I am Liezel, just call me Zhel in short. I identify myself as a cisgender woman. I am from Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, Philippines, but currently living in Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines. I’m currently a teacher, and I enjoy teaching and spending time with my lovely students. I find joy in helping others learn and grow, things like gardening, crafting, and cooking, and that makes me happy every day.
The Challenges Is Not From Outside
Many people think being intersex is something strange that needs to be “fixed” or something that should be hidden. And I was the same, at least at the beginning. It’s hard to explain to other people about things they haven’t experienced before, and especially when I didn’t fully understand myself at the time, let alone accepting it. I often felt confused and afraid of being judged. There were moments when I chose to stay silent just to avoid questions.
Those moments made me realize that my biggest challenge is not from the outside, but it’s actually within. In a world that doesn’t fully understand me, I have to accept myself first. It’s not easy by any means, but little by little, I learned to embrace who I am. I overcame it by slowly accepting ok, this is me, there’s no way around it, this is who I am and how I am. I then learned more about being intersex and surrounding myself with people who respect and support me. It wasn’t easy, but finally, I learned to be proud of my identity, I found the love within!
From someone scared to talk about herself, I can now express myself openly. And that actually became my proudest accomplishment! I can stand in my truth! It may not be a big achievement to others, but for me, it means everything. I learned that growth takes time, and being true to yourself is one of the bravest things you can do.
The Love Within
That experience was amplified in my career as a public school teacher. I am now able to guide and inspire my students despite my own personal struggles. I can stand in front of my class with confidence and serve as a role model. Seeing my students learn, grow, and believe in themselves is something I truly value; that’s another achievement I’m so proud of.
The people who inspired me most are those who accepted me without asking me to change. Some are close friends, and some are individuals I look up to who bravely share their stories. The intersex community also made me feel seen and heard. Even small conversations and shared experiences helped me realize that I am not alone. That kind of support gave me comfort and strength during my hardest days. That, again, made me realize love is once again from inside, this time it’s inside our community and friend circle. We only need to be brave enough to accept it.
My dream is to live a life where I can freely be myself and help others feel the same. I also want to raise awareness so more people can understand intersex individuals. What I wish people knew is that being intersex is natural, and it’s just one of the many ways humans exist. We deserve respect, understanding, and the freedom to be ourselves.
My advice is: don’t give up on yourself. It’s okay to feel lost or hurt, but always remember that your feelings are valid. Take things one step at a time, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. You are stronger than you think.
To Intersex Asia and its team, thank you for being a voice and a safe space for people like us. Your work gives hope, courage, and strength to many individuals. Please continue what you are doing—you are making a real difference in people’s lives. 💛
