Jaehwa Bernardo

(Clockwise from top, left) Comic strip from Nashenzo, artwork from Cinnamyon_Glaze, cover of 'Maybe It's A Gay Thing' by Mark Fermil and comics by LumenIzampel. Photos from the artists

Article (news)

Komiket Pride 2025: Queer creators share stories of identity

ABS-CBN News Digital Intern

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1749083707156MixCollage-04-Jun-2025-10-56-AM-9608.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>(Clockwise from top, left) Comic strip from Nashenzo, artwork from Cinnamyon_Glaze, cover of &#x27;Maybe It&#x27;s A Gay Thing&#x27; by Mark Fermil and comics by LumenIzampel. Photos from the artists</div>MANILA — Art becomes a medium for Filipino queer artists, who use their work to share personal stories and speak out against discrimination. This Pride Month, their voices will take center stage at Komiket Pride 2025, which is set to take place Ayala Malls The 30th from June 6 to 8.They include Mark Fermil, an independent author of gay fiction novels such as &quot;His Plastic Doll&quot; and &quot;Maybe It&#x27;s A Gay Thing.&quot;<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1749084307873MixCollage-04-Jun-2025-10-32-AM-1887.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Mark Fermill’s self-published books &#x27;His Plastic Doll&#x27; and &#x27;Maybe It&#x27;s a Gay Thing.&#x27; Photo from Fermill</div>Fermill began his writing career with horror stories, but has since transitioned to gay romance — a shift that reflected his growing confidence in telling stories that resonate with his own identity.&quot;Ever since I came out as gay, that’s when I truly felt confident enough to share my gay and queer-related stories with others,&quot; Fermill told ABS-CBN News in an interview.Artist and author LumenIzampel will also participate in Komiket. <div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1749084356171MixCollage-04-Jun-2025-10-37-AM-9938.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>LumenIzampel at Komiket Pride 2024 and their sample works. Photos from LumenIzampel’s X account</div>In an interview, they spoke about the challenges faced by queer artists in the creative industry where workers are often exploited through unfair contracts and companies profit off queer media.&quot;Many artists don&#x27;t realize that contracts shouldn’t be like this. They accept unfair terms because they need the money. But at the same time, shouldn’t publishing houses take care of the artists who create for them?&quot; LumenIzampel said in the interview.Meanwhile, artist and author Nashenzo brings a regional perspective through his work &quot;A Couple Series,&quot; which captures snippets of his conversations with his boyfriend and their experiences as a Bisaya couple.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1749084402513Nashenzo_SampleWork3.png" style="width:633px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Comic strip from Nashenzo&#x27;s &#x27;A Couple Series.&#x27; Photo from NashenzoNashenzo&#x27;s relationship has inspired his work and his partner&#x27;s support has allowed him to fully focus on his art.</div>&quot;You should always expect the unexpected,&quot; Nashenzo, whose real name is Marco Lorenzo Baccay, said as he advised queer creatives to never give up on romance.Also taking part in Komiket is Cinnamyon_Glaze, who works on &quot;yuri&quot; or girls&#x27; love artworks.She hopes fellow artists find a &quot;safe and comfortable community where we can share what we love freely.&quot;<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1749084574111Cinnamyon-Art-01.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Cinnamyon_Glaze’s sample Yuri-themed artwork inspired by the game Genshin Impact. Photo from Cinnamyon_Glaze</div>&quot;Although there are sometimes people who openly express their disdain for what I create, I block out their noise and focus on the audience that supports and believes in me instead,&quot; Cinnamyon_Glaze said.Through their works, the artists hope to remind fellow queer individuals that they are not alone in their experiences. They also aim to inspire a sense of solidarity within the LGBTQIA+ community.&quot;I want queer people to feel safe in their stories... that their experiences are hindi lang on their own, na mayroon din silang karamay sa mga challenges na naranasan nila sa queer person. I want them to feel that they&#x27;re not alone in this journey,&quot; Mark said.LumenIzampel added: &quot;I can only hope that sometime in the future, it&#x27;s no longer going to be like me alone fending for myself. It&#x27;s going to be like me being protected and with others, me being in a community din with other artists and we have each other&#x27;s backs.&quot;

Art becomes a medium for Filipino queer artists, who use their work to share personal stories and speak out against discrimination.

Art becomes a medium for Filipino queer artists, who use their work to share personal stories and speak out against discrimination.

Komiket Pride 2025: Queer creators share stories of identity

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Komiket Pride 2025: Queer creators share stories of identity

ABS-CBN News Digital Intern,

Franchette Noreen B. Castro

Published June 06, 2025 08:00 AM PHT

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