SP defers OK on LGBT’s CRs
LINGAYEN–Contrary to what it announced last week, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) decided to suspend action on the proposed ordinance requiring business establishments operating in the province to provide separate comfort rooms (CRs) for lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders (LGBTs).
In an interview after last week’s session, Board Member Alfie Bince, co-author of the proposed ordinance, said that two board members who were not present during the public hearing would like to ask questions about it.
“I agreed to the deferment of its approval to give them (SP members Nestor Reyes and Mojamito Libunao Jr.) a chance to ask questions and air their concerns in a conference with the committee,” remarked Bince.
The proposed ordinance exempts government offices’ comfort rooms from its coverage.
Bince, however, remains confident that the proposed ordinance will pass the plenary session since all SP members, except Reyes and Libunao, have already signed the committee report.
The proposed ordinance stated, “It is high time that the province of Pangasinan and its netizens should (sic) be more aware of the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders (LGBTs) and respond to their needs.”
It pointed out that “comfort rooms are specifically and naturally designed either for men and women and most often, LGBTs are confused which either (sic) restroom/comfort room to use when necessitated (sic) by the call of nature.”
Bince cited the support of SM, Robinsons, Jollibee, Chowking, and McDonalds for the ordinance and agreed to install a third comfort room that will be labelled as “gender-free.”
He, however, did not name any small business establishment affected by the planned ordinance that supports it but simply said that “some businesses” have requested for a deferment in the implementation to enable them to raise the needed logistics for the construction of an additional CR.
Bince said an acceptable compromise available to establishments is to offer existing CRs for persons with disablitiy (PWDs) as “gender free” CRs or PWDs and LGBTs will be made to share one CR.
Santy Layno of Ladlad movement who participated in the public hearing and expressed support for the proposed ordinance, however, objected to the sharing of CRs with PWDS. “We are not disabled,” came his vehement objection.
The Provincial Health Office expressed the concern that the province might be viewed as promoting the LGBT lifestyle.
Another resistance was aired by the Pangasinan Council of Tourism and Jesus is Lord Church. Bince, however, brushed off the objections.
If the ordinance gets approved, it will make Pangasinan the first province in the country to require separate CR for the LGBT community.
Establishments that fail to comply will be meted P1,000-P5,000 fines.- (Johanne R. Macob)
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