JONATHAN MANALO AT JAKE ZYRUS
PINALAKPAKAN ng entertainment media si Jake Zyrus dahil sa sagot niya tungkol sa pagbibigay ng sariling comfort room para sa members ng LGBTQ+.
Sa launching ng bagong album ni Jake under Star Music, ang “Evolution”, isa sa mga itinanong sa kanya ang kontrobersiyal na issue ng paggamit ng mga transgender na tulad niya sa restroom para sa mga lalaki at babae.
Matapang ang sagot ni Jake at inaasahan na niya na maraming miyembro ng LGBTQ community ang hindi sasang-ayon sa kanyang paniniwala.
“I used to think that way, pipilitin ko ang sarili ko to go to male restroom. But, the more I grow older, the more I realize that not everyone thinks the same.
“Not everyone believes what you believe. So, nagsi-CR ako kung saan ako dapat mag-CR. So, kung ano po yung iniisip niyo, doon po ako nagsi-CR.
“I simply follow the law. I respect the law. And, hopefully, the government will see it and I hope everyone follows it. Kasi madali lang naman, it’s just a CR. It’s about behavior. It’s about how we treat each other,” unang paliwanag ni Jake na unang nakilala bilang si Charice Pempengco.
“It’s not about sexuality anymore. This is not about the CR anymore. But this is how we are going to treat each other and how are we going to understand each other.
“We don’t have the right to push everyone to accept our beliefs. Paano kung gawin din sa ‘yo yun? If I go to a women’s restroom and they feel awkward, it’s not my fault anymore because I am just following the law, ‘coz that’s what they say, right?”
“Biologically, I am a woman, so I follow it. I don’t need everyone else’s validation of who I am because the reason why I came out as transman, it’s a fulfillment for myself. Achievement ito para sa akin.
“Nag-come out ako para hindi isampal sa lahat na, ‘O, eto, ako ‘yan!’ Nag-come out ako because, first of all, I’m in show business, I’m in an entertainment industry. And I felt like it was a must for everyone to know who I really am.
“Ang sa akin, I don’t need validation for each and everyone of you. I’m thankful if you support it, and if not, I understand. But, I’m here, I tell you who I am because ito yung magpapasaya sa akin and I respect your happiness.”
“But if it’s going to be a good thing for our country (LGBTQ CR), if it’s going to stop na hating each other because of a restroom, nasa gobyerno na po natin ‘yan. There’s so many problems we should face more than this. Anywhere po puwede akong umihi, may bote naman po,” birong pahayag pa niya.