Presidential candidate Isko Moreno told LGBTQ+ supporters that they could "book" his son for free, alarming advocates on how the supposed joke upholds an all-too common stigma about the community.
Onstage at a campaign sortie in Butuan City late Monday, wherein his son Joaquin Domagoso was behind him, Moreno with his signature populist approach cracked the joke in question in between his dance performances and delivery of campaign promises.
“Sa aming mga LGBT [supporters], mamaya ireregalo ko sa inyo si Joaquin!” he called out to the crowd, prompting his 20-year-old son to come to the front with him, as if to offer himself to the audience.
“Libre ang booking! Pero tikim lang, ‘wag kakainin!” he added, citing a common slang among the local LGBTQ+ community that is used to refer to a casual meetup that could involve sex.
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A video clip of the scene went viral on Twitter, with many advocates expressing their concern about how the joke contributes to the stigma that gay people are promiscuous or constantly sex-hungry.
"Ganito lang ba ang pagtingin mo sa aming mga LGBT? 'Booking' lang ang hanap? Kung katatawanan lang kami sayo, ano pa’ng aasahan namin pag ikaw na yung nakaupo? Rainbow pedestrian lanes na naman habang inaabuso kami?," Bahaghari chairwoman Rey Valmores-Salinas said.
Valmores-Salinas was a part of "Pride 20", the group of 20 LGBTQ+ activists who were arrested without a warrant when they attempted to hold Pride March at Mendiola in 2020. That same year, the Manila Mayor unveiled another rainbow-colored pedestrian lane in the city to supposedly show support to the community.
While in detention at the Manila Police District, Valmores-Salinas earlier shared to reportr how she was sexually harassed by a police officer who was on guard duty.
Also expressing her disagreement to Moreno's joke was sociologist Ash Presto, who questionned how the presidential candidate dared to use his son as a joke in order to curry votes.
As of late Wednesday, the tweet containing the clip has been reacted to over 8,000 times, most of which expressing dismay.
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