Janus del Prado says Awra Briguela is ‘hurting the gay community’
Janus del Prado (left) and Awra Briguela. Images: Facebook/Janus Del Prado, Instagram/@awrabriguela
Janus del Prado had no holds barred as he accused Awra Briguela of allegedly “hurting the gay community,” days after Briguela reshared a post about the importance of observing one’s pronouns.
The “Ang Probinsyano” star made headlines after reminding her followers to use the proper pronouns and how misgendering is a form of disrespect, through a reshared post on her Instagram Story on July 16.
While sharing INQUIRER.net’s report of Briguela (who goes by the pronouns she/her), del Prado took to his Facebook page on Saturday, July 19, to call out the actress for making people “turn against the entire gay community” due to her “entitlement.”
“Awra. You are doing too much to the point that you are hurting the gay community. People are starting to turn against the entire gay community because of this kind of entitlement. Nadadamay sila sa bashing (They are being dragged into the bashing). Not to mention overshadowing the identity and attention from biological women, their struggles and their place in society,” the actor said.
Del Prado told Briguela that she is not in fact ‘oppressed” and that the “gender alphabet” is “a trend started by the US and other Western countries” that the Philippines is just imitating.
The actor then hammered down on his claim, insisting that these countries are allegedly “suffering the consequences” of it.
“Stop acting like you are being oppressed because you are not. Nakigaya lang naman tayo sa pauso ng US and other western countries about the gender alphabet and neo pronouns,” he said. “And now, ano nangyayari sa kanila? They are suffering the consequences and starting to reject the whole ideology. It even destroyed Hollywood, Sports, and their Education System. Balik na sila sa two gender policy.”
(Stop acting like you are being oppressed because you are not. We’re only imitating the trends created by the US and other Western countries about the gender alphabet and neo pronouns. What happened to them now? They are suffering the consequences and starting to reject the whole ideology. It even destroyed Hollywood, Sports, and their Education System. They returned to the two-gender policy.
Del Prado said he doesn’t mind if Briguela addresses herself as she or her. However, he urged the actress to stop “forcing everyone else to play along,” noting that people have a different set of values.
“You made it all about these neo genders and pronouns that lack common sense. If you want to call yourself a ‘She’ or a ‘Her,’ then go, live, and enjoy your life the way you want to. No one’s stopping you. Just don’t expect and force everyone else to play along. Because just like you, we all have our own beliefs, values, principles, and free will.
“There is nothing wrong with using proper grammar to address other people. Stop the gaslighting. Nakakapagod na makitungo at makisama sa inyo. Nagkakaroon na ng Trans fatigue ang mga Pilipino. (It’s tiring to deal and play along with you. Filipinos are starting to develop trans fatigue),” he continued.
Awra Briguela reshared a post about why observing the right pronouns matter. Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@awrabriguela
Ending his post, del Prado urged the members of the LGBTQIA+ community to “not be an enabler” of Briguela.
“And to the gay community. Please speak up pag wala na sa hulog yung ginagawa ng miyembro ng kumunidad niyo (when someone from the community is not in the right state of mind). Don’t be an enabler just because they are a part of your group. It will only hurt the gay community and what you stand for. Thank you,” he said.
Briguela has yet to publicly respond to del Prado’s lengthy statement as of this writing.
The actress recently graduated from senior high school at the University of the East, which she noted as an important milestone in her life after initially struggling with her education. /ra
