LINGAYEN—Pangasinan could soon become the only province in the country with public toilets reserved for gays, in addition to the usual room for men and women.

Two members of the provincial board have proposed an ordinance that would require all public establishments in the province to designate toilets not just for men and women, but for the so-called third sex.

According to proponents Fifth District Board Member Danilo Uy and 6th District Board Member Alfonso Bince, the idea arose from their discussions with the members of the gay community when they attended Ms. Gay competitions in the barangays and towns.

The 67-year old Uy said, “They (gays) do not know where to go, knowing fully well how people react to them when they go to either female or male comfort rooms.”

He said proposing a separate comfort for the gays is not an act of discrimination. “Kung hindi mo sila bibigyan ng sarili nilang CR, that is discrimination,” Uy stressed.

“We have to fight for the rights of the homosexuals as well,” he intoned.

Uy said that the gay community  “is very happy” about the proposal and the members are looking forward to the adoption of the ordinance.

But Uy maintains he is not certain that the proposed ordinance will be adpoted. “If it doesn’t, at least we tried”, said Uy.

The proposal is calendared for first reading during the Sangguniang Panlalawigan session on Monday and public hearings will be scheduled later to get the views of various sectors.–Tita Roces and Johanne R. Macob

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