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Who is ALEKSA MANILA? – Our Featured Drag Queen for Drag Queen Storytime
Who is ALEKSA MANILA? – Our Featured Drag Queen for Drag Queen Storytime
ALEKSA MANILA (She/They)
Aleksa Manila is Seattle’s sweetheart of social activism. As a genderqueer FilipinX immigrant, her passion lies in honoring and uplifting marginalized communities especially BIPOC and gender diverse people. Her early years started with HIV education and intervention targeting young Asian Pacific islander gay men. This commitment blossomed working closely with LGBTQ organizations like Public Health – Seattle and King County, Seattle Counseling Service, Lifelong AIDS Alliance, People of Color Against AIDS Network, Entre Hermanos, UTOPIA among others. Mx Manila is featured in the GLAAD and Emmy nominated documentary, Caretakers directed by Geena Rocero and produced by PBS.
Finding her platform as a performance drag artist, she focuses on the power of voice and visibility for human rights centered on LGBTQ history and legacy. She’s a sought after keynote speaker, expert panelist, fundraiser, auctioneer, moderator and emcee at various events extending the boundaries of the traditional queer venues – like Seattle City Hall, King County Superior Court, Filipino Community Center, University of Washington, Seattle University, Department of Health, Asian Counseling Referral Service, and Federal Bureau of Investigations, including the White House to name a few. From Miss Gay Filipino, Miss Gay Seattle and Empress of Seattle – she continues to champion communities and collectives that honor the diverse LGBTQ narrative – from Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera to Harvey Milk and Mama Jose. She has gained recognition through her selfless act of creating safe space for others – from Seattle Mayor’s Award for Outstanding Leader, Filipino Community of Seattle Lifetime Achievement Award for Community Leadership, Seattle Women’s Pride Champion Award, Greater Seattle Business Association’s Humanitarian Award for Community Leadership, Grand Marshal at the 40th Seattle Pride, and Jose (Sarria) Honors to name a few including being sainted by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.
In 2012, she founded Pride ASIA, a Queer and Asian collective whose mission is to celebrate, empower and nurture the multi-cultural diversity of the LGBTQ2+ communities through the Asian Pacific Islander lens. Through her respected networking and collaborative efforts, Pride ASIA has the honor of disbursing $25,000 to individuals impacted by COVID.
With her Master of Social Work from the University of Washington, she centers her professional expertise on harm reduction, equity and social justice. She is in private practice focused on LGBTQ BIPOC populations, including health advocacy and consultation, and as a Program Manager at Public Health – Seattle & King County. Mx. Manila is a past and present member of the International Court Council, Heir Emeritus and Heir-in-line-of-succession to Empress Nicole The Great de San Diego, Queen Mother of the Americas; and various advisory boards centered on diversity for the arts, health equity, public health and social work. She is an Ambassador for the “Drag Out To Vote” national campaign to educate LGBTQ representation in the polls this fall.
Website: http://www.aleksamanila.com
Pet Blessing Reflection from Jemina
Our recent Pet Blessing was a beautiful experience, inspired by the teachings of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. His love and respect for all living creatures remind us that every life has value, and caring for our pets is a way of showing gratitude for the love and joy they bring into our lives. On this day, we had the honor of blessing both dogs and a cat, celebrating the special bond we share with our furry companions.
For me, this event was more than just a gathering; it was a moment of reflection on my own journey as a pet parent. My pets have been a source of comfort through some of the most emotional times in my life, offering their companionship without judgment. Yet, I’ve often struggled with what it means to be a “good pet parent.” I’ve questioned whether I was doing enough or what their role in my life truly was. Over time, I’ve come to realize that their role is exactly what they’ve been doing all along—bringing love, presence, and calm into my life in ways I never expected.
As someone who never thought of myself as a “pet person,” it’s been surprising to find myself with five pets at home! But these animals have added so much life to our household, teaching me about care, patience, and responsibility. Our home feels fuller and more joyful because of them, and in nurturing them, I’ve learned the importance of caring for the living things around me—whether that’s pets, plants, or even the people we encounter every day. There’s something profoundly sacred in the act of tending to life, in providing love and support where it’s needed most.
What made the Pet Blessing truly special was the way it connected people. Whether they were locals or visitors passing through town for a 5k, we all shared something in common that day: a deep love for our animals. It was heartwarming to see how easily conversations flowed when we talked about our pets, and how quickly people opened up. In a world where it can be difficult to find common ground with strangers, our shared affection for our animals made those connections effortless.
Inspired by the spirit of Saint Francis, this event reaffirmed for me the importance of caring for all living creatures, big and small. Pets have a way of showing us what it means to love unconditionally and to find joy in the simplest things. As I reflect on the day, I’m grateful for the love my pets bring, the community we’ve built, and the blessings that come from tending to the lives around us.
A Great Time at Camp!
Hi, Jemina here!
Reflecting on this weekend’s camp, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude and joy. 🌟 From my first desire to experience this camp with our church to now, my life has transformed in many ways. It was a delightful surprise to see so many join this adventure, especially with the International Kite Festival adding such a vibrant touch!
A big thank you to everyone who joined me on this journey. Camp was filled with delightful surprises, from zip-lining and bears to flying kites and enjoying delicious lemon pie. We created lasting memories together. As we enter this season of discerning our church’s future, I’m grateful for the meaningful moments we shared away from our usual routine.
I hope that this experience marks the beginning of many more adventures where we continue to explore new horizons together. Check out the album for more pictures from our trip HERE.
Jemina Marasigan
Tie-Dye Event a Success
Hello UGatherers- Jemina here,
As we slowly wind down from our peak summer days I can’t help but get excited for cozy sweater season and moments to reconnect and hear about everyone’s summer adventures. Although this season isn’t exactly as I imagined, it has also been a blessing in disguise. I have found moments to connect with my family through deep grief and high hopes. Most recently at UGathering we hosted our first tie-dye party and it was a fantastic experience! I’ve always loved getting my hands dirty, and tie-dye is the perfect fun mess for that. It was truly wonderful to spend time with our children and youth during these busy summer days. The joy of seeing everyone create their own funky shirts and wacky socks, and the vibrant, speckled hands, made the day special.
A big thank you goes to our dedicated volunteers from our congregation, Green Lake and Wallingford UMC! ~ especially to Pastor Willie and his yard—couldn’t have done it without ya’ll. I hope to keep uplifting the joy of our youth, and moments like these remind me of why it’s so important. The art, the pizza, the music, and the games all came together to create lasting memories.
Doing Church Differently
Happy Friday everyone!
Jemina here. This past Sunday we gathered once again to share a meal, discuss and create together. Jill and I are overjoyed by the time we spent together at brunch church and blessed to have the opportunity to share our home with others. Since joining this church, I have always believed in our ability to “do church differently” and this opportunity has truly shown our capacity to do so. At our own brunch church, we have opened up the table to children’s voices, given them a spotlight, and been blessed to have a peek into their creative minds. I am excited about the connections this different way of gathering will bring us and I am proud to be part of this community.
I also want to express my gratitude to all of you who participated in our Sweet Case activity. The unique designs that everyone created were beautiful displays of encouragement and love that will undoubtedly bring joy to foster children. It was heartwarming to see our community come together, brainstorm ideas, and decorate the bags with utmost care. I feel so blessed to be surrounded by such a compassionate and creative group of individuals. Let’s continue to keep the well-being of our foster children in mind and extend our support to them whenever possible.
With much gratitude,
Jemina MarasiganFamily and Community Engagement Minister