Angie Umbac
R-Rights
Big Pride
By Mikee dela Cruz
PUBLISHED: MARCH 2010
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANGIE UMBAC


MORE THAN THE PARTS. “Being a lesbian is one part of who I am; but nonetheless, it is a very important part. It cannot be separated from the rest of me. No matter what role I play, what hat I wear, I am a lesbian.”

	Share |

On April 11, 2008, Angie delivered a speech for a group of Accenture employees, at its FLAG Diversity Conference on Gender and Sexuality. “My name is Angie Umbac,” she said then, “and I have several facets, among them are being a government worker, a rights activist, a lesbian.” Then she added: “Being a lesbian is one part of who I am; but nonetheless, it is a very important part. It cannot be separated from the rest of me. No matter what role I play, what hat I wear, I am a lesbian.”

NO FEAR. Not just in expressing her gender/sexuality ("I am not afraid they would find out; in fact, I make it a point to tell them before they hear it from others. If career-wise it would be better in the closet, then it is the wrong career for me”), Angie Umbac takes life's reins in her hands.

And the pride in the self – in her case, as a lesbian (and part of the GLBTQI community) – is what Angie believes should be pushed/advocated.

“I have two questions for you: Are you afraid that people would find out you are lesbian or gay? Do you think that when they do, it will get in the way of your promotion; that it would be better for you career-wise to stay in the closet? If you answer ‘yes’ to these questions, I understand. After all, the world can be very cruel, and your fears have basis,” Angie says. But she added, “if you ask me, I say ‘no,’ I am not afraid they would find out; in fact, I make it a point to tell them before they hear it from others. If career-wise it would be better in the closet, then it is the wrong career for me.”

TRUE SELF, REAL WORTH

Up to August 2009, Angie used to work at the Civil Service Commission (CSC), the central personnel agency of the government, which she likens to “your human resources office, but for over a million government workers.” Her work afforded opportunity to interact with the Senate and the House of Representatives. Since she also served as chair of the External Gender Concerns of the Commission, she did her best to ensure that on her watch, there are no discriminatory provisions in the laws that are passed by the Philippine Legislature, as well as in the policies concerning employees in the government service.

In Angie’s case, “when I was being considered for promotion, I was sure people would start poking around, checking my background to determine my fitness to serve. If I stayed away from the spotlight, there was no risk,” she recalls. But she asked herself: “’What is more important to me, acknowledging my true worth or just staying safe?’ I decided to take the plunge: I came out at the office and told them I am a lesbian. That way there will be no surprises, they will understand why I would feel strongly on certain sensitive issues and legislative measures.”

It was also, for Angie, a test of societal acceptance, as “I also wanted to know if they will trust me. Yes, I too had my fears.” Nonetheless, “I got my promotion; being a lesbian was not an issue among the people who mattered in the Commission.”

FOCUS ON ADVOCACY

Angie – a Bachelor of Laws graduate of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City (1998), and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (cum laude) of Silliman University, Dumaguete City (1992) – has been making the GLBTQIA advocacy rounds (so to speak) for quite some time now. She served in various capacities in government and non-government organizations. She admits to having a knack for legal and legislative advocacy, which is her primary passion. Preferring to work in the background, she likens it to being a specialist quietly finding cures in labs, and leaving the glam to high-profile surgeons and ER doctors.

	1 | 2