Ricky Reyes, also known as “Mother Ricky” – who helms Ricky Reyes Corporation and who was earlier sued because he discriminated against another gay person who just happens to live with HIV – joined the talks about the SOGIE Equality Bill, though this time taking the side of those opposing equal rights for other members of the LGBTQIA community.
In a video now making the rounds online, the gay celebrity advocated for members of the LGBTQIA community to just accept their lower social status; at times even contradicting his own arguments.
Reyes, for instance, said that members of the LGBTQIA community should stop “cross-dressing”. “Tigilan na yang kabaklaan… wag na kayong magbistida sa kalye kasi lalo tayong pagtatawanan ng mga tao… dapat magtulong nalang tayo sa kapwa para mahalin tayo ng tao,” he said.
Reyes, incidentally, is also known for wearing clothing traditionally used by women.
He also said that only members of the LGBTQIA community could understand each other.
“Lagi kong sinasabi, ang bakla walang makakaintindi kundi kapwa bakla lang,” he said, and so the affairs of LGBTQIA people should not be forced on other people. “Dapat ang affair ng mga bakla dapat sa atin lang yan wag na nating ipagpalandakan sa tao yan.”
Incidentally, Reyes was earlier sued for discriminating against another gay man, Renato Nocos, because the latter has HIV.
In 2014, two years after he was illegally dismissed, Nocos – with support from the Associated Labor Unions–Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) – filed a case of discrimination against Reyes and his business partner Tonneth Moreno in the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC). Nocos also filed a separate complaint alleging that Reyes and Moreno failed to pay his Social Security Service (SSS) and PhilHealth premiums since 2003.
In October 2015, NLRC’s Labor Arbiter rendered a decision declaring that Nocos was, indeed, illegally dismissed. It ordered RRC to pay back wages, salary differential, 13th month pay, ECOLA and attorney’s fees (totaling P615,313.06).
In his recent interview, Reyes similarly advocated “passing”/“stealthing”, saying that “kung ikaw ay may nota, sa lalakeng restroom ka. Pag may kipay ka, sa babae ka. Tapos ang usapan… Lumugar tayo sa tamang lugar… kung ikaw ay babaeng-babae at hindi ka mabubuking, e di lumusot ka (sa banyo ng pambabae) diba? Kung hindi ka makakalusot, anong problema mo?”
Reyes also does not believe in equal opportunity to access facilities and/or services. For example, for him, LGBTQIA people should not strive to access the same venues available for heterosexual people and that openly discriminate against LGBTQIA people.
“Bakit tayo pupunta ng mga bar at ipagpipilitan mo na girl ka eh may bar naman para sa mga bading, doon ka sa lugar natin… wag mo ipagsaksakan ang sarili mo sa hindi ka matatanggap,” he said.
Perhaps highlighting lack of knowledge re “marriage” versus “civil union”, Reyes insisted that wedding should only be men and women. “Ang pagpapakasal ibigay natin sa babae at lalake yan,” he said.
“Let it be na lang. Ang bakla ay bakla… gilingin mo man yan paglabas niyan ay baklang hamburger,” Reyes quipped.
