QC mayor condemns discrimination vs. trans woman in Cubao mall

Mayor Joy Belmonte of Quezon on Wednesday condemned the reported discrimination against a transgender woman inside a mall in Cubao, saying it violated a city ordinance.

Gretchen Custodio Diez was handcuffed and brought to the police station on Tuesday night after a janitress led her out of the female comfort room and insisted that she use the male's.

In a statement the next day, Belmonte said the mall "clearly violated" the city's Gender Fair Ordinance "for its failure to put up all-gender toilets for the LGBT+ community."

"Ipinag-uutos ko sa business permit and licensing department na siguraduhin na susunod, sa lalong madaling panahon, ang lahat ng business establishments sa ating gender fair ordinance," she  said.

Belmonte stressed that Quezon City is the first to pass an ordinance aimed to protect members of the LGBT community

"Sa batas na ito, ipinagbabawal ng lungsod ang lahat ng uri ng diskriminasyon, at binibigyan ng proteksyon at paggalang ang dignidad at karapatang-pantao ng lahat, lalung-lalo na ang LGBT," she said

Belmonte also tried to assure members of the LGBT community that QC will "always protect their rights" and "be a home for their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression."

"We do not support any kind of violence and discrimination in our city. Sa atin pong LGBT+ community, protektado ang karapatan ninyo sa QC," the mayor said.

Diez had recorded her confrontation with the janitress who led her out of the female comfort room at the mall.

The janitess, identified as Chayra Ganal, later apologized through a written letter at the police station. The mall also withdrew its complaint against Diez.

The transgender woman, who was released the same evening, said she is still determined to file charges against the mall.

"I just realized na enough is enough, lalo na po isang supposedly LGBTQ-friendly city like Quezon City," Diez told GMA News' Unang Balita on Wednesday.

The discrimination was strongly condemned by Bataan Congresswoman Geraldine Roman, a transgender woman, and Senator Risa Hontiveros, who raised calls for the passage of the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression (SOGIE) Equality Bill. —Margaret Claire Layug/KBK, GMA News