Lasia Casil || Guam Pride

by | Jul 22, 2018 | Faces of Pride, More About the Soul | 0 comments

Meet Lasia Casil, one of the organizers of Guam Pride.

On June 28th, 1969 the Stonewall Riots kicked off a larger gay rights movement in the USA.

In 1970, the first gay pride marches took place in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago – today pride parades are taking place all around the world.

In 2018, I wanted to know who the people organizing today’s pride parades are, what the marches mean to them, and met wonderfully powerful, loving and kind people from places, which might not be the first ones that come to mind, when we think of queer love.

See all Faces of Pride.

What’s your name and age?
My name is Lasia Casil. I am a transgender woman from Guam and I am in my 40’s.

Since when have you been involved with Guam Pride?
I co-organized the first Guam Pride event in 2016 with a bunch of friends. It was a small event on the beach with a DJ, cultural performers, drag queens and a bonfire.

In 2017 I formalized the organization Guam LGBT Pride and started to reach out to sponsors and the local community to participate and support the LGBTQ+ community on Guam. It was a challenge because Pride had never been celebrated out in the open before here on the island. There were parties in the nightclubs, but I felt it was important to make it inclusive for all ages and the entire community to participate. Our first Pride last year had a few sponsors and the turn-out really surprised me. We just celebrated the 2nd Annual Guam Pride March & Beach Festival a few weeks ago and we had double the sponsors and participants than we had last year.

Why do you think Guam Pride is important?
Same-sex marriage was legalized on Guam in 2015. I think it’s important to get the word out that there is a safe place here in the Pacific where the LGBTQ+ community can come and feel safe, vacation, relax and get married. I hope that we can sway closed minds to open up and inspire those in the neighboring countries and islands in Oceana to have confidence and stand up for LGBTQ+ rights and equality in their own communities.

What is one (or two) remarkable thing(s) that has/have happened at Guam Pride?
I think the most humbling thing is seeing the youth come out and realize that they finally have a safe place to be themselves and celebrate. Last year gave a presentation at a community college.

After my presentation a young woman came up to me and wanted to help with the event. She’s a graphic designer, so I asked if she could help design our logo for this year’s theme #RainbowIsland. We made t-shirts, stickers, hats and posters to raise funds for the event. When I asked her what name she wanted to use so I could tell everyone she designed the logo she declined.

She said her parents are quite religious and she was scared of being kicked out of her home if they found out she is gay. This broke my heart to find out the same fears I had 25 years ago when I was her age still prevail today. On the day of the Pride event she showed up with a couple of her friends.

I could see her eyes light up attending her first Pride event. Since that day I’ve noticed her slowly coming out publicly on her Facebook page.

What do you do when you are not organizing Guam Pride?
I am currently running for a seat as Senator in the 35th Guam Legislature and I manage a non-profit called Save Southern Guam advocating against irresponsible development on my beautiful island home, Guam. I also design my own jewlery line, Infinite Charm, based upon my travels around the world.

What do you like to do in your free time? I love to travel. I’ve lived in Tokyo, Munich, London, New York, Los Angeles, Bangkok and now back to Guam. I love being in nature, hiking, scuba-diving, cooking and exploring new cultures.

Is there something you would like to say to the rest of the LGBT+ community? Please have faith. It gets better. You are not alone. The wonderful thing about being our community is that we are able to create our own families when our real ones turn us away. Find your tribe. They’re out there and they are also looking for you.

Follow Guam Pride:
Website | Facebook | Instagram

DOWNLOAD FREE PRIDE ZINE

Not different, just love - Two pairs of feet, entangled with each other, on a bed

Not different, just love

How do you feel when it comes to dealing with our emotions, expectations and responsibilities, around coming out, living as a LGBTIQ+ person and when it comes to our families and love in general?

Join the I AM CREATOR School

I AM CREATOR School - Join Now

12 Months - 12 Topics

Have you ever thought about finding the fastest way to make your life what you always hoped for it would be, or all that it could possibly be?

I know that 12 months might not seem like a fast route when you first hear it.

But the mindset shifts offered in this course, really present you the unique opportunity to make changes possible, which might otherwise take you a lifetime.

The content of the I AM CREATOR School, combined with the exercises to practice what you learn right away and the chance to get all your questions answered, about how to live a successful, peaceful, fulfilled and happy life, all in one place, over the course of one short year, give you the opportunity to start creating your dream life, starting today.

Literally, you will receive the first exercise as soon as you sign up.

And you will get a full refund if you don't like it.

How Can We Be Soft? Do you know?

How Can We Be Soft? Do you know?

Dear Future Self, how can we be soft? And sweet and loving and kind? Do you know yet? This is such an incredible journey, yet I know there is so much I still have to learn. I just listened to this wonderful compilation, what a perfect way to start the day!"Stretch...

Do You Believe in God?

Do You Believe in God?

I have to admit that I have my difficulties.

I grew up believing in God. Not that long ago, I opened my very first diary to a random page and read about how grateful I was, that I always had God to talk to.

Then my education made me believe that there was no God. I came to the conclusion that God, or any kind of belief, was used to explain things we couldn’t explain ourselves yet.

Join the Generous life movement

podcast

Listen to first Podcast Episode: Finding Freedom.

on facebook

Join the Facebook Group for inspiration & accountability.

free newsletter

Be the first to know about upcoming events & offers.

i am creator school

Bring clarity, love, confidence and abundance into your life.

sustainable business directory

Shopping consciously is easy now.

OUR WORLD NEEDS CHANGE.
Our world needs you.
In your full power.

Start exploring new ways to be in this world.

Are you ready to let go of what's been holding you back?

Are you ready to live a joyful, brave, explorative, creative, fulfilling and successful life?

Are you ready to discover what it feels like to be free?

What it feels like to be free to be who you are?

To discover all that you are?

Welcome

Are you ready to explore all that is possible for you?
Is it time to finally be yourself?
Is it time for your liberated life?

join us

To start becoming your true self, guided by me and together with other like-minded explorers. You are loved & so welcome.

become

Who you were always meant to be. And start living a generous, free and abundant and joyful life.