to the following prompt: 

Imagine you could send a letter through time to your younger self. Write a letter to that person to inform, empower, comfort and/or share about your lived experiences in the US. Keep in mind all the sorts of messages or lessons you wish you knew that might have helped you better navigate your world.

contributing authors:

  • AJ JOHNSON

  • ALYSSA B.V. CAHOY

  • ANDRE ZARATE

  • AV AUDVISION

  • BLAINE VALENCIA

  • BRANDON ENGLISH

  • BRYANT DE VENECIA

  • BUNNY ANNE

  • DIANARA RIVERA

  • DOMINIC I.J.

  • DR. ARNEL CALVARIO RIPKENS

  • ELLE ZULUETA

  • FRANCIS JOSEPH J. GALLEGO

  • GABE SAGISI

  • GABRIELLA BUBA

  • HARLEE CASTRO BALAJADIA

  • HAZEL CARRANZA

  • JEFF DEGUIA

  • JENSEN REYES

  • JESSICA LUSTINA AFABLE

  • JOBERT E. ABUEVA

  • JOEL BAKER

  • JONNY ALIGA

  • JP ROGERS

  • LANI FONTILLAS

  • LJ BALAJADIA

  • MANNY GARCIA

  • MARA DE LA ROSA

  • MARY SABINO

  • MEGAN DELA CRUZ

  • DR. MICHELLE FORTUNADO-KEWIN

  • MJ BH

  • NICHOLAS PILAPIL

  • PATRICK ANTHONY ASENCE-ARRADAZA

  • PAUL JOCHICO

  • P. M.

  • RAMON ALCANTARA

content TOPICS

The book features the following topics related to experiences living as an LGBTQIA+ Filipino in the US:

  • Family/Chosen Family

  • Love, romance, heartbreak

  • Friendships, relationships, marriage

  • Community

  • Food, beverages, recipes

  • Cultural exploration

  • Racial/ethnic identity

  • Racism, colorism, discrimination, prejudice, microagressions

  • Colonial mentality, decolonization

  • Immigration, migration

  • Gender/sexual exploration

  • Beauty standards, self-image, self confidence

  • Health, aging, adulthood

  • Death, illness, dying, loss/grief

  • Creativity and art

  • Career, unemployment, work

  • RANA ROSANES

  • RESI IBAÑEZ

  • RON BLAKELY

  • RYAN DALUSAG, LCSW

  • SAM C. TENORIO

  • SEAN-JOSEPH TAKEO KAHĀOKALANI CHOO

  • TIANO P.

  • TIMOTHY A.M. TUMBOKON

  • TOBY JAVIER

  • TR DEANON

  • VANESSA ACZON

  • WARJAY NAIGAN

  • Trauma, generational trauma, healing

  • Leadership, mission, vision, values

  • Vulnerability

  • Regret

  • Authenticity

  • Decision making

  • Money, wealth, poverty, socioeconomic status, class, social mobility 

  • Education, religion, spirituality, history

  • If I could tell you just one thing…