On her Twitter account, Miss Trans Global 2020, Mela Habijan recalled her triggering encounter with a school administrator.
Habijan highlighted the statement of the school administrator that caused her to post the Twitter thread.
https://twitter.com/missmelahabijan/status/1369905028173946884
She then recounted receiving the invitation to speak in front of the school’s student body and meeting with a school administrator who took pride in their LGBTQIA+ employees and gender-neutral restrooms.
https://twitter.com/missmelahabijan/status/1369905029625257992
https://twitter.com/missmelahabijan/status/1369905031252639748
However, their conversation took a turn when the administrator discussed one of their trans-identifying employees who had to abide by the school’s policy, suppressing her gender expression.
Additionally, Habijan wrote that the administrator uttered the phrase ‘I respect pero… dapat professional pa rin,’ triggering the trans beauty queen.
https://twitter.com/missmelahabijan/status/1369905032812896256
https://twitter.com/missmelahabijan/status/1369905034461290502
Afterward, Habijan took the opportunity to discuss the transphobic nature of said policies implemented by the school, leading to a passionate discourse between them. Habijan challenged the administrator to initiate change through inclusive policies.
https://twitter.com/missmelahabijan/status/1369905037615398913
https://twitter.com/missmelahabijan/status/1369905039918067716
https://twitter.com/missmelahabijan/status/1369905042438848516
Sadly, the said administrator backpedaled by using technicalities as an excuse, causing the beauty queen to decline the school’s invitation.
https://twitter.com/missmelahabijan/status/1369905044884058121
https://twitter.com/missmelahabijan/status/1369905047207747584
Finally, the beauty queen ends her thread with a message trans people are professional.
https://twitter.com/missmelahabijan/status/1369905049195876353
This mentality shows why the LGBTQIA+ community needs the SOGIE (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity Expression) bill because it protects people like Habijan and the employee from discrimination based on her sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression in the workplace.
Habijan made history when she won the first Miss Trans Global pageant back in 2020. Habijan recently headlined Transcend by LoveYourself’s women empowerment segment, with 2013 Miss World Megan Young.