A women’s rights organization has condemned a University of Manila professor over transphobic comments directed at actress and transgender woman Awra Briguela, using the incident to renew calls for the passage of landmark anti-discrimination legislation.
Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Sarah Elago on Tuesday described the professor’s behavior as unacceptable, warning that educators who perpetuate bias against the LGBTQ+ community pose a serious concern. “It is alarming that, until now, there are still teachers spreading transphobia and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community. It is never acceptable to make a person a subject of ridicule or humiliation because of their gender identity or expression,” Elago said in Filipino.
The remarks were directed at Briguela after her professor commented on beach photos she had shared online. Gabriela said the episode underscores why the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) Equality Bill remains urgently needed, arguing that no individual should face discrimination on the basis of gender identity.
Elago’s party has long backed the SOGIESC bill, which has languished in Congress for years without being enacted into law.
