The article by Stephen Calleja entitled “Will homosexuals now be privileged?” (TMIS, 12 February), among other things asserted that introducing hate crime on the ground of sexual orientation would somehow privilege gay people over heterosexuals.
Let us start with the facts. Hate crime legislation already exists in Maltese law. It was transposed into Maltese law as part of the acquis communitaire when Malta joined the European Union in 2004.
The recent announcement that one of the most outstanding inconsistencies in Malta’s civil, or indeed human, rights legislation – the utter lack of protection for its citizens against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation – is to be addressed was a most welcome piece of news.
It is now time to put the fine words uttered that day into action, and without delay because lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender people have been made to wait too long to be accorded the full rights at law that they deserve as human beings and citizens of this country.
A Maltese Church-run Ethiopian orphanage, from where several people have adopted children, has decided to stop adoptions by single people.
“The country’s (Ethiopia) laws do not refuse adoptions by Maltese single parents. However, the contact through which Maltese are adopting in Ethiopia is currently accepting couples only,” Appoġġ Agency said.
The issue was raised by columnist Alison Bezzina in a timesofmalta.com blog. Ms Bezzina alluded to the fact that the change in policy came from the Maltese Church and may have been aimed at stopping gay people from adopting children from the orphanage.
A 16-year-old lesbian girl who was attacked a month ago while in Ħamrun with her girlfriend is urging those harassed because of their sexual orientation to speak up, as she did.
The teenager, who became known by the fictitious name Amy, said she was positively surprised by the reaction to her story. Over the past month there were several condemnations, a protest and political pledges to strengthen laws protecting gay people from hate crimes.
The Malta Confederation of Women’s Organisations (MCWO) said yesterday that “yet again” it has been compelled to voice its concern about recent violent incidents against women.
Within the space of a few weeks, the MCWO said, two girls in Hamrun were assaulted in a public square followed by the incident on the Arriva bus where another two young women were physically attacked.
Please forgive me if I'm wrong, but I'm going to assume that you're one of those people who don't give a hoot about same sex marriage.
I'm also going to assume, that whilst you don't mind two consenting adults getting married regardless of their gender, you draw the line at adoption.
In fact, chances are that you'd be ok with legalising same sex marriage but only if it didn't include the right to adopt children.
Marco Borg ta’ 43 sena minn Birkirkara, xufier tal-Arriva li nhar il-Ġimgħa, wara x-xogħol, kien qiegħed fuq karozza tal-linja fi triqtu lejn id-dar bħala passiġġier, tkeċċa mill-kumpanija wara li lbieraħ tressaq il-Qorti mixli li pprova jikkawża ġrieħi fuq żewġ tfajliet.
As a YouTube video of a fight between a bus driver and a passenger spread like wildfire on social networking websites yesterday, Arriva said the driver is no longer employed by the company. Allegedly, the incident was an attack against two girls in a relationship.
An off-duty bus driver lost his job after he allegedly assaulted two young women in what Arriva said “seems to have been a case of homophobia”.
Part of the incident was caught on camera and uploaded to YouTube by a passenger.
The incident occurred on Friday afternoon on the Naxxar route bus and Marco Borg, 43, was charged in court the following day. But the whole story only came to light yesterday when amateur footage was posted on the video-sharing website by a witness.
Proposed changes to hate crime laws, to include acts motivated by gender and sexual orientation, are being analysed by the Attorney General and the Justice Ministry’s legal experts.
Malta Gay Rights Movement coordinator Gabi Calleja said this emerged during a meeting held with Justice Minister Chris Said on Friday.
LGBT Labour's spokesperson Cyrus Engerer said negative attitude towards homosexual people can only be changed if the state recognised their status.
"It's not possible for a mentality of a country to change if the laws of that same country remain unchanged," Engerer said.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said today that he had instructed Justice Minister Chris Said to embark on a consultation process to see whether the laws to prevent hate crime could be strengthened.
In a statement this afternoon, Dr Gonzi said he was speaking because there had been two incidents over the past three weeks which could have been motivated by homophobia.
The Prime Minister announced this afternoon in an impromptu press conference that the government will be legislating against hate crimes motivated by homophobia.
Lawrence Gonzi said he has asked minister for justice Chris Said to initiate a review and strengthening of current laws, and make the necessary consultation to take the necessary legal steps
The MGRM Committee met Minister Chris Said on Friday 3rd where we discussed the following points:
- MGRM’s position on Marriage Equality: MGRM made it clear that we oppose cohabitation law and insisted the only framework which recognises same-sex couples as equal is Civil Marriage. The Minister will be looking at the details of the Position Paper and its implications.
