Mythical queerness: Reclaiming Sirenas and Dyosas among the LGBTQIA+ community

In a world that often struggles to embrace the diverse beauty of queer identity, Filipino culture draws a unique parallel between queerness and mythical figures such as sirena (mermaids) and dyosa (goddesses).

For most, these creatures symbolize beauty and power but for the queers, it represents something more heartfelt—a reclaiming of strength and oneness.

Eisen Maraj, a 19-year-old trans woman, shares her story of growing up in a Christian household where being queer was seen as a sin. Despite pressures to conform to social expectations, Eisen embraced her femininity, finding comfort in her love for dolls and the broadness of her imagination.

Her journey from self-hatred to self-acceptance stands as a testament to the resilience and courage of the queer community.

Reclaiming  Sirenas and Dyosas

Eisen reflects on how society associates queers, especially the flamboyant and feminine gays, with sirenas and dyosas. This association, though born out of unfamiliarity, becomes a platform for visibility. 

For her, reclaiming these mythical identities is not just about recognition, but empowerment.

"Just like mythical creatures, our community endures a lot of struggles and hate from society because of the social construct of what a 'normal' person is," she explained.

Often perceived as fierce defenders of their realms, sirenas and dyosas echo the fight of queer individuals for safe space and freely express their colorful identities.

"Making mythical creatures’ a great symbol for queer people and showing society the queer struggles that are mirrored in these creatures' stories," Eisen added.

Queers and the Indigenous Filipino Mythology

The association of queer individuals, particularly gays, with sirenas and dyosas has deep cultural roots. In the pre-colonial Philippines, deities and mythical beings often embodied gender fluidity and queer attributes.

VINTA Gallery guest writer Danica Hooper wrote about the Tagalog goddess of fertility, Lakapati, revered as an androgynous, intersex deity who symbolized balance and harmony.

Harriette Chan, a guest writer of Making Queer History, wrote about how Indigenous Filipinos embraced queerness, accepting diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, but later suppressed by colonial influences.

"Spanish colonization put an end to traditional Filipino mythology and with it the rights of transgender women in the Philippines," wrote Chan.

Celebrating Queer Identities

For Eisen, the reclamation movement is something to be celebrated, not denounced, as it shows the queer community's resistance against marginalization, transforming figures of fantasy into symbols of reality.

"Considering the history of sirenas and dyosas centered on a sense of freedom, bravery, beauty, and becoming a version that protects oneself, to be associated with mythical creatures as queer people should be celebrated," Eisen asserted.

"This just means that despite our community's strangeness to some, we have our history and experiences that shaped us to be these beautiful creatures," she added.

A Whimsical Future

Eisen's story stresses the importance of representation and support. Through her mother's gradual acceptance and the unwavering support of her friends, these relations strengthen her identity.

Eisen advocates for the LGBTQIA+ community, dreaming of a future in which no child questions their worth or place in society.

"I want [queer kids] to have a safe space and a place where they can achieve everything that they set their mind to–free from doubts, discrimination, and inequality," she emphasized.

Bonded with the threads of mythical narratives, Eisen's journey is a reminder of how powerful self-acceptance is and the beauty of diversity. In celebrating sirenas and dyosas, we honor the spirit of the queer community that continues to rise, fight, and flourish.

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Layout by: Bella Dela Merced