Last month, Ru Paul’s Drag Race Philippines Superstar Precious Paula Nicole shone the spotlight on The Golden Gays in The Golden Journey Part 1: The Return of the Kembak. This fundraising roadshow was held at the Rapture Cafe Bar in Metro Manila. The show was the first of many organized for the benefit of The Golden Gays.
Lola Cherry Pie Representing the Golden Gays
The Golden Gays, formally established as The Home for the Golden Gays, is a non-profit organization established in 2002 to provide a safe space and a permanent shelter to senior members, the Lolas, of the LGBTQIA+ community. Sadly, the Lolas ( Grandmothers) have fallen on hard times, having been displaced from their home in 2012. To start anew, the Lolas have established themselves as The Home for Indigent Gay Men, Inc. in 2021. However, their plight remains as they struggle to find a permanent home for their 27 members.
This is the issue that the Drag Race PH Season 1 winner—who has long been vocal about her dedication to helping and supporting The Golden Gays—aims to address. In her Thanksgiving party held last November 2022, she committed to securing a permanent home and to establishing a sustainable livelihood program for The Golden Gays in what has now been dubbed as The Golden Journey.
Eve Le Queen for the Golden Gays
“I first met the Lolas 12 years ago at simula noon hindi na nawala sa puso ko na tulungan sila. Kaya naman, gusto ko talaga ipaalam sa lahat ang kalagayan ng mga Lola, at sana tulungan natin sila so they can live the lives that they deserve,” said the drag queen. ( I first met the lolas 12 years ago; since then, my heart has never lost the instinct to help them. This is why I want people to know about their state and hopefully, that this will help them to live the lives they deserve.)
In collaboration with JCI Makati’s MPower Program, Precious Paula Nicole will lead this advocacy to finish the groundbreaking journey. JCI MPower, which stands for JCI Makati Powering Up Diversity and Inclusion, is an inclusive program that promotes diversity and gender equality in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Goals. This program helps educate about eradicating prejudices, discrimination, and violence.
Its activities include but are not limited to training, speaking engagements, community action programs and social media campaigns to empower and work for equal rights and respect for all genders.
The Golden Journey Part 1: The Return of the Kembak featured performances by Precious Paula Nicole and her fellow Ru Paul’s Drag Race Philippines queens Turing, Eva Le Queen, and Brigiding, The Golden Gays Queens, other supportive local drag queens such as Gorgeous Dawn, Jolly, Ally Nicole, Solenn and Felicia, and Rapture Café Bar resident queens. Raphael David Resus hosted the event.
Photos by Precious Paula Nicole, Jeanne Edillon, and JCI Makati MPower team
Related links:
Culture Trip: Manila’s Golden Gays Prove You’re Never Too Old To Be a Queen
New York Times: The ‘Golden Gays’ Return to the Stage in the Philippines
Philippine Daily Inquirer: Such a drag: Lockdown takes toll on ‘Golden Gays’
