Several netizens and known LGBTQIA personalities shared their disagreement with former Miss Universe [1969] Gloria Diaz’s statement objecting to the new rules of the Miss Universe pageant.
The Miss Universe Organization has recently announced progressive changes to its rules, allowing transwomen, married women, and single mothers to compete in the pageant.
The former Miss Universe, however, disagreed, saying there should be separate pageants for them.
In an ambush interview published by the entertainment site Push on May 2, Diaz was asked about her opinion on the new rules of the Miss Universe pageant.
“Edi dapat ‘Universe’ na lang [ang tawag], huwag nang ‘Miss,’ kasi hindi na ‘Miss’ ‘yun, diba? Siyempre, [keeping up] with the times pero in my personal opinion, which is not to be taken in a negative way, dapat may sarili silang contest,” she said.
“Dapat may sariling concept like Mrs. Universe, may Lesbian Universe, may Tranny Universe. There is room for so much [candidates in pageantry]. Dapat may sarili silang category. Kasi sa Mrs. Universe naman, maraming maganda diyan,” Diaz added.
The beauty queen-turned-actress statement, however, didn’t sit well with several LGBTQIA celebrities and netizens.
In a tweet, celebrity photographer and known LGBTQIA personality Niccolo Cosme disagreed with Diaz’s statement, noting that married women, transwomen, and single mothers should be treated with less value than single women.
“So, is she pointing out that married women, single mothers and trans women have less value than single women?? Women empower should be for all women, not just single women.”
Cosme also reminded the former Miss Universe that the term “tranny” is an offensive word.
“Also “Tranny” is an offensive and a derogatory slur madame Gloria, fyi.”
https://twitter.com/niccolocosme/status/1654045192096456706
Paolo Pangilinan also shared his reaction, calling Diaz “sketchy.”
“I told u she was sketchy”
I told u she was sketchy https://t.co/PxtP9ZagNJ
— Paolo Pangilinan (@PaoPangs) May 4, 2023
Netizen @mxnoelle, meanwhile, sarcastically responded to Diaz’s statement, tweeting “Eh bakit universe maam eh wala rin naman kayong kalaban from other planets???
Eh bakit universe maam eh wala rin naman kayong kalaban from other planets??? https://t.co/GikmCsvjLO
— noelle (@MxNoelle) May 4, 2023
@znatozaki also criticized Diaz for her objection against transwomen, noting how the Miss Universe pageant has been widely supported by the LGBTQIA community.
“very funny how she’s shitting on transwomen as if the gay community isn’t the main audience of Miss Universe. If the gays stopped watching, they wouldn’t have an audience.”
very funny how she's shitting on transwomen as if the gay community isn't the main audience of Miss Universe. If the gays stopped watching, they wouldn't have an audience. https://t.co/KEin9792QX
— arizona (@znatozaki) May 4, 2023
