EARIST hit for denying transwomen enrollees

MANILA, Philippines — Student groups yesterday condemned the Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST) for reportedly denying transgender enrollees unless they cut their hair short.

Transwomen students were forced to cut their hair short to enroll in the state college, based on video clips posted online by LGBT group Bahaghari-EARIST.

EARIST has been denying enrollment to transwomen since 2023, according to the group.

“Education must be for all – regardless of a student’s sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression,” Bahaghari-EARIST women’s representative JP Brillantes said.

A formal complaint has been filed before college administrators, the group said.

“Videos of students being forced to cut their hair just to enroll are going viral on social media. This is an example of how commercialized education is and how this gives birth to repressive policies just so the powerful would benefit,” the National Union of Students in the Philippines said in a statement.

The Commission on Higher Education said complaints must be resolved at the university level first and all administrative remedies must be exhausted before being elevated to CHED.

EARIST has yet to issue a statement on the matter.