Kaladkaren Has Something to Say About the Issue Involving Jude Bacalso
KALADKAREN – The actress, impersonator, and LGBT rights advocate, recently shared her thoughts on the controversy involving Jude Bacalso, a travel writer and member of the LGBTQ community. He made headlines when a waiter at a mall restaurant addressed him as “Sir” instead of “Ma’am,” leading Jude to make the waiter stand for almost two hours as a way to “educate” him about gender identity.
Kaladkaren believes that while educating others about gender identity is important, it should be done with kindness, not humiliation. In a Facebook post, she advised Jude to handle such situations more gently. “Educate, not humiliate,” she said. Kaladkaren shared that she often chooses to smile and ignore small mistakes. Sometimes, she responds playfully by saying, “ikaw naman kuya/ate, ang ganda ko naman pong sir” to make light of the situation.
She explained that most people do not mean to offend and are just confused. Kaladkaren suggested politely asking for clarification, like saying, “kapag nakabihis babae pwede tawagin na lang ng ma’am or miss,” if someone is unsure of how to address a person. She emphasized that showing respect usually leads to being respected in return, though she recognized that some people might be deliberately rude.
Kaladkaren also addressed the broader issue of pronoun use, noting that not everyone knows the correct pronouns. She believes it’s the community’s job to help others understand why using the right pronouns is important. “People make mistakes, and I do too,” she said, promoting kindness and understanding.
Meanwhile, Jude Bacalso has already issued an apology, but some netizens did not accept his explanation, as he claimed that he did not demand that the waiter stand for the entire duration; instead, the waiter volunteered to do so.
Apparently, the issue has turned into a blessing in disguise for the waiter, who continues to receive job offers locally and abroad. In fact, a businessman is offering him a supervisor position at a salon or in travel and tours. A job opportunity abroad also awaits the waiter. However, the waiter has yet to respond to the offers as well as the ongoing issue.