THE AEGIS Editorial Board (EB) and the Aegis Administrative Board (AB) have reached an official resolution regarding transgender representation in the yearbook, but they have not yet disclosed it to interdisciplinary studies senior Rica Salomon, said Aegis EB Editor-in-Chief (EIC) Kristine Estioko.

Salomon started an online campaign to allow transgender students to appear in the gender they identify with in the Ateneo yearbook, Aegis.

The petition addressed to the Aegis AB was created on September 4 and has 504 signatures as of press time.

Aegis is an organization that manages the creation and release of the annual yearbook; the Aegis AB is comprised of Loyola Schools administrators who approve the plans of Aegis’ student arm, the Aegis EB.

Estioko also said that Aegis is still deliberating if it is necessary to publicly announce their decision.

“However, because it has been elevated to a discussion that involves the entire Atenean community, we seem to be leaning towards making a public statement about it,” she added.

According to Salomon, her petition was in response to Aegis imposing that students should appear as their biological sex instead of the gender they identify with in both the casual and toga photos.

Salomon was concerned that she would have a similar experience as her transgender friend who was asked to wear a polo and tie in the 2014 yearbook despite her hair and makeup being feminine.

She said that whether the school is aware of it or not, there are people affected by the said rule.

“I want my petition to be sort of what starts LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) awareness in Ateneo and also to serve as a catalyst for people to accept people in the LGBT community,” said Salomon.

Aegis rule

According to Estioko, Salamon’s concern was coursed through Aegis Creatives Director Krizia Lim on June 23.

Estioko said that the Aegis EB was not aware of the rule that Salomon was inquiring about.

“It does not exist in any of the documents that have been passed down to us by the previous Editorial Board, nor does it exist in the university’s student handbook and Magna Carta of Undergraduate Student Rights,” she said.

While current Aegis documents do not state any rules regarding transgender representation, a memorandum on the Aegis 2011 website states that there should be “absolutely no cross-dressing.”

The memorandum was signed by Aegis 2011 EIC Elijah Segovia and contained guidelines for a student’s creative shot for the yearbook.

Estioko said that the Aegis EB discussed the matter and decided that it was a concern that needed to be discussed with the Aegis AB.

The Aegis EB then advised Solomon to write a formal letter to the Aegis AB.

The board is composed of Office of Alumni Relations Director Kit Bautista, SJ, Aegis Acting Moderator Christopher Castillo, Assistant to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs for Student Services Cholo Mallillin and Associate Dean for Student Affairs Rene San Andres.

Estiko said that she also suggested to Solomon that she make a written petition “so that the board can see that her stand isn’t only representative of herself but is supported by a community.”

Once the Aegis EB received the letter and petition, they informed Salomon that that they would forward her concern to the Aegis AB and open a discussion about it in their approaching meeting.

However, Estioko said that the Aegis EB was unaware that Salmon would launch an “aggressive” public online petition.

She explained that the initial phrasing of the petition implied that the petition was addressed to the Aegis EB and wrongfully used the official logo of Aegis this school year.

“It gave the impression that we, the EB, had already legislated a rule that is discriminatory in nature when, in fact, we were just about to clarify its existence with the Aegis board,” she said.

Rights and awareness

Nevertheless, Estioko said that the meetings with the Aegis AB members have revealed that “healthy, collaborative discourse” regarding matters such as transgender representation in the yearbooks is welcome and encouraged among members of the Atenean community.

“More importantly, such dialogue demands the respect of due process and deliberation,” she said.

As for Salomon, she said that the petition is a concrete action regarding issues that people of the LGBT community experience.

“The Aegis team said that I was the first to be vocal about this kind of concern; I guess it’s a good thing because it invokes change,” she said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Dollhouse President Nikki Riel said that the petition is not merely about heterosexual or transgender representation in the yearbook, but a “matter of respect to the person and the person’s self-expression.”

Dollhouse is a support group for Atenean students who are part of the LGBT community.

“Times are changing, and I believe it’s about time to make this happen. I’m hopeful and I’m very optimistic about this petition being approved,” Riel said.

“If approved, [the petition] will open doors not only for Rica, but also [for] the present and future transgender community in the school,” Riel added.

Moreover, Sanggunian Seniors’ Alliance Representative for Aegis Ray Santos said that it is everyone’s right to represent themselves with the gender they identify with.

The Sanggunian Seniors’ Alliance serves as a liaison between the Ateneo administration and this year’s graduating batch.

Santos said that Solomon’s “brave move” will urge other members of the Ateneo community to speak up for their beliefs.