A transgender Miss Universe? How about a Bb. Pilipinas transgender?

The decision this week of the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) to allow transgenders to join the pageant was welcomed by the local LGBT community.

 

The Progressive Organization of Gays (ProGay Philippines) praised the decision of MUO to reinstate transgender Jenna Talackova as the Canadian representative to the pageant.

 

Talackova had previously been disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada competition for not being “naturally born” female.

 

The 23-year-old underwent gender reassignment surgery when she was 19, and is identified as female in legal documents including her passport, driver’s license, and birth certificate.

 

MUO owner Donald Trump later reinstated Talackova to the competition, after which MUO announced that they would change their rules to allow transgenders to compete in the pageant in 2013. 

 

ProGay Philippines has also urged the Bb. Pilipinas organization to follow the MUO’s lead by allowing Filipino transgenders to join the local pageant whose winner represents the country in the Miss Universe tilt.

 

The group also asked their “idol,” former Bb. Pilipinas Miriam Quiambao, to reconsider her stance against the inclusion of transgender women in the Miss Universe Pageant.

 

Quiambao had previously stated that she believes transgenders should not be allowed to join the pageant “because it’s only for real women.”   

"We ask [her] to be more thoughtful and welcome her sisters among the ranks of women who fight for equal rights," said Goya Candelario, ProGay spokesperson.

 

Heart Diño, the first transgender chair of the University of the Philippines Diliman Student Council, shared the same sentiment.

 

Diño said on her Facebook page, “Ang happy na pwede na yung transwomen sa Ms. Universe, pero dahil wala pang gender recognition law sa pinas, bwal pa to sa bb.pilipinas.”

 

“I think ito ay magaapply lang din sa mga bansa na may gender recognition law. So dito sa phil, dapat mas paigtngin pa natin ang ating campaign for gender equality,” she commented.

 

Rica Paras, a transgender woman and former reality show contestant, said in a text message to GMA News Online that Quiambao’s questioning of Miss Universe’s credibility for including transsexuals was “harsh.”

 

“I think it is an issue of discriminatory policy that MUO is correcting, and thus they become more humane. Credibility is open for interpretation and can be oppressive,” she added.

 

Paras also urged Bb. Pilipinas to allow transsexuals to compete: “as a sister organization, yes, Bb. Pilipinas should pioneer combating discrimination and starting to champion inclusion and diversity.”

 

“Pero feeling ko mahirap baguhin ang pananaw nila at tumanggap ng transsexual contestant,” she added. –KG, GMA News