in Entertainment & Lifestyle, Television

GMA Network’s ‘Asawa Ko, Karibal Ko’ misrepresents LGBT community, says a Netizen

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  • Venus is supposedly a transwoman but is portrayed by a cisgender woman
  • The TV series “Asawa ko, Karibal Ko” is using the same formula from “Ika-6 na Utos” where two women would have a fight over the same man
  • “Asawa Ko, Karibal Ko” of GMA Network misinterprets LGBT community especially transwomen
  • If GMA network couldn’t give a better representation of the trans and LGBT community, it is best to cancel the TV series “Asawa Ko, Karibal Ko”

A post on a twitter account, mentioned the afternoon primetime series of GMA Network, “Asawa ko Karibal Ko,” in misinterpreting the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Community, specifically transwomen, when he pointed out his insights one by one.

First, he mentioned that one of the main characters, Thea Tolentino, who plays the role of Venus is supposedly a transwoman but is portrayed by a cisgender woman.

To differentiate the terms as defined by Wikipedia, a transwoman is a woman who was assigned a male gender at birth but undergone the process of hormone replacement therapy and sex reassignment surgery, while a cisgender is a term for people whose gender identity matches the sex that they were assigned at birth.

He suggests that to be able to portray the character better, the actress should be a transwoman.

The netizen tweeted, “@gmanetwork’s “Asawa Ko Karibal Ko” misrepresents the LGBT community, specifically transwomen. First, Venus, one of the main characters, who is supposedly a transwoman, is portrayed by a cisgender woman, Thea Tolentino.”

Secondly, he is expecting to see the everyday struggles of the trans community but it seems that the TV series “Asawa ko, Karibal Ko” was using the same formula from “Ika-6 na Utos” where two women would fight over the same man.

“Second, instead of discussing everyday struggles of the trans community, and the LGBT community in general, it uses it’s tired “Ika-6 Na Utos” formula where two women would have a weekly, if not daily, campy fight over a man.”

Thea Tolentino’s transwoman character is compared to Ryza Cenon’s Georgia in “Ika-6 na Utos” in being very good performances as antagonists. This could, however, lead to the wrong interpretation and image of the LGBT community.

“Third, while Thea Tolentino has a convincing performance as an antagonist, her trans character is written like Ryza Cenon’s Georgia in “Ika-6 Na Utos” – which shifts her narrative as a trans, into another cliche character. Worse, it further increases the stigma against the LGBT.”

And looking at the GMA Network’s Youtube channel comment section, more often, the comments reek of discrimination, hate, and transphobia. He also mentioned that if the GMA Network couldn’t give a better representation of the trans and LGBT community, it is best to cancel the TV series “Asawa Ko, Karibal Ko.”

“If we are going to check the comments section in GMA’s YouTube channel, more often than not, comments reek discrimination, hate and transphobia. If @gmanetwork can’t give a better representation of the trans and LGBT community, it’s best to cancel “Asawa Ko Karibal Ko”.”

Asawa Ko Karibal KoGMA Asawa Ko Karibal KoGMA NetworkLGBTThea Tolentino

Written by Rhelyn Harder

An open-minded person who seeks to inspire readers through writing. She believes that having the freedom and courage to express oneself is an opportunity to influence others.

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