This event reminded me of the SALEM WITHCRAFT TRAIL in 1962, The BLACK POWER REVOLUTION and our very own EDSA REVOLUTION.
In this age of advanced technology and supposedly civilized and rationalized society, We still find oppression, bigotry and tyranny amidts our lives.
I now wonder,
How long should anyone fight to gain what is respecfully intrinsic to one's existence?
Here's the story,,,
The Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines (STRAP) held it's Anniversary on the 24th of May and the girls decided to celebrate this event in Ice Vodka Bar, located in Greenbelt 3, 3rd level Ayala Center, Makati City, Metro Manila.
Before they can enter, The bouncer stopped the girls saying that the girls were "inappropriately dressed" eventhough they were dressed decently, tastefully, and most importantly just like any other human being who lives her life as female 24 hours a day. One of the founders of the the first transsexual women's support group and transgender rights advocacy organization in the Philippines, Ms. Sass asked for the manager and the bouncer was kind enough to let her in, Manager Ms Belle Castro accomodated her and very sympathetically and respectfully listened to her complain. Here's what the manager said:
1. (Referring to the sisters) That "people like them" aren't allowed in our bar every Fridays & Saturdays;
2. That that was an agreement between all the bars in Greenbelt (Ms. Belle Castor particularly mentioned their bar, Absinthe, and Café Havana) and Ayala Corporation, the company which owns the Greenbelt Complex;
3. That the reason for this policy is: "Marami kasing foreigner na nag-kocomplain at napepeke daw sila sa mga katulad nila." Loosely translated in English: "There are lots of foreigners complaining because they mistakenly perceive people like them as real women"; and
4. That they have a "choice" to implement the policy.
That's when the strap sister lose it.
Why is this kind of discrimination happening in this fucking country, and what gave the fucking foreigners the right to demand to block people like them to enter bars in our very own country?
Ok, people might say that they have it goin since they could have just avoided the incident if they dressed APPROPRIATELY. right?
but that is just blatanly stupid and utmost ignorant. Transgendered/Transexual women finds peace and balance if they see, act and live as a woman. It is second to nature so who gave anyone the right to force anyone how to dress and how to live life.
People around the world, througout History had to fight just to have the simpliest of rights, When will this end?
ANTI-DISCRIMATION LAW, WHERE ARE YOU?
coz it's really tiring to wake up everyday to fight for MY EXISTENCE AS A WOMAN!
%%%%%%%%%%UPDATES:
I think it's my moral duty and responsibility to correct any negative perception this incident caused againts Greenbelt, IceVodka and specially Ms. Belle Castro.
After the incident, Formal Complaint was made and The operations engineer of Greenbelt promised to take positive actions regarding this matter.
We (STRAP FAMILY) are demanding that the whole Greenbelt Complex and so much as the whole Ayala malls be declared as "DISCRIMINATION FREE"and i think they will heed this call. (kudos to them)
Ms. Belle Castro, Apologized and expressed full support and commitment to fair, equitable and respectful treatment of people of trans experience. This email serves as her formal apology towards Sass and the stap sisters:
Good Evening Ma'am, This is Belle Castro of IceVodka bar. Im writing you know to express my deepest apology for everything happened last night. I know i made a big mistake when i did that to you and your friends. i misjudged you and prevented you from your right to have a good party in our bar. It gave me sleepless night and GOD was indeed good coz i prayed hard before i go to sleep to give me a chance to say my piece and sincerest apologies to you and your friends. i want to say sorry now not as a manager of a bar but as a person will all humility i ask for forgiveness to you Ms. Sass and to your friends . Sorry for i caused you pain and for the disrespect that you got. ICEVODKA will always be open to everybody now will never discriminate ever again. i hope this will serve as a good start of friendship. again im sorry.
Belle Castro.
Snap snap to them!
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