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Should companies, schools allow cross-dressing?

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Trishia Billones, ABS-CBN News

<figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1426108" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>MANILA - Company policy against cross-dressing is not necessarily a form of discrimination, Senator Joel Villanueva explained Thursday amid accusations that he is delaying the passage of a bill that would protect members of the LGBT community from discrimination.</p><p>Last month, celebrities made viral the hashtag &quot;Love is All We Need,&quot; tagging Villanueva, Senate President Vicente &quot;Tito&quot; Sotto III, and Sen. Manny Pacquiao.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/life/07/24/18/anne-curtis-other-celebs-appeal-to-senate-to-pass-lgbt-anti-discrimination-bill">Anne Curtis, other celebs appeal to Senate to pass LGBT anti-discrimination bill</a></li></ul><p>Asked if he thinks such a policy against cross-dressing is discrimination, Villanueva said: “I don’t see it because it’s company policy.&quot;</p><p>&quot;If you cannot submit to the culture and the policy, beliefs of this religious organization, then you have to respect it. It is a company policy that they do not allow cross-dressing. So it is your choice if you want to apply for this company or not,&quot; he told ANC&#x27;s Headstart.</p><p>&quot;If it’s company policy, you have to submit. It has nothing to do with your competence, it has nothing to do with the job being asked of you. It’s a company policy on how you dress,&quot; he said.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_2_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_2" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1426100" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>Villanueva, son of Bro. Eddie Villanueva who founded the Jesus is Lord Christian church, recalled that while he was studying at the University of Sto. Tomas, a Catholic institution, he acquiesced to the school&#x27;s requirement of him attending religion classes and celebrating Mass every month because he &quot;respect(s) their religious beliefs.&quot;</p><p>He disagreed that a school would be &quot;persecuted&quot; for stating in its student handbook that it prohibits cross-dressing because of religious beliefs.</p><p>&quot;You cannot trample on one’s right to give (rights to another). Ang mangyayari dun, it will become a special right. Even the LGBT community doesn’t want that, all they want is equality,&quot; he said.</p><p>Villanueva said he co-authored a SOGIE (Sexual Orientation Gender Identity and Expression) Equality Bill, and he has only spoken thrice during debates in the Senate.</p><p>He admitted however that he has misgivings about the version authored by Sen. Risa Hontiveros currently pending at their chamber.</p><p>He cited Section 3-A, which enumerates acts of discrimination, where he said &quot;the author wants us to legislate based on one’s perceptions and feelings.&quot;</p><p>He said a part of it read that a religious leader who preaches his belief that sexual acts between 2 men is a sin promotes stigma, which is criminalized under the measure.</p><p>Villanueva, who emphasized that he loves his friends from the LGBT community, noted that Hontiveros is open to amendments and he is hopeful that Senate would eventually be able to come up with &quot;a measure that will address anti-discrimination practices.&quot;</p>

<p>Company policy against cross-dressing is not necessarily a form of discrimination, Senator Joel Villanueva explained Thursday amid accusations that he is delaying the passage of a bill that would protect members of the LGBT community from discrimination.</p>

Company policy against cross-dressing is not necessarily a form of discrimination, Senator Joel Villanueva explained Thursday amid accusations that he is delaying the passage of a bill that would protect members of the LGBT community from discrimination.

Should companies, schools allow cross-dressing?

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Should companies, schools allow cross-dressing?

Trishia Billones,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 30, 2018 11:16 AM PHT

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Updated Aug 30, 2018 11:48 AM PHT

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