Sotto urges reality check: Restrooms biology-based

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente Sotto III is warning against calls for sweeping reforms on restroom use, pointing out that restrooms are “biology-based” and any departure from the norm may affect the sensitivities of heterosexuals.

“I am all for respecting rights. But how about the sensitivities of women who are uncomfortable with transgenders using women’s restrooms, or straight men donning women’s clothes?” Sotto told reporters yesterday.

“Restrooms are biology-based. Lesbians cannot stand in a male-only urinal. Konting reality check naman (Alittle reality check please),” he said.

He said providing restrooms for use of the LGBTQIA+ community was fine with him, but this would be “difficult to do everywhere.”

“Also, I have not heard (the lesbians) complaining. It’s the (gays) who have an issue as far as toilets are concerned. The next problem will be the women who will complain if no 3rd CRs are available. They are starting to complain now,” Sotto said.

Earlier this week, Bataan 1st district Rep. Geraldine Roman and Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas filed a joint resolution calling for an investigation on the incident involving Gretchen Diez, who was arrested last Tuesday afternoon after using the female comfort room in Farmers Market Mall in Cubao.

Diez was blocked from using the women’s restroom and was brought to the mall’s security office when she later tried to take a video asking the maintenance staff why she wasn’t allowed inside.

Diez was later brought to the Cubao police station and then to the Quezon City Police District’s Anti-Cybercrime Division in Camp Karingal for taking the video without permission.

Senators on Wednesday debated on the case of Diez and foresaw intense deliberations on the pending Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression (SOGIE) Equality Bill.

1-Pacman Rep. Eric Pineda, who admitted he was uneasy being with persons of “other sex” in the same restroom, has proposed the establishment of a “third sex” CR.

He said such proposal would help the LGBTQIA+ community to not feel uncomfortable in using either male or female restrooms, thereby preventing the Diez incident from happening again.

“Of course our brethren from LGBTQIA+ are uneasy to use the men’s room because they are afraid of being mocked there. For me, it’s better to really come up with another restroom for our brothers and sisters from the LGBT,” he explained, saying he feels uncomfortable in similar conditions.

“When a janitress goes inside a male restroom to clean up the place, that’s a little uncomfortable for me,” he confessed.

Another party-list lawmaker, Rep. Jerico Nograles of Pwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) supported the proposal, stressing that while it is a matter of tolerance, “no one has the right to hurt” members of the LGBTQIA+.

In Quezon City, where the incident with Diez occurred, a resolution has been in effect since 2014 which penalizes discrimination against LGBTQIA+, such as heckling, verbal or non-verbal ridicule and vilification as well as refusal of services and accomodations based on a person’s SOGIE.

The ordinance also requires government agencies, private offices and commercial establishments to “designate toilet rooms and lavatories labelled as all gender [comfort rooms].”

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte earlier condemned the incident and vowed to fully implement the ordinance.

She convened the the city’s pride council on Friday to address the matter.

Following Tuesday’s events, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has initiated an investigation as it condemned the supposed discrimination against Diez. – With Paolo Romero, Janvic Mateo