- MGRM's proposal for a Gender Identity Act, which was tabled in Parliament by Evarist Bartolo: Dr Said will be going through the proposal into more detail.
- The extension of the NCPE remit to include sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression: Minister Said will be working on this and gave us a timeframe of two months for it to be discussed in Parliament and related legislation amended.
- Malta's position and support for the proposal for a Council Directive on the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation: It was agreed that Minister and MGRM will continue with the consultation to develop a proposal for this legislation.
- The extension of hate crime legislation: MGRM suggested amendments to the Criminal Code, Chapter 9 of the Laws of Malta in relation to hate crimes to include crimes motivated on the grounds of gender and sexual orientation. The Minister said that all agreed on the principle of this legislation and has already submitted the suggested amendments to the Attorney General and the Ministry's legal experts for their feedback.
- MGRM’s Think Before You Speak Campaign: Minister Said told MGRM that he will be mentioning the Campaign in Parliament to raise awareness about the Campaign and its messages
The documents mentioned above can be found on MGRM's website: maltagayrights.org
The recent attack on two teenagers, who were targeted because of their sexual orientation, provides Malta’s leaders with the opportunity to condemn such violence, according to US human rights politician Daniel Baer.
“Focusing on the legal aspect is important but there is a broader commitment... There is an opportunity for leaders to speak out and condemn violence against anyone and pass on the message that it will not be tolerated,” he said.
The Justice Minister will this week meet Malta Gay Rights Movement members to discuss the inclusion of gay hate crime in Maltese law.
The social network community has been calling for more extensive legislation which includes hate crime on the basis of sexual orientation
A demonstration calling for hate crime legislation to include crime motivated by gender or sexual orientation, was held in Hamrun this evening in the wake of a recent assault on two lesbian girls.
The peaceful event, which drew some 50 people, was organised by the Malta Gay Rights Movement in association with a number of other groups including Drachma, Aditus, Integra, Moviment Graffitti, AD Youths and the We Are Students' Group.
Several of those who took part carried placards or candles.
Around 100 persons braved the cold on Thursday evening in St Paul’s Square Hamrun to call on the Minister of Justice to extend the scope of crime legislation to include other grounds such as hate crimes against Lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and trans gender (LGBT) persons. Three weeks earlier in the same square three young people insulted and attacked a young lesbian couple for being lesbian.
An attack on a 16-year-old lesbian yesterday provoked calls for the concept of gay hate crime to be included in Maltese laws.
“In many countries, such an assault would be investigated as a hate crime but Malta has yet to extend hate crime legislation to include the grounds of homophobia and transphobia,” the Malta Gay Rights Movement and the human rights lobby Aditus said in a joint statement.
Their reaction, accompanied by that of hundreds of people on the internet, came after The Sunday Times reported on the attack in which the girl, pseudonymously named Amy, and her girlfriend were beaten in Ħamrun specifically because of their sexual orientation.
The National Commission for the Promotion of Equality condemns the violent attack on 16-year old lesbian girl in Hamrun.
The National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE) condemned the violent incident that occurred on Friday in Hamrun on the grounds of sexual orientation.
On Friday a 16-year-old lesbian and her girlfriend were attacked by two young men in Ħamrun. The girl was apparently attacked of her sexual orientation.
The Malta Gay Rights Movement, Aditus and Drachma condemn act of violence on girl in Hamrun.
The Malta Gay Rights Movement (MGRM) and human rights organisation Aditus, strongly condemned the act of violence that took place in Hamrun against two young women on Friday 13 January as reported in the Sunday Times and expressed their solidarity with the victims and their families.
On Friday a 16-year-old lesbian and her girlfriend were attacked by two young men in Ħamrun. The girl was apparently attacked of her sexual orientation.
A 16-year-old lesbian was sitting on a bench with her girlfriend in Ħamrun when two young men attacked her and dragged her by the hair because of her sexual orientation.
“It was a horrible experience... All of a sudden one of the boys picked me up and punched me in my eye... He grabbed me my breasts then head-butted my nose and threw me onto the ground, grabbed my hair and pulled me across the ground,” Amy* told The Sunday Times
The prospect of early elections may influence the official positions of political parties regarding legalising civil unions between same-sex couples, according to Malta Gay Rights Movement co-ordinator Gabi Calleja: who confirmed she has already received a call for a meeting with the social policy ministry.
Last week, MGRM presented its position paper on marriage equality, insisting that the legal definition of civil marriage should not remain gender specific. The position paper, penned by aditus chairman Neil Falzon, seeks to spark a national discussion on the recognition of marriage equality in Malta - "a much needed discussion", Calleja insists.
