Image: Instagram/@praybeytbenjamin
Comedian and host Vice Ganda did not hold back when he shared just some of the struggles he has to endure as a gay man, during the “Tawag ng Tanghalan” segment on “It’s Showtime” yesterday, Oct. 15.
For some, using the restroom is one of the most mundane things a person can ever do. When nature calls, it is almost in robotic fashion that one makes his or her way to the restroom to relieve one’s self. But for Vice Ganda, such is not so simple, as he shared to co-host Vhong Navarro and their audience during the variety show.
“Alam mo ‘yang mga lalake akala niyo lagi eh ang sama ng iniisip sa mga bakla. Kahit sa CR, kaya ako hindi ako nag c-CR sa CR ng lalake na-b-bwisit ako. Yung pagpasok mo, pag may pumasok na bakla, yung mga umiihing mga lalake,” Vice Ganda shared candidly as he acted out a dodging gesture.
(You know, all these men, they all think bad about gay men [who enter male restrooms]. That’s why I do not use male restrooms, I get annoyed. When a gay man enters a male restroom, men who are in there urinating [move away, as if evading something].)
“Akala mo kukunin namin? Napakamalisyoso.”
(You think we would get it? So malicious.)
Vice Ganda continued on with his sentiments, saying that he cannot just go inside a female restroom because he also feels judged.
“Eh ‘di ba sa CR din ng babae ‘di rin naman ako makapasok. Eh ‘yung ibang mga babae magrereklamo, ‘Ano ba yan kalalaking tao dito mag c-CR,'” he said honestly despite maintainig his comical air.
(I cannot enter women’s restrooms too. Some women complain, “What’s that? Why is a man using this CR?”)
“Kaya ako tuloy na bakla, ‘di ko alam kung saan ako papasok. ‘Dun na lang ako sa, ‘di ba ito ‘yung lalake, ito ‘yung babae? ‘Dun ako sa dingding sa gitna.”
(As for me, a gay man, I do not know where to go. Here’s for the men, here’s for the women. I’ll just go to the middle, on the wall.)
Vice Ganda’s ostensibly lighthearted rant, however, sheds light on the elephant in the room. And it did not take long until he finally voiced his concern in regard to the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity or Expression (SOGIE) Bill, also known as the Anti-Discrimination Bill.
“Alam mo kaya yung SOGIE bill dapat ipasa na ng Senado,” Vice Ganda finally said. (That’s why the Senate really has to already pass the SOGIE Bill.)
He did not hesitate to call out senator Joel Villanueva and senate president Tito Sotto, both known for staunchly thumbing down the idea of same-sex marriage.
“Nananawagan kami kay senator Joel Villanueva at tsaka kay senator Tito Sotto, para ipasa na ‘yan,” he then said, in a serious tone. “Kasi ang hirap eh. Para walang gulo. Ayaw niyo kami diyan, ayaw niyo kami dito, eh di bigyan niyo kami ng sarili.”
(We are appealing to senators Joel Villanueva and Tito Sotto, to already pass that bill. It’s so hard. So we can avoid conflict. You don’t want us there, you don’t want us here, then give us our own.)
He then broke out of character in Vice Ganda fashion, quipping, “O i-ihi kami sa mga pinto niyo, gusto niyo?”
(Or else we’ll pee on your doors. You like that?)
The SOGIE Bill has yet to see the light of day, despite notable figures such as celebrities voicing out their support for the said bill. Anne Curtis and Iza Calzado, back in July, reached out to Villanueva, Sotto and senator Manny Pacquiao as a call for support for the bill. Heart Evangelista and Tootsy Angara, too, are one with the LGBTQ+ community as they wore rainbow pins to the State of the Nation Address that same month.
Under the SOGIE Bill, it would be illegal to “out” or reveal the sexual orientation of a person without his or her consent. Other offenses include engaging in discriminatory speech that insults and vilifies the practices of the LGBTQ community, denying the LGBTQ community access to private medical and health services based on their gender, and forcing them to undertake psychological examination as a means of determining or altering their sexual orientation.
The offenses shall be penalized with a fine of not less than P100,000 but not exceeding P500,000. Imprisonment, meanwhile, ranges from one year and 10 years. JB
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