Kevin Balot trends on Twitter after saying transwomen joining beauty pageants is 'asking too much'

Despite being a transgender beauty queen, Kevin Balot on Tuesday said that transwomen joining traditional pageants such as Miss Universe is "not equality anymore," an opinion that set Twitter on fire.

In an online "Queentuhan" with hosts beauty queens Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, Binibining Pilipinas International 2014 Bianca Guidotti, and Mutya ng Pilipinas Intercontinental 2010 Carla Lizarda, Kevin said traditional pageants should be for natural born women.

"We transwomen always ask for equality right? Us transgender women joining sa mga Miss Universe is not equality anymore eh. Hindi lang ako sangayon sa ganong bagay," Kevin said.

"Kasi we have our own pageant eh. We have our Miss International Queen pageant, which is the most prestigious transgender beauty pageant," she continued.

For Kevin, transwomen joining traditional pageants is "asking too much," though she has nothing against organizers for allowing transwomen to allow join the event."

"Not unless if the organizers will allow us to join. We have to respect each other," she said.

Bianca then realized that pageants for transwomen such as Miss International Queen should be elevated so it will have the same prestige as other traditional pageants.

"Kailangan namin ng mas marami pang suporta para mas ma-boost yung platform namin," Kevin agreed.

"Kasi platform niyo na yan eh. Ang kailangan namin is your support. You support us," she continued.

Pia admitted it's an angle she never thought about, and said it's also one way to look at it.

For Kevin, "if yung organizers papayag, magiging thankful kami" but expressed hope that their pageants be seen as an equal to traditional pageants.

The video discussion quickly caught the attention of netizens with Kevin and Miss Universe trending on Philippine Twitter. 

Kevin's opinon drew a mix reaction, with Twitter users like @NeshWrites agreeing with him and others, like @not_alfonso, who said "Kevin Balot is a class traitor who thinks demanding a seat at the table is asking 'too much'" feeling hurt and disappointed. 

Check out their tweets and others below.

Kevin Balot, as a cis-passing trans woman can always talk about how she has been accustomed to almost fair treatment. But allowing that experience to be the template for all trans women is turning a blind eye to the systemic violence faced by trans people as a whole.

— Amber | #JunkTerrorBill #OUSTDuterte (@GeeYanii) June 23, 2020

Girl i really looked up to queen Kevin Balot cause her presence as an openly proud trans woman really helped our community. So disappointed to hear na we’re apparently “asking for too much” when we fight to get represented in beauty pageants. Hay lungkot pic.twitter.com/LXpXbfJXOK

— Gigi on YouTube (@gigiesguerra) June 23, 2020

Personality politics is whack. Just because one belongs in the margins doesn't mean one's ideas and beliefs represent the best interest of everybody else in the margins. Kevin Balot is a class traitor who thinks demanding a seat at the table is asking "too much".

— Alfonso Manalastas (@not_alfonso) June 23, 2020

I totally agree to what Kevin Balot said. Transwomen have their own pageants not because they aren't women but because they're uniquely different from women. It's not segregating but it's a way of appreciating themselves amd accepting who they are. Blending in isn't always good.

— Nobody (@NeshWrites) June 23, 2020

I'm also against to that idea of allowing transwomen join Miss Universe. Ponce had hers and she's the last I know. Kevin Balot is right. We are asking too much and it is not equality anymore. For me, it is supremacy.

— van ???? (@vanjorain) June 23, 2020

Off topic from our usual politics, I find this rather saddening.

Transwomen bashing their own Kevin Balot for giving an unpopular opinion among her ranks.

Naging “traitor” pa nga raw. Come on, give her a break.

What’s your take on this? pic.twitter.com/qw7hRLu2uD

— Mother Gothel (@QMotherGothel) June 23, 2020

Why do y'all keep cancelling Kevin Balot when in fact she just stated a fact?

— lu (@whileimnotdead) June 23, 2020

Kevin Balot was crowned Miss International Queen in 2012 and is an advocate of LGBTQIA rights.

Their discussion on the topic begins at minute mark 43:00. — Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/LA, GMA News