MANILA, Philippines — A “Pinoy Big Brother” housemate faced criticism online after assuming a fellow contestant’s gender.
In an episode aired Thursday, Mae Alfante repeatedly asked her fellow housemate Sky Quizon about his gender.
During their first week in Big Brother’s house, Alfante told other housemates: “Akala ko bakla si Sky… noong first day lang.”
Alfante also made comments like “Medyo nagdadalawang-isip na ako sayo. Lalaki ka ba?” and “Hindi ako makapaniwala na lalaki ka pala.”
In one instance, housemates noticed how Quizon brought lotion, moisturizer and other skincare products inside the Big Brother’s house prompting Alfante to say, “Parang bakla talaga.”
This time, Quizon finally spoke up and said: “Stereotype si Mae e, stereotyping. Sa pag hindi pasok doon sa masculine na pananaw niya, bakla na. Yan e, sakit ‘yan sa lipunan.”
Quizon also clarified he identifies himself as “heterosexual male” to Big Brother while inside the confession room.
“Now I identify as a heterosexual male, but am I against falling in love…Now I identify as a heterosexual male, but am I against falling in love with a man, a gay, a lesbian? If you ask me Kuya I’ll be open. Love is stronger than any gender,” Quizon said.
Alfante’s statements did not sit well with netizens saying she does not have the right to label someone the way she likes.
“I’m watching #PBB and Mae, girl, what makes you think you have the right to force someone to come out of the closet? Sky might be or might not be gay, its not your business to ‘find out’ Straight boys can be feminine, stop labelling people for the way they act, jeez,” one netizen said.
I’m watching #PBB and Mae, girl, what makes you think you have the right to force someone to come out of the closet? Sky might be or might not be gay, its not your business to “find out”
Straight boys can be feminine, stop labeling people for the way they act, jeez— emma g. (@emmaguillermo_) June 13, 2019
Another netizen said this discussion fits pride month which is celebrated every June, saying it is high time to educate people about stereotyping.
“This ‘Mae’ on pbb teasing Sky as gay because of the way he acts and behave in the house is so timely with this month’s theme. It’s pride month and it is perfect time to educate people about gender stereotyping! Masculinity and Feminity doesn’t tell us what our gender is,” the netizen said in a tweet.
https://twitter.com/aitehahay/status/1139178521211760641
Alfante, 22, and Quizon, 21, are among the second batch of adult housemates in “PBB’s” eight season.
Just recently, a housemate was force-evicted from the show after he made a series of rape jokes.Housemate Banjo Dangalan was told to leave the “PBB” house on the episode aired on June 4 after making an inappropriate joke toward a fellow housemate.
Bad enough?
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(Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)/ac