Have gender-sensitive restrooms, police ask offices, establishments

A POLICE official urged all establishments and government offices to put up a gender-sensitive restroom to promote equality among its clients.

Brigadier General Dennis Siervo, Philippine National Police (PNP) Human Rights Affairs Office (HRAO) chief, said they have designated a gender-sensitive restroom in their office in Camp Crame in Quezon City.

The office has three comfort rooms—one for male, another for female and a third with the signage “Gender-Sensitive Comfort Room, LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) or Guests.”

“May gender-sensitive CR na ba kayo (Do you all have a gender-sensitive restroom)? I encourage everyone, from the private sector to all government offices, to put up restrooms like this bilang pagrespeto sa karapatan ng bawat isa, anuman ang kaniyang kasarian (to show respect for the rights of every individual, regardless of their sexual preference),” he said on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019.

Siervo made the statement following the confrontation between a janitress and transgender woman Gretchen Custodio Diez on Tuesday, Aug. 13, after she tried to use the female restroom in a mall in Cubao, Quezon City.

The incident happened despite the city’s “Gender-Fair City” ordinance, a pioneer legislation in Metro Manila that penalizes discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, which was passed in 2014.

Diez will pursue charges against the mall’s management for violating the ordinance, although she dropped charges against the mall’s personnel after their apology.