Ice Seguerra deplores transgender comfort room discrimination

MANILA, Philippines – Singer and former National Youth Commission (NYC) chairperson Ice Seguerra shared a number of frustrating incidents and admitted not feeling safe when he is prevented from using a comfort room.

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Seguerra aired his concern over the issue after a transgender woman was barred from using women’s comfort room in Quezon City mall on Tuesday.

READ: Transgender woman in women’s comfort room causes stir in QC mall 

“This is a real concern. Na hangga’t hindi mo pa narararnasan, isasawalang bahala mo lang. Concern na hindi ko kailanman inisip na pagdadaanan ko rin pala. Para sa iba mababaw, pero hindi eh,” Seguerra wrote in an Instagram post Wednesday.

“Hindi mababaw yung pagtititnginan ka ng mga tao lalo na yung papalabasin ka. Parang kinakain ako ng lupa sa tuwing nangyayari yun and what’s worse is I don’t feel safe. All of these feelings and more, AND NOW THIS… just because gusto lang namin magbanyo,” he added.

Seguerra admitted this is one of his “biggest fears,” since there were times he was barred from entering a women’s comfort room and was questioned when entering a men’s comfort room.

“Honestly, this is one of my biggest fears whenever I’m out. Lalo na pag nasa Arabic countries ako. Pag sa pambabaeng banyo, ilang beses na akong pinalabas. And kung sa panlalaki naman, ang daming tanong, lalo na kung may mga Pinoy,” Seguerra shared.

It even reached a point where he intentionally does not drink water during official events so he would not have to use the comfort room.

“Kapag may ASEAN events akong dinadaluhan nung nagtatrabaho ako sa NYC, hindi ako umiinom ng tubig buong araw kasi natatakot ako mag banyo,” Seguerra said. /gsg