Belmonte vows to support harassed transgender

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government will provide all the necessary assistance to transgender Gretchen Diez, who was harassed at a mall in Quezon City last week, according to Mayor Joy Belmonte.

Belmonte has directed the City’s Attorney’s Office “to provide all necessary legal assistance to Diez in pursuit of her quest for justice,” a statement from the local government said.

Diez on Friday met with Belmonte and filed a complaint before the Quezon City Pride Council for violation of the city’s gender-fair ordinance. 

She was handcuffed and brought to the police station last Tuesday after she recorded her confrontation with a mall sanitation crew who barred her from using the women’s restroom.

Belmonte condemned the incident and called out the management of Farmer’s Plaza in Cubao for failing to designate “gender-neutral” restrooms as mandated by the ordinance.

The mayor said the pride council, which has the oversight function in the implementation of the anti-discrimination ordinance, discussed on Friday ways to strengthen the implementation of the policy.

“The council is also studying possible amendments to the ordinance for it to have more teeth,” she added in Filipino.

Belmonte also underscored the need to have an education campaign about the ordinance to ensure that all stakeholders, particularly the establishments, are aware of their responsibilities under the measure.