"Gender is not just a state of mind."
"Gender is not just a state of mind."
It was just okay before. There were just lesbians, gays and bisexuals. They demanded acceptance which was every inch right as they are humans like everybody else.
It was not easy, but society had to finally relent. There was peaceful co-existence. But it was not still perfect as in the case of colored people and even women. Respect and acceptance still had to reach an ideal level.
But even after society had given them its hand, they started demanding more. They demanded the arm and more. Some started identifying themselves as transvestites demanding that society accept them for their cross-dressing. Of course, there was nothing else to do but accept them. Cross-dressing did not pose harm to anyone.
Still, they wanted more. Claiming they were women trapped in a man’s body and vice versa, they coined the term transgender. And that’s where the problem started. They now demand acceptance as real men and women, delegating gender to a mere state of mind.
With society slowly giving in, they broadened the scope to include those who qualify themselves as queer, intersexual, asexual and even those in between, +.
Gender has now become a tool for one’s convenience.
However, the incident involving Mr. Diez (I refuse to call him Gretchen as I am sure that is not his real and even legal name), has served as an eye-opener for those who have been ignoring their issue for the longest time.
Mr. Diez, physically male as he is, tried to use a toilet designed for women and was stopped by a janitress from doing so. Mr. Diez’s case was picked up by the media and he attained popularity overnight. Now, he is suing the mall management for discrimination.
Unfortunately for him and his likes, society is not about to tolerate their acts now. They have just stirred up the hornets’ nest.
Lately, the social media has been abuzz with memes criticizing transgenders’ attempt to impose their will on everyone, demanding respect and acceptance but deliberately ignoring the rights of other people.
A lawmaker was supposedly quoted saying that if women can’t bear a transgender or transwoman using the toilet with them, then they should just bear it. How insensitive (and arrogant)!
First of all, a transwoman (as how they preferred to be called), still has a man’s sex organ, a penis to be specific. And just like normal people, they still experience sexual urges. And since they have a penis and not a vagina, their arousal manifests through erection, just like any ordinary male. And just like any ordinary male, they reach orgasm by ejaculating through their penis by performing the same acts as done by any ordinary male.
In fact, in websites wherein transgender offer sexual services, they state categorically they have fully functional tools.
So, doesn’t that pose any threat or danger to any woman sharing the same toilet with a transgender?
In February this year, a 10-year-old girl was sexually assaulted in a women’s bathroom by someone who passed himself as a woman. Who can prevent this from happening here in the Philippines? Remember, these transgenders who insist on using the women’s toilets are still equipped with fully functional tools.
And this may be the reason why no lesbian insists on using the men’s toilet. They are likely aware of the dangers posed by someone with a fully functional tool.
Fortunately for us, their luck might have started running out. Society is now slowly realizing that it may have created monster when it accepted their principle that gender was a state of mind.
Not only memes lambasting them have gone viral on social media. Actions are being undertaken to finally take a stand against them. In Brazil, the newly elected president has vowed to eliminate transgender and pro-gay ideology from schools.
Also in the United Kingdom, parents have pulled out their children from schools which have allowed transgenders to use women’s bathrooms. In Iowa, female students even staged a walkout in protest over transgenders’ use of their bathroom.
They have bitten more than they can chew. Having stirred up the hornets’ nest, they can expect a rough sailing for their SOGIE Bill.
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NutriAsia’s Bring Your Own Bottle campaign was a success as hundreds of people gathered at the launch of the food giant’s BYOB pop-up store at The Mind Museum in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, last August 1.
The BYOB store is part of NutriAsia’s campaign to reduce plastic consumption and promote environmental sustainability.
NutriAsia encourages visitors to bring their own clean plastic or glass bottles to the pop-up store to get a refill of condiments, sauces and cooking oils at discounted prices. Products offered at the refilling station include Datu Puti soy sauce, Datu Puti vinegar, UFC banana catsup, Golden Fiesta palm oil, Golden Fiesta soya oil, Golden Fiesta canola oil and Golden Fiesta corn oil.
These items are sold 5-15 percent cheaper than their suggested retail prices. The store also gives 40 percent discount to buyers of locally blended juice drinks.
Since its opening, the BYOB booth has been frequented by working moms, young professionals and residents of the area. They can get a minimum of 200 grams of their desired products and a maximum of 2 liters.
According to NutriAsia’s staff, customers bring at least two empty bottles for refill; others just drop by their store to donate plastic containers. Jerome Manangkil, one of the visitors, expressed his appreciation and support for NutriAsia’s initiative.
For returning customer John Allan Adriatico, the BYOB campaign is good news to practical consumers like him.
Carinderia owner Vanjie Esperanza also finds the campaign beneficial to small business owners.
The pop-up store is open until Sept. 12. Since last year, NutriAsia has partnered with the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for a series of refilling activities across Central Luzon.