Punchline
A third comfort room?
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
THE unusual and totally unexpected proposal of Board Members Danilo Uy and Alfie Bince to require establishments in Pangasinan to provide a special comfort room for gays is not exactly the kind of idea that can be considered as “out-of-the-box” worth considering.
The duo wants a separate comfort room for gays because of their impression that gays are neither male or female. Duh?
But before I proceed, let me state a few things lest I be misunderstood. First of all, I realize I will be treading on what might turn out to be an “emotional” issue, meaning – a no-win contentious non-issue. Secondly, I count on a lot of gay friends and contemporaries and a few cross-dressing gays whose views I deeply respect.
Having said that, here’s my take of it.
First of all, there is an obvious misconception and application of the word “gay” in this regard.
As both Messrs. Uy and Bince candidly admitted, the idea was broached during their discussions with gay members in attendance during “Miss Gay” contests.
The context of gays in their proposal therefore obviously refers specifically to cross-dressing gays, who think and happily believe that be gay is to dress like a woman, to don skimpy bikinis and fancy gowns and who are not averse to but proudly join Miss Gay competitions.
This is not what gays are about. Cross-dressing is only one lifestyle that a few (not all) gays, opt to follow.
To build a comfort room exclusively for gays in this regard would, in fact, only serve to validate the stereo-type and grossly unfair notion that all gays are cross-dressers. This is utterly false and a serious disservice to respectable professionals who are comfortable being gay without cross-dressing. As both Messers Uy and Bince have found out for themselves, the few cross-dressers in our communities can be found strutting their wares in Miss Gay competitions but they overlooked the fact that the Miss Gay participants still do not cross-dress in their work locations, not even in beauty salons where perhaps most work.
Why the duo felt comfort rooms are designed to suit certain lifestyles and not for specific use by human species blessed with specific sexual organs –male or female – is beyond me. Simply put, once a man changes his sex organ, from a penis to a vagina, he automatically is entitled to use comfort rooms for women. He won’t find the urinals useful for him, err..her. That’s the simple rule in the use of our comfort rooms.
If a straight guy or a gay cross-dresses, it doesn’t change the fact that a urinal in the men’s room is most appropriate for him. How he dresses to use the urinal is his own business and lookout.
Come on gentlemen, if you enjoy the sight of cross-dressers no end, go to all the Miss Gay competitions in the country but spare business establishment owners the expense of constructing a third comfort room. Keep the comfort rooms sacred as God intended – separate the creatures that live with a penis from those that do with a vagina.
In sum, this absurd idea of providing an exclusive comfort room exclusively for cross-dressers trivializes gays’ respectable existence.
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ORIDNANCE STILL NEEDED. Many feel relieved that the reported zero-drowning target in public beaches and resort establishments has been attained particularly during the observance and celebration of Pista’y Dayat in the province and Bangus Festival in Dagupan.
Yes, so far so good!
However, unless and until there is a provincial ordinance that requires all local governments of coastal towns and cities, and all resort parks and hotels that have swimming pools for public use, to employ a certified lifeguard 24/7 to ensure the safety of all, the semblance of security remains very tentative.
Without that ordinance, the likelihood of someone drowning in our beaches and resort establishments remains and still no one could be held accountable.
Surely, the members of the provincial board can see more merit in this than debating whether an ordinance requiring a third comfort room for cross-dressers is necessary or not.
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SOMOS O NO SOMOS? The recent Obama presidential visit here raised some questions in many people’s minds why militant groups chose to protest the visit and violently flayed the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between US and our government.
For all the purported constitutional defects of the agreement or the soft commitment of the US government to come to the aid of PH in case of military confrontation with China, the militant left appeared to be confused about its position vis-à-vis China incursions into PH territory.
The militant groups insist they are with the government in protesting China’s bullying tactics yet the protest rally last week was aimed at the US that expressed support for PH position, and not at the occupants at the Chinese embassy.
So far, there have been no burning of effigies of China’s leaders, only of PNoy and President Obama.
What is this, many asked. Somos o no somos?
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LIFESTYLE CHECK. City health workers in Dagupan have written recently to Mayor Belen Fernandez to look into claims that the city health office has been selling some donated medicines to patients when these are supposed to be provided by the office for free.
They also claim rampant misuse of government properties and staff.
The group has also asked the mayor to conduct a lifestyle check on one particular CHO officer who has since acquired 5 luxury vehicles, an apartment building and a house.
If this is true, then city health workers need not wait for the mayor to act. They have a good case that ought to be filed with the ombudsman!
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EIGHT MORE YEARS! It’s Mayor Belen’s birthday on May 6, her first celebration as the city mayor. May she have eight more years to complete her reform agenda based on full transparency and accountability!
Happy birthday Mayor Belen!
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ASHOK, THE MAN. This corner joins the city folk in greeting the affable philanthropist, Ashok Vasandani on the occasion of his 50th birthday!
Mr. Vasandani, a recipient of a doctorate degree honoris causa from the Lyceum Northwestern University, appears destined to be the president-for-life of the More Than Conqueror’s Breakfast Club in Dagupan City.
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