MANILA, Philippines
(Manila Bulletin) - The Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI), which sends representatives
to the Miss Universe beauty pageant every year, said Thursday it will
respect the decision of the Miss Universe Organization to allow transgenders to compete starting next year.
"We
respect the decision of the Miss Universe Organization to change its
policy regarding transgender participation in the pageant. At the
moment, however, we are still awaiting the guidelines of this policy
decision from the Miss Universe Organization," said Tessa Mangahas,
Public Relations and Corporate Communications Manager of Araneta Center,
Inc.
This developed as officials of the rival Miss Earth beauty contest
said transgenders are not allowed in the Miss Earth pageant, one of the
contests rivaling the Miss Universe competition.
"We have
religions here that are really conservative. We're talking about
Muslims, Christians, Catholics. So I don't think it will happen in the
near future," said Lorraine Schuck, chief executive officer of Carousel Productions, which handles the Miss Earth pageant.
"I
don't think we're ready for that yet, especially the Philippines," said
Peachy Veneracion, vice president of Carousel Productions, in an
interview over ABS-CBN.
Last Tuesday, the Miss Universe contest
changed its rules and allowed transgender women to compete in the
pageant starting in 2013.
The new rule came after Jenna Talackova,
23, a contestant in this year's Miss Canada Universe pageant, was
disqualified because she was not a natural born female.
Billionaire
Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe franchise, reinstated
Talackova after she showed documents that identify her as a woman.
"We
have a long history of supporting equality for all women, and this was
something we took very seriously," said Paula Shugart, president of the
Miss Universe Organization.
The historic decision of the organization drew varied reactions from beauty queens here and abroad.
1999 Miss Universe first runner-up Miriam Quiambao criticized the decision, saying the pageant has lost its essence of being an event for women.
"In
my humble opinion, the decision to include transgenders in the Miss
Universe pageant sends a wrong message. Whatever happened to the essence
of a woman? This may set a precedent that one day most participants in
the pageant are transgenders. I'm not judging gays/transgenders. I love
them anyway, but Miss Universe should be for natural born women only,"
Quiambao posted via Twitter.
2011 Bb. Pilipinas-International
Diance Necio expressed concern that most of the contestants in local
pageants in the future would be transgenders.
"It would definitely
be more exciting to have transgenders compete in a prestigious pageant
such as Miss Universe. And I'm sure if they would allow this in the
Philippines, three-fourth of the candidates will be transgenders. That's
why it should not be implemented. Naturally born women will lose their
chance to compete in Miss Universe. Miss Universe Organization should
make another pageant for transgenders and make it as prestigious as the
said pageant," said Necio, one of the semifinalists in the 2011 Miss
International pageant held in China.
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