Samal Island resort draws heat after keeping transgender woman from using ladies' room

A resort in Samal Island is now the subject of controversy online after it kept a transgender woman from using the shower in the ladies' room.

According to Jandi Esteban's report on GMA Regional TV-One Mindanao, Shannon Gonzaga took offense after a staff of the Isla Reta Resort asked if she had female genitals.

"The approach for me was really wrong, already offensive. I only wanted a shower," Gonzaga said in Cebuano.

Resort owner Mario Reta said the management was only protecting its female guests.

"We strictly implement that no transgender will be allowed inside ladies' room. We only have two CRs, for male and for female," Reta said.

"We're protecting women more than gays. If a man rapes a woman, she could get pregnant. Nothing will happen if a man rapes a gay person," he added.

Gay rights advocate Norman Baloro said what happened to Gonzaga was a clear case of  "gender discrimination."

"Why would they keep a person from using the CR based on how she feels and regards herself?" Baloro said.

On Wednesday, Isla Reta announced in a Facebook post that it would no longer accept transgender persons in the resort.

In a Facebook post, the management said it had no facility for transgender persons.

"We only have man and women's comfort rooms. There is still no law for a CR for transgender persons," Reta said. —NB, GMA News