ORANI, Bataan — The first transgender congresswoman on Thursday said they feel safe with comfort rooms for women while the anti-discrimination bill that provides for a gender neutral bathroom or separate cubicle for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community is not yet approved.
“Saan ba safe ang transgender? Sa babae. Ang tingin ko sa mga kababaihan parang mga ina. Sino ba nagiging bff ng mga transgender, beki? Hindi ba bukod sa mga nanay nila ay ang mga babae,” Bataan 1st District Rep. Geraldine Roman answered her own question.
She said women have big hearts like mothers who understand. “So, we do not understand those who treat the ladyies’ comfort room na akala exclusive club. Ang nagsasabing may transgender dito, malay ninyo meron na matagal na hindi lang nila alam.”
“Sa mga nag-aalala, nauunawaan ko ang mga babae na nagsasabi na they feel uncomfortable, pero sa palagay ninyo ang transgender women bobosohan kayo? Hindi ah, baka mag-exchange lang kayo ng makeup kits,” Roman said.
She said that there was a suggestion in the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Bill under the Lower House version that companies have a choice to either build a gender neutral bathroom or allocate a cubicle within the regular comfort room for LGBT community if there is no physical space or for reason of financial capacity.
The congresswoman said she was saddened on what happened in the Farmer’s Market. “In a city where there is an anti-discrimination ordinance existing that this thing should happen. Medyo overkill ang ginawa ng security at cleaning staff ,” Roman said.
She said the transgender woman only wanted to pee but it turned to her being handcuff ed as if she was a criminal. “That is a form of humiliation. Nobody deserves that kind of treatment. I strongly condemn it.”
She said she filed a resolution in Congress to conduct an investigation in aid of legislation to know what the law on anti-discrimination still lacks to address similar problems.
“Sa mga nagsasabing maraming problema ang bansa at bakit pag-aaksayahan ng panahon ito, gusto kong i-assure kayo na ang sinasabing iba pang problema ng bansa ay tinatrabaho namin at ina-address sa Kongreso,” the Bataan solon said.
She said that being addressed in Congress are the problems of farmers as to the lowering of palay price, the Trabaho Bill, investments, the budget and some other important measures.
“So, we are working. Ang Kongreso ay multi-faceted. We deal with many issues at the same time. Itong isyu about the transgender victim sa Farmers Market, this is one of the many issues that we deal at the same time in Congress. So, hindi kami nagpapabaya,” Roman said.
Roman was with Kabataan Partylist Rep. Sarah Elago in the First District Scholars Summit in Orani, Bataan to discuss the students’ involvement in national aff airs.
Roman has 600 college scholars.
