MANILA, Philippines —While admitting he has a “long way to go” in understanding the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersexual, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) community, singer Janno Gibbs believes the arrest of a transgender woman in Quezon City was “overkill” and a “human rights violation.”
Gibbs shared Friday over his Instagram account a photo of a television interview of Gretchen Diez, the transgender woman who was barred entry to a ladies toilet inside a Quezon City mall by a janitress.
“Admittedly I have a long way to go on being fully educated in LGBTQ rights. I am old school,” Gibbs wrote as caption to his post.
But the singer said he often talks with his daughters who have better understanding of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression (SOGIE).
“I often have discussions with my Chi and Gabs who are clear on their SOGIE understanding,” he said.
Gibbs added that Diez’s case, is however, is beyond the issue of gender equality, but of human rights.
“But clearly, this case of Gretchen transcends Gender Equality. Her being handcuffed, paraded, even subjected to Medico legal was Simply a Human Rights violation. It was overkill!” Gibbs said.
Diez was arrested after she documented the incident via Facebook livestream. But Diez was released the same day after the janitress apologized and backed out from filing the unjust vexation charges.
Despite an apology from the mall’s management, Diez’s camp is still poised to file charges against them for violating Quezon City’s Gender Fair Ordinance which prohibits any form of discrimination on any person on the basis of sexual preferences. /muf
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