Cleaner Who Got Transgender Woman Handcuffed For Using Ladies Toilet Apologises

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ViralPress

A transgender woman was handcuffed ‘like a criminal’ after a cleaner stopped her from using the ladies’ toilets in a shopping mall.

Gretchen Custodio Diez tried to use the women’s restroom in a mall in the Quezon City area of Manila in the Philippines when female cleaner Chair Ganal is said to have blocked her path on Tuesday (August 13).

The 28-year-old, who was wearing a black dress and jacket at the time, filmed the incident as she argued with the cleaner who can be heard telling her ‘you still have a penis, remember that.’

The cleaner is then said to have taken her down to the basement, holding her in a room isolated from other shoppers. She was also filmed trying to take Gretchen’s phone while appearing to hit her.

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When police arrived at the mall hours after the incident, they handcuffed Gretchen ‘like a shoplifter’ before frog marching her to the police station.

The shopping centre filed a complaint against the shopper, which was later dropped.

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Gretchen later received a hand-written letter from the cleaner, who apologised and admitted she’d made a mistake.

Chair wrote:

I want to apologise to Gretchen. I hope with this apology she will give me a second chance.

I am only human. It was not my intention to offend her. I am willing to study the rights of the LGBT. That is all. I am sorry.

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According to police, Gretchen was first taken to the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Station 7, then to the QCPD’s Anti-Cybercrime Division because officers were confused on how to handle her case citing that it was the first time it has happened.

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Gretchen said:

For me, it was like I was a shoplifter being dragged inside the mall, with people looking at me as I was being held.

I could not understand how, in a supposedly gender-fair city, there is a person who would treat me like I committed crime.

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Joy Belmonte, the Mayor of Quezon City, criticised the shopping centre and said the city would work to protect the rights of the LGBT+ community.

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If you’ve been affected by any of these issues, and want to speak to someone in confidence contact the LGBT Foundation on 0345 3 30 30 30, 9am until 9pm Monday to Friday, and 10am until 6pm Saturday, Or email helpline@lgbt.foundation