In the spirit of Pride Month, we’ve been seeing media content that highlight the experiences of the LGBTQ+ community. We have movies like Love, Simon captivating viewers and musicians who candidly portray these experiences. And then we have TV shows like Maalalaala Mo Kaya? that recently premiered the story of Tin Amistoso, the woman behind the controversial song “Titibo-Tibo.”
Before the episode aired, social media was already buzzing with criticism when they saw the trailer. It showed Tin (played by Maris Racal) liking girls and shifting to scenes where she’s met boys who’ll “hopefully” change her from being lesbian to straight. Even the synopsis said as much:
“At the early age of eleven, Tin (Maris Racal) already identified as a lesbian and had been in romantic relationships with other girls. But it was only until she turned 18, that’s when she met her first boyfriend, Andrew (Neil Coleta).
Their relationship lasted for four years and after that, Tin swore not to fall in love and get into a relationship until she was able to provide for her family’s needs.
However, fate had a different plan for her when the breezy chick boy Boom (Jameson Blake) entered her life.
Could he be the one to reignite the flame in Tin’s ‘titibo-tibo’ heart?”
Netizens shared their thoughts on Twitter, saying how this type of storytelling can be harmful to the LGBTQ+ community because it creates the idea that their identity can be “fixed.” There were also those who called to boycott the episode altogether.
the audacity to promote harmful stereotypes against wlw and implying that one’s sexuality is merely a temporary phase on national television on pride month! this is fucking insulting, who gave #MMKTitiboTibo the right? https://t.co/CvnY6WrTsq
— ☆ johly ꩜ (@jullsflores) June 13, 2018
But when MMK aired last Sunday, the people who saw the episode found that the message wasn’t offensive at all. Instead of attacking the members of LGBTQ+ community It’s almost like the trailer misled viewers so they can get a reaction—albeit negative and offensive.
I mean, at least binasag niya ang trailer? And yaaaas, @MissMarisRacal saying homosexuality is NOT a phase on national tv! #MMKTitibotibo
— Alfonso Manalastas (@not_alfonso) June 18, 2018
That said, I couldn’t help but ask, “Why the need to sensationalize it in the wrong way?” I understand that it was a marketing ploy and that “bad exposure is still exposure.” However, is it worth it to advertise a story about a lesbian by highlighting the stereotypes that LGBTQ+ advocates and allies have been fighting to abolish?
Don’t get us wrong, MMK made a point when they included a conversation wherein Tin addressed her sexual identity, saying it’s not a phase, and how she defended herself to her parents. That is indeed something that needs to be tackled. But thanks to the trailer, many might have missed the messaging. They hid and misrepresented their intentions with how they marketed it.
#MMKTitibotibo important points. pic.twitter.com/iC00yXcVqN
— ً (@ktnalt) June 18, 2018
— ً (@ktnalt) June 18, 2018
If you want to create an honest portrayal of the LGBTQ+ community, you shouldn’t sensationalize the stereotypes that you think is marketable to the public. Show the struggles without romanticizing and misrepresenting them for the sake of entertainment. Because not everything is made for TV, some experiences are real life.
Art by Marian Hukom
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