There are three forms of legal recognition for gay couples that include: marriage equality, registered partnerships and cohabitation.
About 33 per cent of EU member states recognise some form of registered or civil partnership, 26 per cent grant basic cohabitation rights, 13 per cent recognise full marriage equality and 28 per cent have no form of legal recognition. Malta falls under the last category together with Italy, Greece and Turkey, among others.
“Dejjem għexna bis-sigriet”
L-MGRM (Malta Gay Rights Movement) hija determinata li tkompli bl-isforzi tagħha, anke jekk dawn jieħdu x-xhur u s-snin, biex tikseb l-għan li qiegħda taħdem għalih, jiġifieri li l-awtoritajiet jirrikonoxxu r-relazzjoni ta’ mħabba li teżisti bejn koppji tal-istess.
L-MGRM ilha tissielet għar-rikonoxximent legali ta’ koppji tal-istess sess u l-familji tagħhom sa mit-twaqqif tagħha, fl-2001.
In a report which aims to highlight the injustice created by the current scenario and appeal for marriage equality, the Malta Gay Rights Movement is appealing for same-sex couples to be allowed to marry civilly.
The aim of the position paper on marriage equality, which was launched yesterday, is to provide input to a national discussion on the recognition of marriage equality in Malta and ultimately that civil marriage is permitted, as for different-sex couples.
As it is, just three EU member states lag behind Malta in the Rainbow Europe Country Index, which rates each country’s laws and administrative practices which protect or violate the human rights of LGBT people, based on 16 different categories.
Malta Gay Rights Movement has launched a position paper on marriage equality in which it is asking that the legal definition of civil unions does not remain gender specific.
Lawyer Neil Falzon, who was commissioned to draw up the paper, emphasised that it tackled civil union and was not, in any way, asking the Church to redefine its understanding of marriage.
He noted that allowing gay people to marry civilly would grant them full equality and would grant them access to a whole range of rights that come with signing a marriage contract.
These rights - such as the right to adopt, inheritance and pensions - were not necessarily covered through the cohabitation law government has promised.
Gabi Calleja, from the movement, pointed out that cohabitation law did not recognise the relationship between the couple.
"No harm ensues to society from the granting of equal rights to same-sex couples and therefore any delay can not be morally justified... Equality is not a luxury, it is a basic human right and the time for it is now," she said.
The Malta Gay Rights Movement has presented a position paper advocating the best options for the legislation of same-sex marriage and families in Malta.
The author of the paper, aditus chairman Neil Falzon, said the movement was feeling more optimistic about the introduction of same-sex marriage in Malta since the introduction of divorce.
The paper provides a legal framework for same-sex couples to be married and enjoy the rights and obligations that are incumbent upon married couples.
"Marriage is no longer being defined as a lifelong commitment," Falzon said referring to the recent divorce law introduced last year. "This means it can be revisited again and be redefined to include same-sex marriages."
The Malta Gay Rights Movement (MGRM) said that today presented a position paper on marriage equality in favour of giving same-sex couples the same status and rights available to opposite sex couples and their children. Gabi Calleja said: “The discrimination experienced by same-sex couples is no longer tenable in today’s world and we will not cease our efforts until our goal has been achieved whether this takes months, years or even decades.”
She said that as a movement “we have always expressed our dissatisfaction with a potential cohabitation law that failed to recognise same-sex couples not on the basis of living in the same household but because of their relationship to each other.”
Calleja said she hoped that the position paper on marriage equality prepared by MGRM “will give rise to a reasoned and much needed debate that is respectful of our relationships and the families we create and that is based on secular and human rights rather than religious discourse.”
Times: by Bertrand Borg
It-Torċa: minn Victor Vella
Try lies as black as Hades, of the sort AFP indulges in. Here is the concluding sentence of one of its reports, which was carried in last Monday's edition of The Times. "The Pope has used his trip to...
“Most people working in the field of human rights – we suffer from the delusion that we can save the world.” Neil Falzon flashes a bashful smile – perhaps in reaction to my expression.
“It’s true,” he says. “We think that if we stop, many people will suffer. Of course on the one hand you have to feel that what you do is incredibly important – otherwise how can you bring energy to your work? And in my case,” he smiles again, “how would I shrug off criticism that I am a do-gooder, African-lover, traitor of the Maltese nation?”
As the former head of the Malta branches of the UNHCR and Amnesty International, Neil is used to such accusations. Neither do they seem to dampen his outspokenness. At a recent conference organized by the European Parliament in Rhodes, he was vociferous in his criticism of Frontex, the European Union agency for external border security, and reminded everyone present that asylum, ultimately, is about offering protection.
