The incident of Gretchen Diez, a trans woman who was publicly ridiculed and then cuffed by authorities after using the women’s bathroom in Farmer’s Plaza, made headlines and awakened social media for the past few days.
Discourse on the issue of bathrooms for the LGBTQ+ are happening everywhere, and Sen. Risa Hontiveros is renewing the push for the SOGIE equality bill in Congress. Sen. Tito Sotto also expressed confusion over the LGBTQ+ term and why it was so lengthy. “Why not Homo sapiens instead?” he asked.
This morning’s Super Radyo DZBB, however, was a nightmare.
Broadcast journalist and radio anchor Jimmy Gil made some pretty heinous statements on the issue on his episode #JimmyGilLive.
A radio listener tuned in to the show and posted the incident on social media, “He said that if the members of the LGBTQIA don’t want to use the designated public toilet for us, then we’re better off to wear [sic] diapers.”
Preen.ph reached out to the listener who posted about Jimmy’s homophobic comments.
“I believe it is important for everyone, especially those people who have the power to influence opinions and values to weigh in and watch the words that they say regarding issues that concern the society,” said the radio listener who asked not to be named.
“Filipino culture has always been so lenient towards the act of always reducing sensitive topics into jokes and comical situations. Yes, we are used to watching game shows every day but pertinent matters that need proper debate cannot be resolved by acting like a clown.”
He further elaborates that the LGBTQ+ community has been denied basic human rights for generations now. “We grew up enduring bullies, with resilient against insensitivities and power play. The world is now changing and so we have to look towards that change. We all need to learn how to share this world with each other. This is no time for people like us to stay quiet while those who choose not to access simple values as respect and sensitivity continue to treat us as slapstick.”
The listener reports that Jimmy later took back his comments as a joke after a few minutes into the program, but kept reading homophobic comments from listeners.
It was a disappointing morning for those who tuned into #JimmyGilLive—whose station is located in Quezon city, where an Anti Discrimination law exists.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
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