Reacting to the case of a transgender student who was forced to remove her undergarment in front of others due to an alleged dress code violation at Batangas State University (BSU) last September 8, the Society of Trans Women of the Philippines (STRAP) stressed how rigid dress codes and gendered regulations are routinely weaponized against trans youth.
“Forced public exposure is not discipline. It is a severe violation of bodily autonomy and dignity,” STRAP stated.
Already, the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines Region IV-A is looking into the matter. But for STRAP, “statements alone are not enough.”
This is also worth stressing because Batangas City has an anti-discrimination ordinance that mandates educational institutions “to enforce affirmative actions—including equal access to education, anti-discrimination materials, and the elimination of gender stereotyping”.
STRAP is, therefore, demanding that “the BSU administration to immediately implement holistic, gender-affirming policies across all campuses and take concrete action to guarantee safe spaces for trans and gender-diverse students”.
