On February 14, AQ Prime star Drei Arias revealed that he identifies as “genderfluid.”
At the media conference for their digital film, Baka Sakali, Arias discussed how his confidence in his sexuality translates to the roles he portrays.
“Ang gender identity ko po ay genderfluid. Genderfluid po ako. Wala po sa akin ‘yung mga–nagkaroon na po ako ng ex na lesbian, ex na trans, mga ganon.
“Pero wala po sa akin ‘yan. Sabi ko nga po sa inyo, kapag confident kayo sa sexuality ninyo maniniwala lang kayo sa mga character na binibigay sa inyo kasi trabaho ‘yan eh. Hindi siya dapat inaano na makikitaan ng ano.”
He then clarified that his gender identity and gender expression are two separate things in his career and personal life.
“Iba po ‘yung Gender Identity sa Gender Expression natin ha, hindi po porket napaniwala kayo sa ganon, ganon na ako sa totoong buhay, kung kumilos dito mga ganyan.”
He then discussed how he remained professional while filming steamy scenes with his co-stars.
“Normal naman po ‘yung kapag nagdidikit ‘yung mga skin, pero we have to be professional po eh.”
He talked about his realizations about the LGBTQIA community portraying characters in his Boys Love projects.
“Sa sarili mo pa lang, sa society pa lang natin ngayon, kung ‘yung maging sino ka lang, ‘yung parang kung sino ka as a whole, mahirap na siyang maintindihan ng mga tao, mahirap na siyang tanggapin ng mga tao, kaya ang tatapang noong mga nasa relationship ng male to male kasi iba ‘yung ano nila– ‘yung paniniwala nila, iba ‘yung stand nila sa love it goes beyond measure, it goes beyond body, sizes, gender of course, it is really not blind but all the things and embracing it.”
As for his digital film, Arias stars in Baka Sakali with Leandre Adams, April Gustillo, and Seon Quintos.
Baka Sakali, directed by Alejandro ‘Bong’ Ramos, is currently streaming via the AQ Prime streaming app.
