MANILA, Philippines — Transgender women’s rights advocates have spoken up on the viral “sir” video that has taken the social media space thrashing out over the past few days.
Several days ago, a viral video of Jude Bacalso had the social media space abuzz after netizen John Calderon posted a lengthy account showing a waiter and Bacalso. In the post, Calderon said the waiter was made to stand in front of Bacalso for nearly two hours after the waiter addressed Bacalso as “sir.”
Bacalso had already apologized for the incident but she remains in the face of criticism for her behavior. This also aroused debates online about questions of morality and equality.
According to Reyna Valmores, Chairwoman of Bahaghari Philippines, a national alliance for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) members, while misgendering should be addressed and corrected, she said that “people need not be punished so harshly after misgendering someone on accident.”
She likewise said that members of the LGBTQIA+ community do not have to be “perfect victims” just to be believed.
“We do not have to be angelic and helpless all the time just for people to finally recognize that something is wrong, and that we need greater strides for gender equality,” she said.
Meanwhile, television personality Kaladkaren said in a separate statement that members of the community, instead of harshly imposing punishments on other people for lacking awareness or unintentionally offending someone, should be educated and members need “not to humiliate” other people, adding that not everyone is aware of the proper pronouns use.
“Sadly, not everybody is 100 percent aware of how to use the right pronouns. As members of the community, I believe it is our responsibility to educate others about this,” she said. “We have to let them understand the importance of using the right pronouns for every SOGIE. But educate properly. People commit mistakes… I do also.”
