SOGIE bill: Let's agree to disagree

A few weeks ago, transwoman Gretchen Diez was barred from using the ladies’ room by a mall janitress. This didn’t go so well because she got offended and retaliated by taking a Facebook Live video of the janitress for what she perceived as harassment and violation of her rights as part of the LGBTQ+ community. 

Gretchen was detained and later released but not without sparking controversy and gaining traction, thanks to her social media post. For a while, there was an outrage over it. Politicians and even celebrities were quick to ride on the issue; many of them backed her up.

In the end, the janitress was thrown under the bus by the mall administration—even if she was just clearly doing her job. 

But never mind. For the LGBTQ+ community and their supporters, it was victory. Striking it while it’s still hot, they are now pushing for the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) equality bill after the incident, which gives the LGBTQ+ the protection against discrimination. 

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These days, expressing one’s opinion whether pro or against LGBTQ+ rights has become a dangerous ground to tread on. I have thoughts on issues related to it (such as same-sex marriage), but I have learned to keep most of it to myself out of respect. Besides, I believe that sometimes we must agree to disagree—being that we have different values, understanding and beliefs. 

Even so, it’s strange how some members of the LGBTQ+ attack you just because you don’t share the same opinion. Funny how they call for love, understanding, equality and fairness but when you don’t necessarily agree with their views, they resort to calling you all sort of names: hateful, bigot, trans/homophobe, etc. 

I may not volunteer my thoughts on many issues every chance I get, but that doesn’t mean I don’t stand by it because I do. 

Like how I was asked before how I feel about the first transgender Ms. Universe candidate last year. The person who asked me was clearly putting me on the spot knowing the firmness of my stance. 

I don’t have any issues on Miss Spain 2018 specifically, only that I believe long-time beauty pageants like the Ms. Universe should be exclusive for the natural-born females. For me, the tradition that started almost 70 years ago should’ve remained as it was. Besides, nothing is stopping them to come up with a pageant of their own that could equal or even surpass Ms. U’s prestige. 

Now, this might not be a popular opinion with all the call for social open-mindedness and diversity, but that is my opinion and while I don’t force it on anyone, I am surely entitled to have one.

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In the wake of everything that happened, there was even a call by one SOGIE advocate that the gender of a newborn should no longer be indicated on the birth certificate. Lagalab LGBT Network President Naomi Fontanos said that parents shouldn’t “assume” the gender of the newborn babies.

I hope someone reminds her that parents do not assume the gender. Gender assignment is determined based on biological, anatomical facts. It pertains to either of the two sexes — male or female. They do this by inspecting the genitalia of a newborn baby.

However, World Health Organization (WHO) defines gender as “characteristics of women and men, such as norms, roles and relationships and that it varies from society to society and can be changed”. 

LGBTQ+ argues gender is what’s in the brain and how they feel and not what’s between their thighs. I wouldn’t want to fight what is getting to be socially acceptable, but I know that feelings should not always be the basis for everything. More often than not, feelings can cloud one’s judgement.

This is precisely the reason I avoid using the God/religion card in my arguments because people on both sides tend to get emotional when that happens. Trust me—when emotions are high, expect sound reasoning to go down the drain.

All I know is that with what is happening now, it seems we are being forced to conform to an idea based on some people’s feelings rather than the basic truth, facts and logic.

Back then they only wanted understanding and acceptance which I believe was duly given to them. Philippines is one of the countries in the world that is LGBTQ+ friendly, even if it is also a predominantly Catholic country. Over the last two decades or so, a lot of things regarding homosexuality that were taboo and rejected before, has now been generally accepted. 

However, some individuals who support the LGBTQ+ rights no longer ask for mere open-mindedness, but more like demanding a change to one’s opinion by conforming to their beliefs. If you listen to their views but stick to yours, they would say that you’re prejudiced and closed-minded, even if you hear them out. 

These days, they even take offense at the word “tolerance”. I mean, is it bad that I tolerate something I don’t necessarily agree with? It makes me wonder, what do they want from me then? Do they want me to adjust or change my own opinions and beliefs just so as not to offend them? 

I don’t mind giving others the freedom they think they deserve, if it does not step on another’s. 

Like how Bataan 1st District representative Geraldine Roman, a transwoman herself, said on a recent interview regarding the problem with women who have spoken out against sharing their toilets: “If you have a problem, magtiis ka!” (If you have a problem, just live with it!) 

This hit a nerve, to be honest. Why do we have to “endure” it when we are the ones being forced to share our comfort rooms to men who “self-identify” as females? Why should I back down speaking about our rights to use our own restroom? How is it that they can express their discomfort using the men’s restroom and yet she now questions why we feel uncomfortable if a man is using our toilet?

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SOGIE bill might end up being so dangerously one-sided. For this reason, even some members of the LGBTQ+ community have been vocal in saying that they don’t need it, as anti-discrimination clauses are already included in everyone’s basic rights. 

Proponents of this bill, whether they admit it or not, are calling for entitlement and special privileges—not equality.

What most of them fail to realize is that discrimination per se, while it happens often to LGBTQ, is NOT unique to them. The danger of passing such bill without any clear limitations is that it might be used against other people, groups and institutions.

To cite an example, there’s no stopping biological males who identify as females in enrolling to exclusive girls’ schools, joining women’s organizations, competing in sports for their chosen gender, because denying them this might consider it as a SOGIE-based discrimination.

SOGIE bill will challenge most of existing procedures, established systems and religious doctrines. If some people don’t realize the chaos that may result because of that, then they are the ones in denial.