Jessie Gabonpa 
One of the Samar State University – College of Education (CoEd) representatives, CJ Babon, a Bachelor of Secondary Education – Major in Social Studies student, officially took her throne as she was hailed as Queen SSU on May 17 during the pageant’s coronation night at the SSU Gymnasium.
Besting seven other queens, Babon asserted her grace and wit throughout the competition, particularly during the question-and-answer portion, as her response about balancing inclusivity with limitations in uniform policy resonated strongly with the audience and judges, ultimately propelling her to the coveted crown.
The newly crowned Queen SSU tackled the question head-on, stressing that true inclusivity cannot coexist with limitations.
“First of all, I don’t think that there is inclusivity with limitations. If we say inclusivity, it means we are welcoming everyone, every idea, every gender identity, every gender expression. If we are going to limit the expression of someone else, then we [are] prohibiting them in expressing their true self,” Babon responded to the final question.
“In terms of school uniform, as a transgender woman living my whole life as a woman, I am being limited to live my life here in the institution as a woman because I am prohibited to wear my preferred uniform, and I think [that] is inclusivity with limitations and I don’t think that I deserve that treatment. This [shows] my whole life, this transgender community and the LGBT community is not just for entertainment and not just for show but this is a protest and we are here today to stand and talk what we think we deserve,” she added.
Babon, as the Queen SSU 2024, is poised to be the face and voice of the LGBTQIA+ community in the university.
Runners-up in the said pageant include Jayne Plasabas of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CoNHS), Lara Moreno of CoEd, and Jovito Tadio of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) who were crowned as Queen SSU Innovate, Queen SSU Build, and Queen SSU Serve, respectively.
Queen SSU is the rebranded Miss Gay University, revived by the University Student Council after four years of hiatus due to the pandemic.
