Beauty Pageant History In The Philippines

TRANSWOMAN IN BEAUTY PAGEANTS FOR WOMEN

Affirmative  It is high time that the Philippines would adopt a move towards inclusivity. Beauty pageants in the Philippines have evolved from being a mere spectacle parading beauties and showcasing relationship between territories into a social platform catering to a wider audience. Women who join the competition carries with her a purpose—a vision that she wants the world know and achieve.  Including transwomen in Beauty Pageants like Binibining Pilipinas would benefit the morals of the people. It will show how fairness establishes relationship between people despite differences and eliminates the stigma on how women and men treats the LGBT community (https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/01/23/lgbt-moving-towardsequality).  Miss Universe ends ban on transgender contestants in support of equality (https://edition.cnn.com/2012/04/10/showbiz/miss-universetransgender/index.html).  Geared towards equality. One cannot claim equality but at the same time discriminate against people of different sexual identity. (All persons or things similarly situated should be treated alike, both as to rights conferred and responsibilities imposed (Cruz, Constitutional Law 2).  Prohibiting transwomen from joining beauty pageants for women is tantamount to unjust discrimination.  Allowing transwoman to join Beauty Pageants for naturally-born woman is in connection with the guarantees of Equal Protection.  Gender Identity is basis in determining “Women”. Women defined. (https://legaldictionary.thefreedictionary.com/woman)  Women, as defined includes those who are ciswoman (natural woman) and transwoman. Classifying Transwoman as not a woman is “segregation”. Segregation violates equal protection clause (Brown vs Board of Education of Topeka as point of reference). Segregation will only create a sense of superiority of one class and inferiority on the other.  Society is continuously evolving and it should be more accepting and open to diversity. Transwomen are women. (https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/politics/a24109933/transgender-women-are-women 

transgender-men-are-men/)

Women, joining Beauty pageant evolved from being a commodified entity into someone who has a platform that promotes women’s rights and advocacies. Beauty with a purpose. Not only for wits and beauty. Giving equal opportunities to everyone is human rights. (Article 2, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution. (https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-45838021)

References: 1. https://pcw.gov.ph/wpla/enacting-anti-discrimination-based-sexual-orientation-and-genderidentity-law

2. Senate Bill 948 is still in progress. https://www.senate.gov.ph/lis/bill_res.aspx? 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

congress=17&q=SBN-948

SOGIE Bill in progress. https://divinalaw.com/sogie-equality-bill/

https://edition.cnn.com/2012/04/10/showbiz/miss-universe-transgender/index.html https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/brown-v-board-of-education-of-topeka https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/01/23/lgbt-moving-towards-equality

https://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/woman

https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/politics/a24109933/transgender-women-are-womentransgender-men-are-men/

9. https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-45838021