The Bathroom... again?

A trans-woman was recently arrested for using the female restroom. They were told by the janitress that they're not a real woman and so calls for the anti-discrimination bill (sogie) have come up yet again.

Trans-rights are a funny one. I'm pretty sure they're not funny to the transgender community but I notice that whenever discrimination against transgenders appear in the news or in social media, it's almost always in relation to one of two things - dress codes and rest rooms. It seems to me that Philippine society has no problem accepting the transgender community into churches, companies, schools, etc. So I still don't think an anti-discrimination law is needed in this regard. Do we really need to police how establishments set up their dress codes or their restrooms? I think not.

A close friend of mine had cited this instance and said that we should all really just respect each other's views and opinions. He has a noble suggestion and one that we should really abide by. This case, however where a trans-woman was arrested in a Cubao mall actually has two people who's views collided and could not be resolved.

The janitress told the trans-woman that she was not a woman and the trans-woman said she was a woman. In this particular case, you have two people who wouldn't respect the other's view. Both of them didn't accept the other's view. Although the media portrays the janitress to be the intolerant one, both of them are actually equally intolerant. How then should such conflicts be settled?

I personally don't know. But I'm inclined to side with the woman who has her facts straight - the janitress. This is something that cannot be denied by any amount of science. "Trans-women" are never really women. When I say this, some people shut me out and when I ask, "What is a woman?", I don't get an answer. The fact is, people know what a man or a woman are and trans-men and trans-women simply do not fall under that category.

What people call trans-women are just men who look and act like women. Some don't even look like women at all. Also, what people call trans-men are just women who look and act like men and nothing more. No amount of surgery or make-up can change that.

Now, should we treat transgenders any differently? Of course not. That would be discriminatory. I personally think this shouldn't be legislated either way. Transgender people should be allowed to use whatever bathroom they want to use but establishments should also be allowed to set rules on who can use which bathrooms.

I still find it funny that the main issue on on transgenders is once again a bathroom.