November 5 was not a good day for Alexis Hart Garcia, who was known for joining Miss Q&A in Its Showtime before. It first turned bad when a woman hits the beauty queen with a carton box - which wounded her arm and then vocally discriminated her for being gay, causing a scandal in the neighborhood of Maries Village 2, Brgy. Mayamot, Antipolo City.
The incident was recorded in the video by Garcia, which she has posted on the internet.
According to Garcia, she was supposed to head to SM Masinag and have lunch with her partner when Aling Susan - an older woman who happened to live in the same village as the victim - threatened her along the road and started to throw rocks, boxes along with prejudiced words against her.
"Nov.5 papunta po akong SM Masinag para doon maglunch kasama ng partner ko nang iniskandalo po ako ni Aling Susan..." She posted.
(On November 5, I was about to head to Sm to have lunch with my partner when Aling Susan scandalized me.)
Additionally, it was not the first time Aling Susan did this to Garcia, who stated that the woman did terrible things to her, even threatening to shoot her with a gun for being gay. Despite this, she controlled herself not to fight back, in respect for the older woman.
“Madalas nya akong nililibak, kinukutya ang aking pagkatao, binabasa ng hose tuwing nagdidilig siya ng halaman pag ako'y dumadaan at inaambahan na pupulot ng bato at ibabato sa akin sa tuwing dumadaan ako sa kalsadang harap ng bahay nila…”, Garcia stated in her post.
(She would often badmouth me, mock my identity, wet me with a hose every time she waters her plants, and throws rocks at me whenever I pass by in front of their house.)
"At dahil hindi naman ako sanay sa gulo at nandun parin ang respeto ko sa mga babae lalo't may edad na, lagi ko lang pinalalagpas at lagi akong nagtitimpi... Lalo na ang sabihan kang babarilin sa kadahilanang bakla ako." She added.
(And because I'm not used to trouble, and I still have respect for women, especially the elderly, I would hold back my urge to fight back... Most especially the time when she threatened to shoot me with a gun for the sole reason of me being gay.)
Garcia already filed a formal complaint against Aling Susan in their barangay hall to enlighten the older woman regarding her hate against the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI) community.
"If this kind of violence happens to me, what about those who don't have the courage to defend themselves!" She expressed.
She is one of the founders of the Transpinay of Antipolo Organization (TAO), whose goal is to empower the lives of her fellow LGBTQI in Antipolo city.
The said post received about 60,000 reactions and shares with support from fellow iconic beauty queens such as Kristine Ibardolaza, Kevin Balot, Juliana Parizcova, Marigona Dona Dragusha, and many more.
Although each individual has different perspectives on the LGBTQI+ subject, one must not forget the equal rights bestowed upon each person where everyone has the choice and liberty to their own identity.
Words by Keanu Eleptico and Lindy Lyne Aviles Courtesy of: Alexis Hart Garcia
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