Arrest warrant issued against Jude Bacalso over viral misgendering issue
A warrant of arrest has been issued against queer writer Jude Bacalso in connection to a misgendering controversy where she allegedly asked a server to stand for two hours as punishment for calling her "Sir."
The server's lawyer, Ron Ivan Gingoyon, confirmed the development to PhilSTAR L!fe, saying they also received a copy of the order about the arrest warrant.
The Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 6 found reason to indict Bacalso for grave slander by deed. The bail is set at P18,000.
The arraignment and pre-trial conference for the case is scheduled for Jan. 23.
Misgendering controversy
Bacalso was slapped with five complaints (unjust vexation, grave scandal, grave coercion, grave threats, and slight illegal detention) in August over the issue. The case was submitted by Gingoyon and his client at the prosecutor's office in Cebu City.
Gingoyon told L!fe that the restaurant staff member decided to file the complaint a day after the incident, which took place on July 21.
A social media user narrated how it happened in a translated Facebook post. According to him, an employee from Ulli's Ayala Center Cebu stood for two hours due to an alleged misgendering issue.
"Hello! Ikaw ba ang nagpatayo ng empleyado sa Ulli's Ayala Center Cebu ng dalawang (2) oras dahil tinawag ka ng server mula sa Ulli’s na 'Sir'?" the post read.
The user continued that when he approached Bacalso and the staff to ask what was really happening, the former TV personality "sarcastically" said, "Go ask him," while pointing to the server.
The server replied, "Natawag ko siyang Sir."
The user continued, "Ayon kay Jude, may tanong siya sa server na hindi nasagot at sinabi ni Jude na, 'Aw you will be standing there until makatubag ka sa akong pangutana.' Hindi ko alam ang eksaktong tanong pero siguro ito ay may kinalaman sa pronouns at pagkakamali sa gender. Para sa konteksto, nag-sorry na ang server pati na rin ang mga empleyado kay Jude pero hindi pa rin niya pinalis ang server. Walang manager sa Ulli's Ayala Center Cebu at ilang empleyado ang umiyak dahil wala silang magawa."
Gingoyon said Bacalso "did not only humiliate and insult the waiter" but also "threatened to have him terminated."
The lawyer shared the remarks and insults that Bacalso allegedly threw at the server. "In one instance, Mr. Jude Bacalso even asked the waiter, 'Unsa man gyud need nako buhaton aron tawgon ko nimo ug ma'am? Mag pa butang ko ug bilat sa akong agtang?' (What do I need to do so that you will call me ma'am? Should I attach a vagina on my forehead?)"
Bacalso later posted a public apology on Facebook saying that she and the restaurant management had quietly settled the matter and "agreed to pursue together more inclusive practices in the restaurant."
Nonetheless, she set the record straight and emphasized that she "did not demand" the waiter to stand for the said period as she explained her side of the gender sensitivity issue.
"It was he who chose to stand in front of me as we waited for input from management, who I attempted to contact," Bacalso noted.
"My apologies also to the rest of the staff who are disheartened by the way things have escalated, as well as to the customers present at that time. This is a huge chunk of humble pie that I must ingest, because I have erred," he added.
In September, Bacalso insisted she had a "valid complaint" when she called the waiter out for misgendering her.
"I had a valid complaint. I was misgendered three times. My standard response is always humor, but inclusivity is crucial, especially in public-facing industries," she said.
While Bacalso clarified that "misgendering is absolutely not a crime," she noted that "calling someone by their correct pronoun is a form of respect."
PhilSTAR L!fe asked Bacalso for a comment on the development in the case, but has yet to receive a response.
