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‘Ang bakla ay bakla’: Gay icon Ricky Reyes shares views on SOGIE bill

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/life/09/10/20190910-ricky.jpg"/><figcaption>Gay icon Ricky Reyes does not see the need for the SOGIE bill. Screengrab from YouTube</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA – He is considered a local gay icon, and was even asked by President Rodrigo Duterte to represent the LGBT community.But veteran hairdresser Ricky Reyes said he does not see the point of it, and even went as far as saying that LGBTs should keep their issues to themselves.“Ilang presidente na ang natulungan ko, pang-anim na si President Duterte. Bakit kailangan ko pang mag-LGBT [representative]?” he told reporters in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7XGmkPWNi0&amp;feature=youtu.be">video </a>uploaded by a certain Timmy Basil on YouTube. “Ako this year, lahat ng LGBT, nilikom ko silang lahat. Sabi ko, ‘Tigilan na ‘yang kabaklaan. Huwag na kayong magbestida sa kalye kasi lalo tayong pagtatawanan ng tao, okay? Dapat tumulong tayo sa kapwa para mahalin tayo ng tao,’” he added. Reyes went on to stress that LGBTs can only be fully understood by people from within the community, and that involving the rest of the country with their problems is uncalled for.“Walang makakaintindi sa bakla kundi kapwa-bakla lamang, at ang affair ng mga bakla dapat sa atin lang ‘yan. Huwag nating ipangalandakan sa tao. Bakit kailangan kong sabihin sa madlang people na, ‘Uy, intindihin mo nga ako, bakla ako.’ Teka muna,” he said.<div>RESTROOM ISSUE</div>When asked about transgenders using the restroom of the gender they identify with, Reyes echoed the sentiments of singer Jake Zyrus.It can be recalled that Jake Zyrus said he still uses the female toilet despite being a trans man, arguing that people should not push their beliefs on others.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/09/04/19/i-simply-follow-the-law-jake-zyrus-feels-no-need-to-use-a-male-cr">&#x27;I simply follow the law&#x27;: Jake Zyrus feels no need to use a male CR</a></li></ul>Like Zyrus, Reyes maintained that those who were born with a penis – even if they identify as a woman – should go to the male restroom, and vice versa.“Nirerespeto kita bilang tao, nirerespeto kita bilang bading, pero lumugar tayo,” he said.“Kung ikaw, babaeng-babae ka, &#x27;di ka mabubuking [na trans ka], e di lumusot ka, di ba? Kung makakalusot ka. Eh kung &#x27;di ka makakalusot, problema mo [‘yan].”Reyes went on to take things a step further, saying that LGBTs should stop forcing themselves into competitions and establishments that are only made for men or women because they already have their own. “Meron naman tayong gay community. Bakit kailangan nating pumunta ng mga beauty pageant na kung ano-ano eh may gay pageant naman tayo? Bakit tayo magpupunta sa mga bar at ipagpipilitan mong girl ka, eh may mga bar naman para sa mga bading, di ba? Doon ka sa lugar natin! Huwag mong ipagsaksakan ‘yung sarili mo sa hindi ka naman matatanggap,” he said. <div>SOGIE BILL, SAME-SEX MARRIAGE</div>Meanwhile, Reyes said he does not see the need for the passage of the SOGIE (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity or Expression) bill, noting that LGBTs are generally accepted in the Philippines. “Let it be na lang,” he said, when asked by a reporter if he thinks the push for the SOGIE bill is “exaggerated.” “Basta ang bakla ay bakla,” he stressed. “Ang bakla, gilingin mo man ‘yan, ang labas niyan baklang hamburger.” The veteran hairdresser also explained why he does not believe in same-sex marriage, saying that LGBTs like him can be in long-term relationships without shaking up the teachings of the Catholic Church.“Ang kasal ay para lamang sa lalaki at sa babae,” he stressed. “Mayroong kasabihan sa Catholicism na sacrilege, pambabastos sa relihiyon. Huwag na.”“Kung gusto niyo ng union eh &#x27;di mag-union kayo. Bakit ako, I’m in a relationship for 40-plus years pero we don’t go out of our way to say kailangan naming magpakasal? No more,” he went on. “You never rock the boat that is not broken. Kapag maayos siya, go lang, di ba? Bakit kailangang ipagsaksakan eh hindi naman magulo? Pinagugulo niyo lang ang mundo.”For Reyes, any couple – LGBT or not, married or otherwise – can be in a happy relationship and raise good children as long as they love each other.“We never talked to our children about our relationship. We never talked to our children regarding who they are or what they are. What we give them is love,” he said. “Ang mga bata, adopted mo man ‘yan or tunay na anak ‘yan, magrerebelde ang bata kapag walang nakikitang pagmamahal sa loob ng bahay. Kapag ang bahay ay punong-puno ng pagmamahal at respeto, hindi ‘yan pupunta sa labas at magtatanong ng, ‘Bakit ganyan, bakit ganun?’” he ended.

“Huwag mong ipagsaksakan ‘yung sarili mo sa hindi ka naman matatanggap.”