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Mela Habijan calls out schools, DepEd over strict haircut guidelines affecting LGBT students

Habijan, who got hurt by the post, created a Twitter thread explaining gender expression. She is in favor of schools allowing a student to dress based on their gender label and not their reproductive organ.

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Miss Trans Global 2020 Mela Habijan spoke against schools that require LGBT students to wear haircuts based on their biological gender.

A salon in San Juan recently praised three gay boys for ditching their long hair and getting a male haircut as demanded by their schools.

“…alam kong pinaghirapan nyo magpahaba ng mga buhok nyo pero mas importante pa din ang sumunod sa school policies habang nag-aaral pa lang kayo,” the salon wrote on Facebook.

“…maniwala kayo, kapag nakapagtapos kayo, kahit gaano pa kahaba nyo patubuin mga buhok nyo, kakayanin nyong makipagsabayan sa ibang tao kasi nakapagtapos kayo ng pag-aaral.“

The post did not sit well with LGBT members and supporters who said that forcing gay students to get a male haircut ruins their confidence.

“No to haircut policy,” one said. 

“Stop ruining student’s self esteem and depriving us from expressing ourselves. Hair policy doesn’t help us to get higher grades.”

“There are trans women out there who can’t even practice their degrees because of their gender identity and expression. They are forced to be who they are not just to get hired. Even if these kids comply now, there is no guarantee after graduation that they can live their authentic selves and choose a career they truly desire,” another argued.

Habijan, who got hurt by the post, created a Twitter thread explaining gender expression. She is in favor of schools allowing a student to dress based on their gender label and not their reproductive organ.

“Gender expression, through clothing, gives us comfort. Because when we are comfortable, it makes us confident. Comfort and confidence lead to productivity,” she wrote.

Habijan’s thoughts stressed strict school uniform requirements discriminate against LGBT students.

“Madaling sabihing sumunod sa rules. Pero hindi natin nakikita na may diskriminasyon sa kasalukuyang interpretasyon ng uniform policy,” she said. “Madaling sabihing sumunod sa rules. Pero bakit hindi natin makuhang sundin ang Gender Responsive Basic Education Policy na existing sa DepEd?” she added.

She noted that other schools do not accept LGBT students and applicants.

“Kaya, hindi natin susukuan ang laban para sa inclusion, dahil karapatan ng lahat ang makapag-aral. And no one deserves to be deprived of this right just because of the inhumane and unfair interpretation of the uniform policy.”

Writer Jerry Gracio shared a similar sentiment, saying that haircuts have nothing to do with a student’s ability to digest information in school.

“DepEd, tantanan ang kaka-prescribe ng tamang haircut. Walang direktang relasyon ang haba ng buhok o hairstyle sa pagkatuto. Ayusin ninyo ang kulang na kuwarto at silya, mga paaralang sira o lubog sa baha. Hayaan ninyo ang mga bata sa gusto nilang gupit. Importante, walang kuto!” he tweeted.

It’s Showtime host Vice Ganda recently explained why the SOGIE bill needs to be passed asap.

“Para mawalan ng diskriminasyon kung ano man ang gender identity at sexual orientiation mo. Dapat hindi makikita yung tao doon sa kanyang SOGIE,” Vice Ganda said after a trans contestant revealed that she couldn’t get a teaching job because of her gender and the uniform requirements for teachers.

“At dahil wala pang SOGIE bill, may mga katulad niya na nadidiscriminate at hindi naipapakita ang full potentials ng dahil sa kanilang gender identity,” he added.

DepEdJerry GracioLGBTlgbtqiaMela HabijanVice Ganda

Written by Charles Teves

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