Palace calls for respect for LGBT rights after Gretchen Diez incident

Malacañang on Thursday called respect for the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community following the apparent discrimination suffered by a transgender woman at a mall in Quezon City.

“Dapat we have to respect the rights of all people, kung iyon ang choice nila eh,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said at a news conference.

Gretchen Diez on Tuesday was barred by a cleaning lady in the Quezon City mall from using the women's comfort room and told her to use the restroom for males instead.

She left but returned to talk to the cleaning lady and proceeded to take a video recording of their exchange.

A security guard then handcuffed Diez and brought her to a police station where a complaint for unjust vexation was supposed to be filed against her.

The staff members reportedly were distressed that Diez took a video without their permission.

For Panelo, it was wrong for the mall staff to refuse Diez's use of the ladies room.He said a Quezon City ordinance prohibited discrimination against people’s sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.

“Batay doon sa ordinansa ng Quezon City, that's a violation. May ordinance sila eh. Pero I understand the [janitress] has already apologized and she is willing to be educated on the rights of the LGBT,” he said.

Diez’s ordeal has sparked fresh calls to pass the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression Equality (SOGIE) Bill which the Commission on Human Rights said was necessary to protect the LGBT community against all forms of discrimination.

Panelo said the lawmakers should be the one to decide on the matter.

“’Yung passage will depend on the wisdom of the lawmakers. We cannot encroach on that,” he said.

“I remember the President expressed support for the LGBT one time, ‘di ba? So, I think he will support that kind. Eh, ang gusto n’un palaging fair treatment to all eh.”

Panelo vowed to ask the President if the bill will be certified as urgent to expedite its passage in Congress. —NB, GMA News