Garcia: Bathroom issue shouldn’t start discord

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia says “there are more important issues to be addressed” than the recent arrest of a transgender woman in Quezon City for using a female bathroom in a mall.

In an interview this week, Garcia stated that the arrest of Gretchen Custodio Diez was an isolated case and that the LGBTQIA+ community has come such a long way in terms of acceptance.

“If we make such a big think about it and start a debate about it, then there starts the polarization of society which does not need to be,” she said.

“Let us not make one isolated incident a cause for sparking a heated debate. In the process of growth, there must always be some growing pains,” she added.

Diez made headlines last week for staunchly crying out for justice against her illegal arrest for using a female restroom in a mall in Quezon City.

According to her, she was comfortable in her choice to use the women’s bathroom in the mall because of the existing Gender Fair Ordinance in the area.

This is why it came as a shock to her when the janitress assigned to the female bathroom escorted her out of the restroom and dragged her to the security office.

Diez, not knowing what to make sense of the situation, pulled out her phone and started a live Facebook video. Many politicians, including prominent figures like Senators Bong Go, Imee Marcos, Ronald Dela Rosa, and even President Rodrigo Duterte, have since then showed their support for Diez.

But Garcia maintained that society’s process of accepting members of the LGBTQIA+ should be “given free reign.”

She noted that while it is important to educate people, “isolated instances” like what occurred in Quezon City are inherent in the journey to progress.

“Sakto na, di na ta mag sige ug debate about this kay there are more important issues to be addressed,” Garcia stressed.—  FPL (FREEMAN)