AEGIS HAS granted interdisciplinary studies senior Rica Salomon’s request to allow for transgender representation in the yearbook.

Salomon updated her online petition, which garnered 508 signatures, with an announcement titled “Victory!”on November 14.

“[I] was finally allowed to present myself the way that I identify myself as. Thank you to all of you who supported this cause. One step closer for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) equality!” her statement read.

According to Aegis Editorial Board (EB) Editor-in-Chief Kristine Estioko, the resolution to allow transgender representation will be “respected and observed this year and for all succeeding years of operations of Aegis.”

The said resolution took effect on November 17, when the Aegis photo shoot season for seniors and superseniors began.

“For as long as students wear clothes and outfits that rightfully represent who they are while, at the same time, strictly adhering to the Loyola Schools (LS) dress code, then they will be permitted to appear in the yearbook as such,” said Estioko.

Likewise, Salomon said she was granted her request as long as she observes the LS dress code for women.

Salomon’s petition was in response to an Aegis rule that students should appear in the yearbook as their biological sex instead of the gender they identify with.

In a previous interview with The GUIDON, however, Estioko said the Aegis EB was not aware of such rule and that it did not exist in any of the documents that have been turned over by the previous board.

While current Aegis documents do not state any rules regarding transgender representation, a memorandum on the Aegis 2011 website states that there should be “absolutely no cross-dressing.”

Aegis is an organization that manages the creation and release of the yearbook; its Administrative Board (AB), composed of LS administrators, approves the plans of the organization’s student arm, the Aegis EB.

The LS administrators that form the Aegis AB are Director of the Office of Alumni Relations Kit Bautista, SJ, Aegis Acting Moderator Chris Castillo, Assistant to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs (ADSA) Cholo Mallillin and ADSA Rene San Andres.

Clarifications

Estioko explained that Salomon’s petition was based solely on the experiences of previous batches and that the rules of the previous Aegis EB do not automatically apply to the current one.

She added that the proper course of action was to allow the Aegis AB to discuss the issue before enacting public measures.

“The assumption of the existence of such a rule, its implementation and of the violation of rights was premature. This then led to an aggressive and public petition that implicated the student members of the Aegis 2015 Editorial Board as legislators of a discriminatory rule while, at the same time, putting at risk the image of the university and its administrators,” she said.

Despite that, Estioko said Aegis “admires Salomon’s passion and commitment to her sense of identity and to the community she represents.”

In an interview with The GUIDON, San Andres clarified that the Ateneo does not have a written policy against cross dressing and said that he was surprised when the issue was brought to his attention.

“[The assumed rule] was a policy of students. It’s the Editorial Board who has that policy. In fact, when we did a double check of this issue, I was surprised that it was the students who were more strict,” he said.

According to Mallillin, Salomon filed the online petition before reaching out to the Aegis AB.

He further added that Aegis could not instantly reach definite conclusion without a formal letter.

A formal request from Salomon, which San Andres said he immediately approved, was sent to the Aegis AB over the semestral break.

For Salomon, the approval of her petition manifests the Ateneo’s readiness to address the concerns of its LGBT community.

“I’m just happy that [the] Ateneo is now progressing as a university that allows LGBT students to grow and express themselves freely,” she said.

Updated: Nov. 19, 8:18 PM