By Gabriela Baron
Senator Tito Sotto on Monday said that many women feel awkward sharing the restroom with men dressed as women or women who look like men.
Sen. Vicente Sotto III
(Senate of the Philippines / MANILA BULLETIN)
“Bihirang-bihira akong makarinig ng babae na natutuwa na mayroong lalaking nakabihis babae sa loob. Ang daming nagsasabi sa ‘min.” Sotto said in an interview with DZMM. (I rarely hear about women feeling happy seeing men dressing like women inside the restroom. A lot of women have told us so.)
Sotto clarified that Congresswoman Geraldine Roman’s situation is different.
“Iba ‘yong sitwasyon ni Congresswoman Geraldine Roman kasi babaeng-babae na s’ya e, so walang problema sa kababaihan. Pero paano ‘yong mukhang lalaki? They feel awkward e.” (Congresswoman Geraldine Roman’s situation is different because she already looks like a woman, so there is no problem. But how about those who look like men?)
He also called the viral video of Gretchen Diez ‘one-sided’ and ‘deceptive’.
“Ang mga babae ang nagrereklamo, sabi nila nagwawala ni Gretchen, like inaaway s’ya nung janitress. Ang hindi sinasabi, may pila doon sa ladies toilet, ngayon paglabas nung dalawang babae, nagreklamo doon sa janitress, sabi may lalaki sa loob. Mayroon daw isang hindi babae. Nilapitan nung janitress, wag na lang dito kasi may nagrereklamo, tinuro s’ya doon sa PWD o sa isang toilet nila.” (Women complained, they said Gretchen was making a scene, lashing out at the janitress. What they did not tell us was, there was a line outside the ladies toilet, when two women came out, they complained at the janitress saying there was a man inside. The janitress approached Gretchen and told her to use the PWD toilet or their other toilet instead.)
“Kung transwoman, walang problema, kasi biologically woman na ‘yon. Nagpapalit e. So walang problema ‘yon,” the senator added. (No problem with a transwoman, because she is biologically a woman already.)
“Sa lalaki walang problema (No problem with men), I have yet to see a lesbian enter a male toilet. Walang problema (no problem), they use their own toilet ’cause they know their kasarian (gender),” said Sotto.
