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Winwyn clarifies view on trans women in Miss U: I will support them
Reigning Reina Hispanoamericana Teresita Ssen "Winwyn" Marquez on Friday issued a clarification on Instagram regarding her stance on the participation of trans women in Miss Universe.
"'Wag lang po sana hanggang headline lang tayo. I said I would prefer that Miss U[niverse] would have natural-born women, but I will support [Miss Universe Spain 2018] Angela [Ponce] and the Miss U[niverse Organization] in any endeavor they choose to commit themselves to," Winwyn shared via Instagram stories.
The beauty queen responded to questions from the press during a promotion for her new film "Unli Life" on Tuesday and she was quoted as saying, "I think, parang let’s just give it for natural-born women, and for transgenders to have their own prestigious pageant. It’s tradition for Miss Universe. Pero kung ia-allow naman ng Miss Universe Organization, then we should accept it also, walang problema."
Winwyn said that she has nothing against transgender women and that she "loves Spain" for being open to sending Angela Ponce to represent their country.
She repeated these sentiments in the note she released Friday. "If pasasalihin talaga, then I have no problem with it and we all have to accept and respect 'yong decision, kahit iba ang opinion ko," Winwyn said.
"Parang no'ng INIMBITAHAN na sumali ang [Philippines] sa [Reina Hispanoamericana], madami nag-react at nagbigay ng sariling opinion nila. 'Yong ibang hindi sang-ayon no'ng sumali ako pero rinespeto pa din nila ang decision ng [organization] at RINESPETO din nila ako at hindi binastos," she continued.
The beauty queen said that she's proud of the progress the LGBTQIA+ community has achieved, especially because she has a lot of LGBTQIA+ friends.
Nonetheless, she said that having a discussion on the topic is good and she encouraged more people to come out with their thoughts on the matter, "whether pro or against."
"Sana lang, basahinm natin nang maayos ang kumpletong sagot. At sana 'wag nalang tayo mambastos at mag-name-calling," she said.
The Miss Universe Organization has yet to issue a statement on Angela Ponce's participation in the pageant. — Aya Tantiangco, GMA News
