Transwoman, transman? They don’t exist in the dictionary – Sotto

MANILA, Philippines— If it is not in the dictionary,  so where did the word transwoman or transman come from?

Senate President Vicente  “Tito” Sotto was puzzled but is convinced there are groups that “prostituted”  the word gender.

Sotto, who is opposing the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (Sogie) Equality bill, explained that the word gender is a “sub-class” of sex, which is male and female.

“Hindi ko maintindihan kung paano nila nabaluktot yun, na gamitin yun, na naging transgender ang paggamit, yung trans-woman, trans-man,”  he said at a press briefing  in the Senate on Monday.

(I don’t  understand how they circumvented it and became transgender,  transwoman, transman)

“Ikinalulungkot ko, pero hanap ako nang hanap sa dictionary, walang word na transwoman. Lahat ng dictionary hinanap ko, wala. Wala ring transman.”

(Sad to say, I’ve been searching it in the dictionary, there is no word transwoman. I looked for it in all dictionaries, nothing.  There is also no transman)

“So, saan galing? In other words, nag deviate nang masyado…Ika nga ay let us not allow such moves,” the Senate leader added.

Sotto has openly opposed the bill, even saying it has no chance of passing in the Senate. He said at least  15  of 24 senators would vote against it.

READ: Sotto: At least 15 senators are against Sogie bill