Comedian, TV host, and director John Lapus has joined the ongoing national conversation on gender pronouns, calling for empathy and respect amid clashing views.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) dated July 19, Lapus emphasized the importance of honoring how people wish to be addressed—especially when it comes to pronouns.
“Napaka simple. Kung ikaliligaya ng isang tao ang matawag ng he or she at hindi mo naman ikamamatay, aba’y gawin mo na,” he wrote.
Lapus’ statement quickly gained attention online, sparking a wave of both supportive and critical responses from netizens. While many agreed with his call for kindness, others argued from religious, grammatical, or biological standpoints.
The debate over gender pronouns has been reignited in the Philippines following a social media exchange between trans actress Awra Briguela and content creator Jack Argota. The tension began when Jack publicly corrected a report from ABS-CBN News that used the pronoun “her” in reference to Awra’s high school graduation.
Awra appeared to respond via a Facebook post defending her identity, but later clarified that she does not manage the page in question.
In light of the controversy, Rainbow Rights Philippines, an LGBTQIA+ legal advocacy group, released a statement on July 19 denouncing transphobic remarks aimed at Awra.
“Krimen ‘yan sa ilalim ng Safe Spaces Act (R.A. 11313),” the group warned, referring to potential penalties for gender-based online harassment. “Should this person follow through on his threat, we will mobilize resources for legal aid and support.”
