Blazers Pep Squad member and Industrial Design student Mark Diano opens up about his 10-year cheerleading career and as well as his thoughts on being an athlete and a member of the LBGTQIA+ community.
The decade-long career
Diano started cheerleading in his first year of high school as part of the Immaculate Conception Academy Allstars. Encouraged by his coaches, he pursued cheer dancing also as an investment for college. Before being part of the Blazers Pep Squad, Diano became part of the University of Santo Tomas Salinggawi Dance Troupe that competed in the Group Stunts competition of UAAP Season 81.
Unfortunately, the suspension of sporting events hindered the Industrial Design student from competing for the College in the NCAA before ending his collegiate career.
Adjusting to Benilde’s culture was easy for Diano, as he described it as welcoming. “Actually I just saw myself being a part of them, being part of the family,” he stated in an interview with The Benildean.
After being the team captain for his high school team, he acquired traits such as being a good and proactive leader from his time as a student-athlete. Despite having little to no time to socialize due to training, Diano’s years of experience made him adjust naturally to the student-athlete life.
Experiences as an LGBTQIA+ athlete
For Diano, a masculine bisexual, competing and being part of the LGBTQIA+ community is “very breaking” since sports has been heavily dominated by heterosexuals. “When we break into that heteronormative culture, its really big,” the Pep Squad member stated.
Getting into the scene is hard, especially with the microaggressions thrown against LGBTQIA+ individuals. “[Me] and my friends parang once you get in there, may automatic [na] hindi mo ma-e-express ‘yung sarili mo… parang restriction sa identity mo.”
With the different stereotypes surrounding cheerleading, Diano stated that there are fewer LGBTQIA+ individuals in the team as opposed to what people assume. “Mahirap kasi may passive rules and culture na mayroon ang isang specific sport or team.” But nowadays, he shared that the community is more welcoming.
In dealing with discrimination, he shared that people spreading rumors back in high school is a major red flag for him. However, Diano said he doesn’t give too much attention to people who tried to bring him down.
When it comes to acceptance of the athletic community towards LGBTQIA+, Diano shared that “I think [it’s] more on tolerating pa lang so far.” He also shared there are few people that can grasp the difference between tolerating and accepting someone. “Sometimes they don’t get it or ‘yung iba ‘I just don’t care,’ parang you just do your job. Kasi at the end of the day, when it comes to sports, they see you [according to] your skills.”
The Pep Squad member shared that he felt accepted and loved in all three teams he was a part of. “Siguro hindi lang maiiwasan na marami talagang microaggressions, kasi it's hard to convince someone when you are in a team.”
When asked about what should be done to improve the acceptance towards LGBTQIA+ individuals, “Just think of us as humans, and we just want to be loved and we just want to be accepted. It’s not that [difficult].”
Lastly, he shared his message to aspiring athletes. “Entering the industry of sports is hard but you don’t have to change yourself and you don’t have to quit just because it’s hard. When you enter the [industry], just go with it. Kasi you’re not alone when you enter that industry. You will always find that person who will support your passion. I mean it’s scary, pero you just have to go through it. Kasi naniniwala ako na when you enter talaga, may mga tao na nandyan lagi sa’yo, magkakaroon ka ng companion through it.”
“If you’re a student-athlete, mabigat ‘yon because you have to be a student and an athlete. So when you enter that life, you have to prepare to sacrifice so much [..] time, social relationships, and other stuff, you are going to sacrifice so much. Just keep a tough mind kasi when you enter that mahirap talaga. Keep going lang.”
