'We will never be silenced': Trans woman Gretchen Diez urges LGBTQ+ to speak now

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Transgender woman Gretchen Diez counts herself lucky to be given the opportunity to become the face of the LGBTQ+ community movement despite the negative backlash.&quot;I think what happened to me, the exact narrative and the video I posted online is an exact representation of how we are being viewed in society,&quot; Diez said.The Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, chaired by gender rights advocate Sen. Risa Hontiveros, tackled the SOGIE bill Tuesday. The bill prohibits stigmatizing the LGBT in media and denying a person access to an institution, service or establishment based on gender, among others. Aside from the LGBTQ+ community, the measure aims to protect people with real or perceived class, status, ethnicity, color, disability, and religious and political beliefs from discrimination.Diez, 28, made headlines after she was detained by police in Quezon City when she figured in a scuffle with a mall personnel for using the female comfort room.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/13/19/trans-woman-arrested-after-prevented-from-using-womens-comfort-room-in-qc-mall">Trans woman detained after being harassed for using ladies&#x27; toilet in QC mall</a></li></ul>Diez said the incident is just the tip of the iceberg. &quot;Two decades of waiting, two decades of staying in the shadow of despair, of depression and right now we&#x27;re finally seeing the light,&quot; she said.Senate President Tito <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/08/19/19/may-pila-sa-ladies-room-sotto-blasts-deception-in-trans-womans-viral-video">Sotto </a>on Monday decried the &quot;deception&quot; behind Diez&#x27;s viral video. He said it did not show what transpired before the incident.Sotto said he was able to get CCTV footage of the mall showing that there was a queue of women trying to get into the restroom. Despite the negative public opinion against her, Diez believes it is her duty to stand up for what is right. &quot;We will never be silenced. Not right now,&quot; she said.She also appealed to fellow members of the LGBTQ+ community to speak up now.&quot;Please let me know that I am not alone. That now, more than ever, I need you to be with me to fight for our rights,&quot; she said.On Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte met with Diez in Malacañang. However, Malacañang has yet to details of the meeting.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/19/19/look-gretchen-diez-visits-malacaang-meets-duterte">LOOK: Gretchen Diez visits Malacañang, meets Duterte</a></li></ul><div> </div>

MANILA - Transgender woman Gretchen Diez counts herself lucky to be given the opportunity to become the face of the LGBTQ+ community movement despite the negative backlash.

MANILA - Transgender woman Gretchen Diez counts herself lucky to be given the opportunity to become the face of the LGBTQ+ community movement despite the negative backlash.

'We will never be silenced': Trans woman Gretchen Diez urges LGBTQ+ to speak now | ABS-CBN

Halalan 2025

Entertainment

News

Metro.Style

Sports

More

Traffic

Horoscope

News

'We will never be silenced': Trans woman Gretchen Diez urges LGBTQ+ to speak now

'We will never be silenced': Trans woman Gretchen Diez urges LGBTQ+ to speak now

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 20, 2019 04:22 PM PHT

Read More:

SOGIE bill

anti-discrimination bill

Senate hearing

Gretchen Diez

transgender

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.