She’s well-known for her outspoken views and tireless activism but Gabi Calleja, the coordinator of MGRM, longs for the day when the Malta Gay Rights Movement will no longer need to exist. Text by Louisa Bartolo
“I remember walking up and down the carpark three times before entering a gay bar for the first time,” says Gabi Calleja. Now well-known as coordinator of the Malta Gay Rights Movement (MGRM), it seems strange to think of a time when she might not have been at ease with her sexuality.
She was 30 at the time and having been deeply involved in the Christian community had moved to Bristol for a couple of years to work as a Diocesan youth worker in Clifton. It was there that Gabi – who until then had never dated anyone and wondered what was wrong with her – had the space to think about her sexuality. Many of the first people she came out to were members of the religious community. “Their reaction was always very positive.”
The Times, Gabi Calleja, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta
While it may come as a surprise to Austin Gatt, the Malta Gay Rights Movement, prior to the last two elections, had already asked political parties as well as individual candidates to state their position on the legal recognition of same-sex couples. The replies received were compiled, sent out to members, posted on our website and circulated as widely as possible.
The Times, Gabi Calleja, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta
In her article The Family In Europe Today (February 2), Christine Galea makes a num-ber of assertions, many of which are dubious and unsubstantiated.
The first is the rather generic reference to the “decrease in the ability to reflect”.
The Malta Independent, Bernard Muscat, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta
Ugandan David Kato now lies lifeless. On Wednesday 26 January he was bludgeoned to death by people who saw it fit to end his life because he was outspoken, persistent and hard-headed, but, most of all, because he was a gay rights activist – and one who was firmly committed to the principles of equality he was fighting for.
The Times, Gabi Calleja, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta
In a letter by Joseph A. Muscat published on January 13 and another by Fr Victor Enriquez published on January 5, reference was made to the undesirability of adoption by same-sex couples. Despite more than three decades of cross-sectional research demonstrating that the psychological adjustment of children is unrelated to their parents’ sexual orientation, the legitimacy of lesbian and gay biological, foster and adoptive parenting is still under scrutiny.
The Sunday Times, Bernard Muscat, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta
Mr J. Bonett Balzan (The Sunday Times, October 3) heaved a sigh of relief when acknowledging that the official visit of German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle did not involve also accommodating his male partner.
Continues
L-Orizzont, Gabi Calleja, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta
F’artiklu ppublikat fis-27 ta’ Settembru, 2010, Kevin Mercieca ttratta s-suggett tal-adozzjoni tat-tfal minn persuni LGBT. Ghamel diversi asserzjonijiet fosthom li familja fejn il-koppja hi tal-istess sess ma tikkostitwix ambjent normali, kif ukoll li dawn il-familji jkollhom effett negattiv fuq it-tfal. Ir-ricerka qieghda dejjem turi li dak li qal is-Sur Mercieca, fil-verità, mhux minnu.
The Malta Independent, Bernard Muscat, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta
In his letter Homophobia? (TMIS, 19 September) Paul Vincenti argues that the word homophobia is an inappropriate one in that “[disagreement] with homosexuality” may not necessarily translate into feelings of fear when in the company of gay people.
The Times, Gabi Calleja, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta
In his opinion piece published on June 9, Simon Busuttil, MEP states: "We, therefore, need to dismantle the remaining barriers, invisible walls and curtains that citizens still face when they move around Europe." He goes on to say that through the Stockholm Programme "of course, citizens' freedom of movement throughout Europe will be bolstered and all remaining obstacles will be dismantled".
The Times, Bernard Muscat, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta
Speaking at a meeting about family policy, Robert Tufigno stated that recognition of non-traditional family units was "detrimental to society". His remark, as deleterious to gullible minds as it is baseless, continues to highlight the total ignorance about human relationships that exists in certain people's limited world view. The assertion that recognition of other people's relationships would somehow be "detrimental to society" would be laughable were it not so extremely dangerous.
Continues
This article was also published on The Malta Independent on Sunday of Sunday 13th June.
It-Torca, Bernard Muscat, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta
Il-kontribuzzjoni ta’ qarrej tat-TORCA li kiteb lil Fr Colin Apap u li uza l-psewdonimu ‘Favur il-Knisja’ hallietni kwazi bla nifs. Ma nahsibx li qatt iltqajt ma’ tahlita hekk qarsa ta’ mizinformazzjoni u mibeghda kontra persuni gay.
The Malta Independent, Inka Stafrace, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta
We refer to the letter by Paul Kokoski entitled No evolution of marriage (TMID, 5 January).Mr Kokoski bases his whole argument on incorrect statements and misinterpretations of history.
