SINGER-songwriter Paolo Guico of Ben&Ben called on his fellow Filipinos to “grow up” on the topic of gender identity and expression.
Guico had posted selfies of him on Monday, showing him in a dress and in a casual shirt-and-pants outfit.
Two days later, Guico took to Twitter to share his stand on gender expression, lamenting the outdated perception of many Filipinos on the matter.
“Never assume anyone’s gender based on the clothes they wear. Hay Pilipinas, ang layo pa natin,” he wrote on Wednesday.
He then urged his followers to stop using “bakla” as a derogatory term.
“Sana’y makamove-on na tayo bilang bansa sa paggamit ng ‘bakla’ bilang insulto. As a heterosexual male, I may not be in the place to speak for them but, I will fiercely fight for our LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) friends and listeners,” he said.
“You are valid, accepted and loved. Pilipinas, let’s grow up!”(ABS-CBN News)
