Charles Teves
A Davao del Norte resort enraged the LGBT community after banning transgender people from entering its premises.
On its facebook page, Isla Reta Beach Resort announced that since it has no facilities to cater to transgender people, they are no longer welcome.
The decision was also made to avoid discrimination against transgenders.
“We inform to the public we cannot accommodate transgender because we have no facility for them to avoid issues of discrimination.” the resort wrote.
Supporters of the gay movement argued that the ban is a form of discrimination in itself and swarmed the resort’s management.
https://twitter.com/deedeeholliday_/status/1392350019202686977?s=20
HOY ISLA RETA SERYOSO KAYO? pic.twitter.com/HDo0bohq0k
— Princess Consuela Banana-Hammock (@Clarwestram) May 12, 2021
Miss Trans Global 2020 Mela Franco Habijan said this is the first time she encountered a resort with a discriminating kind of policy.
Dear Isla Reta Beach Resort,
For the sake of clarity, what trans-accommodating facility are we talking about? Because I have been to resorts and I haven’t encountered any resort facility that is “trans-exclusive” facility. pic.twitter.com/tl2vE5Hper
— Mela Franco Habijan (@missmelahabijan) May 12, 2021
This is the stand of the owner of Isla Reta Beach Resort (Official)! I didn’t understand it directly, but it is evident that Mario Reta’s transphobia and discriminatory attitude are deeply rooted from his toxic masculine and ignorant mindset. #SOGIEEqualityNow #PassADBNow pic.twitter.com/MjqV4tDNvk
— Mela Franco Habijan (@missmelahabijan) May 12, 2021
People are calling to boycott the resort.
Highly disturbed with the homophobic comments on SunStar. Boycott Isla Reta.
— Karlo Torreon (@LoTorreon) May 12, 2021
never thought isla reta management and jk rowling would have something in common but here we are
harry potter and the transphobic beach resort
— karlo (@cuakarlo) May 12, 2021
wait lang so to remove issues of discrimination isla reta is changing their rules by BANNING trans entirely??? instead of making their rules inclusive??? Iz gotta be worms for brain me thinks pic.twitter.com/rcjV44bO0f
— kang (@botxch) May 12, 2021
https://twitter.com/itspaorosello/status/1392292758954467330?s=20
The Isla Reta's transphobic, homophobic, and fucked up rape justification for their belief is NOT UP FOR DEBATE. It's wrong on all levels. The shame for Sunstar to even use gay lingo to encourage the people to be open to an opposing opinion for this issue is twisted.
— aeri (@AerielleMacdo) May 12, 2021
Congress has already proposed the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression (SOGIE) that seeks to prevent discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.
According to Mario Reta, the resort owner, the ban came after Shannon Remotigue Gonzaga, a transgender who was at the resort on May 8, alleged on social media that the management exhibited transphobic and homophobic behavior toward her.
In a May 10 post, Gonzaga said an employee did not allow her to use the women’s restroom because she is gay.
“bawal ka diri, sa pikas ka kay gay ka,” she recalled the employee saying. The manager also echoed the employee’s reason for not allowing her to use the women’s restroom.
Reta got furious that Gonzaga decided to publicly call out and shame his resort rather than settling it with diplomacy.
He said the media has exaggerated Gonzaga’s claims.
“Hindi ko siya binastos. Siya nagbastos sa sarili niya. Even my workers in charge in the CR, hindi siya binastos. Hindi kami nagsigawan. Maganda [ang aming] usapan, pero lumabas sa media na ganyan… Siraan niya ang Isla Reta,” Reta said in an interview.
In his view, transgender women are still men regardless of what body alterations they have gone through.
“We are very strict. Our policy is only two CR [comfort room] — men and women. We have to protect. Kung kayo may anak na babae, papasukan ng lalaki sa women’s CR, that’s a big question. I-avoid natin yan because we are protecting women,” Reta said.
“I call him Mr. Gonzaga because he is not a girl or woman. Anatomy is lalaki pa rin siya,” he added.
The resort owner is willing to create a restroom exclusively for transgenders, but conditionally.
“I’m not against gay etc. But the problem is I can make you a CR but there is a condition. Sabi ko, ‘wag lang ninyo babuyin ‘yung CR ninyo. Pag may makita ako na merong kayong dinala na lalaki sa CR ninyo, ipa-close ko ‘yan.“
Transgenders bookings are rejected by the resort and are given full refunds.
Other kinds of gender identities such as gays and bisexuals meanwhile are still welcome.
Reta is also looking to file a complaint against the transgender.
Meanwhile, the LGU is waiting on Gonzaga to file a written complaint herself.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) will investigate the said incident.
“DOT promotes gender equality and mainstreaming, and does not tolerate gender discrimination in its systems, structures, policies, programs, and processes. We enjoin the entire tourism industry to abide by our national laws on Gender and Development,” the agency said.
