What can you say about this?
With waist-length hair, smooth skin, and fine features, Maki Gingoyon can turn heads. The former Queen of Cebu 2010 titlist was almost accepted as a member of of a private gym in a Cebu city mall last Monday, but didn’t enroll when the manager said the ladies’ locker was off limits. The walk-in client said it was a “humiliating” experience to have to explain an ID card which stated “male” as gender. As an advocate of transgender women, the beauty queen complained, first online and then in a letter to Fitness First in Ayala Center. The Facebook post was quickly shared, with 600 “likes” last night, and cast new attention on Cebu City’s anti-discrimination ordinance and the mixed reception of establishments to homosexual clients. “A fitness center inside the Ayala mall did not allow me to sign up for membership because I am a transgender woman,” wrote Gingoyon in the post. “Worst, I am not allowed because I have not undergone sexual reassignment surgery. Shame.” Fitness First Ayala manager Tender Salazar, who received Maki’s hand-carried letter, said they have referred the case to their main office in Manila to be handled by their legal counsel. “As of now, we can’t issue any further statement on this case. We saw the post and took action, which is forwarding this to our main office,” said Salazar. “Actually we are happy with this development because this can help us. We are in the process of coming up with new guidelines. We also have issues about kids inside the club.” She promised to give feedback as soon as possible. Gingoyon, who works out in the Cebu City Sports Center, had gone to the gym on Monday to inquire about its services and signing up.
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Ladies
Maki