Bables backs SOGIE bill but stresses no law can teach respect

Christian Bables (Photo from Instagram / @christiaaan06)

MANILA, Philippines — Actor Christian Bables is all for the passage of the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression (SOGIE) bill, but he points out no law can teach a person how to “respect, understand and love.”

“Dapat na siyang maipatupad para guided na ng law ‘yung mga tao,” Bables said Tuesday when asked for his opinion about the bill after the press conference of his upcoming movie “The Panti Sisters.”

“But wala naman kasing law or kahit anong libro ang makakapagturo sa isang tao kung paano rumespeto, umunawa at magmahal. Nasa sariling desisyon pa rin ‘yan kung paano ka magiging tao sa kapwa mo tao,” he stressed.

On the matter of transgender men and women’s choice in using public restrooms, Bables said people should let them choose depending on their own identity and orientation.

“Kung saan gusto mag-CR ng tao, doon siya mag-CR. Tao ‘yan e. Bakit kailangan magkaroon ng separation?” he said. “Kung ano ang identity, kung ano ang orientation ng isang tao, kung paano niya tignan ang sarili niya, let him or her be.”

At the same time, however, Bables thinks a separate restroom for transgender women would also be right to prevent malicious accusations against them.

He cited the opinion of some people that letting transgender women in female restrooms might expose them to possible harassment.

“Ako nirerespeto ko kung ano ‘yung opinyon na ‘yun na baka magkaroon ng harassment sa mga babae kapag hinayaang may mga straight, di ko nilalahat ah, na halang ang kaluluwa na gagawa ng kabastusan at hindi maganda sa mga kababaihan,” Bables said. “Pero kung ano ‘yung orientation ng isang tao, let them be.

“Pagdating doon sa CR, siguro, I think tama nga siguro na magkaroon na lang ng CR na separate para sa transwomen para hindi na napagbibintangan ng kung ano ano.

“Ako, as an ally, masakit din makakita ng kapwa mo tao na tinatag ng kung ano ano. Na pinagbibintangan ng kung ano ano,” he continued.

A recent incident of a transgender woman barred by a janitress inside a female restroom in a mall sparked debate on the approval of the SOGIE Equality bill which Sen. Risa Hontiveros refiled in the 18th Congress.

/atm