The Times, Gabi Calleja, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta
Towards the end of last Monday's Bondiplus programme Imam Mohamed El Sadi, in reference to what he perceives as the weakening of European values, referred to the introduction of same-sex marriages in a number of European countries. He contended, should the majority so decide, that this could potentially lead to the legalisation of partnerships between human beings and animals, such as cats, dogs and the like.
The Times, Bernard Muscat, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta
In his bid to discredit the LGBT network created recently within the Labour Party, Josie Muscat (November 14) goes as low as to shamelessly place LGBT individuals and their struggle for equal rights on the same lines as "drug dealers" and "criminals", and the latters' claims to be but victims of society. His impudent association is shocking, cowardly, uncalled for and utterly disrespectful.
The Times, Bernard Muscat, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta
The Malta Gay Rights Movement would like to applaud all five Maltese members of the European Parliament for their positive vote taken lately on a resolution regarding a discriminatory law proposed in Lithuania. The law sought to render illegal all forms of information regarding sexual diversity, possibly including websites, exhibitions and information booklets.
The Malta Independent, Gabi Calleja, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta
In an article by Prof. Pierre Mallia that appeared on 1 April, a number of references were made to sexual orientation in relation to gender issues. It appears that despite being a qualified medical practitioner and a university lecturer, Prof. Mallia confuses sexual orientation with gender identity. So, perhaps some clarifications are in order.
Continues
It-Torca, Gabi Calleja, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta
Fl-artiklu li deher fit-22 ta’ Marzu Fr Colin ghamel bosta kummenti fir-rigward ta’ tfal li jitrabbew minn genituri gay. Fosthom li l-orjentament sesswali jikber fit-tfal meta jidentifikaw lilhom infushom jew mal-omm jew mal-missier. Hawnhekk Fr Colin qed ihawwad l-orjentament sesswali mal-identità tal-generu, jigifieri jekk wiehed jidentifikax bhala mara jew ragel u rwoli differenti li jassumu fis-socjetà taghna.
The Times, Gabi Calleja, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta
Fr Renè Camilleri (February 3) referred to the Xarabank programme that tackled the issue of homosexuality, following the excommunication of three gay persons from the Catholic Church.
Fr Camilleri felt that the Church was not fairly represented on the programme and its voice was not given enough coverage.
Perhaps he needs to be reminded that around 40 to 60 per cent of people are regular churchgoers, giving the Church ample opportunity to spread its message, not just once or twice a year, but 52 times should it see fit, without the possibility of rebuttal by the gay community.
The Times, Gabi Calleja, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta
Tonio Borg's intervention in a recent parliamentary session when debating the rent reform highlights the contempt in which the government holds same-sex couples and how far they are from according them the rights and respect they enjoy in a number of EU countries.
Illum, Bernard Muscat, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta
Fl-artiklu tieghu tal-Hadd 22 ta’ Gunju, Kurt Sansone kiteb li “Ghall-maggoranza kbira tan-nies iz-zwieg hu msejjes fuq il-kuncett religjuz ta’ ghaqda bejn mara u ragel.” Sfortunatament, iva: hafna nies ghadhom jassocjaw iz-zwieg ma’ kuncett strettament religjuz.
The Malta Independent
The Court of Magistrates in a judgment declared that describing a person as homosexual was not defamatory in today’s society.
Magistrate Michael Mallia ruled that a person’s sexual orientation in the current society was not of social interest bar that of assuring that no discrimination is made. The fact that homosexuality was a criminal offence until 1973, said the magistrate, does not reflect the situation in the 21st century.
The Times, Marisa Xuereb, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta
In his letter of April 29, Richard A. Micallef gave a very good definition of the word "homophobia", specifically "the fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals." He also supplemented this definition with several "homophobic" arguments in the rest of his letter, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Hence, "the accusing word homophobic is slapped in your face" (again?), not "because you express(ed) a differing opinion" but because disputing facts on the basis of subjective opinion to the detriment of gay people at large is tantamount to "homophobia".
The Times, Richard A. Micallef, Ta' l-Ibrag
One of the general definitions to the word homophobia is the fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals.
It can also mean hatred, hostility, or disapproval of homosexual people or sexual behaviour. Choosing two words from this definition - disapproval and hatred, which meanings are eons apart - it is easy to realise the danger that the majority of the population, that is heterosexual, is facing.
The accusing word homophobic is slapped in your face, just because you express a differing opinion and in addition the Gay Rights Movement is progressively demanding that all homophobic actions become criminalised.
