Trans woman complains of discrimination at MRT-3

MANILA, Philippines — A transgender woman cried foul over the alleged discrimination she experienced at the Ayala station of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3).

Blogger Mikki Galang said she was asked to leave the courtesy lane designated for women, elderly and persons with special needs. 

 Blogger Mikki Galang said two unnamed security guards approached her and told her that “boys” are not allowed on the courtesy lane. When she told one of the guards that she was a woman, the guard asked, “Paano (how)?”

She posted on Facebook a video of her conversation with the guards. The video was viewed more than 8,000 times as of yesterday.

 The guard was heard asking Galang not to be offended as he was only responding to commuters who complained about her presence in the courtesy lane.

  “I’m sharing this not for pity, but so you know how we struggle with this on an everyday basis na actually I’ve learned na palampasin na lang kasi wala namang SOGIE equality bill to protect us,” she said. 

 The bill prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression or SOGIE was passed on third and final reading before the House of Representatives last year.

Ladlad chairman Danton Remoto said the MRT-3 should focus instead on the problems of the trains and not on complaints against the LGBTQ community. 

 “What can you expect from stupid guards at the MRT and the MRT itself? They cannot even fix the leaking roofs of their trains, for heaven’s sake. Focus on the big picture,” Remoto said. 

 The MRT-3 said there is nothing wrong if a trans woman is in the courtesy lane.

“It’s a matter of further educating staff and employees, even security guards to be more sensitive on these kinds of things,” the rail line said in a statement.