- Gretchen Diez was recently arrested and handcuffed because she was prohibited from using the women’s bathroom
- Senator Tito Sotto remarked on the incident, saying the term ‘homo sapiens’ should be used instead of LGBT to address everyone
- Transwomen Francine Garcia and Anne Patricia Lorenzo react to this disrespectful comment
Last August 14, 2019, SOGIE (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression) also known as the Anti Discrimination Bill was discussed at the senate in light of the recent issue of Gretchen Custodio Diez, a transwoman who was arrested when she tried to use the women’s bathroom.
At the said hearing, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III reacted to Senator Risa Hontiveros’s privilege speech regarding Diez’s issue and LGBTQ rights.
“Why that lengthy letters? Why not just homo sapiens?”
“We are all the same. Why do we have to segregate the gays from the lesbians, straight guys?”
Sotto’s homo sapien comment did not sit well with former Super Sireyna contestant Francine Garcia. On Facebook, Garcia posted:
“SANA SA SUSUNOD MAGKAROON NG REPRESENTATIVE ANG BAWAT IS[A] SA LGBTQIA+ SA SENATE HEARING PARA MAKITA NILA ANG DIFFERENCE NG BAWAT ISA KASI HINDI NAMAN MAIINTINDIHAN AT HINDI IINTINDIHIN HANGGAT HINDI NASA HARAPAN NILA”
Followed by an indirect comment on a shared post.
It’s Showtime Miss Q & A Finalist Anne Patricia Lorenzo also made a comment on Facebook.
She also directed a comment to Senator Bato Dela Rosa.
