Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 13) — An investigation will be conducted on the alleged discrimination of a transgender woman in a resort in Samal, Davao del Norte, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said on Thursday.
The probe is an offshoot of a transwoman’s viral post on Facebook on Monday which claimed that a number of staff and the management at Isla Reta Beach Resort barred her from using the women’s shower room on May 8. The resort confirmed the incident.
“The Department of Tourism will be conducting an investigation on an alleged incident involving sexual harassment and gender discrimination by the employees and management of a resort in Samal Island,” the agency said in a statement.
The DOT added it does not tolerate gender-based harassment or discrimination.
On Wednesday, the resort management confirmed in a statement that the transwoman was denied access to the shower area for females, but noted it did so “politely.”
The resort management asked the public to respect its policy on shower use. “To give the public a background, women guests have been complaining to the management that they do not feel safe and/or are uncomfortable or even vulnerable using the shower with them,” the statement read.
The management also advised the public in a separate Facebook post that the resort “cannot accommodate transgender because we have no facility for them to avoid issues of discrimination.” It said the post was for those who want a “separate facility or [those] who will demand to use the female shower rooms.”
