Dr Inġ. Patrick Attard: Library on Gay-Rights in Malta and Beyond

EU Parliament: Stockholm programme : MEPs seek balance between liberty and security

2009-11-16T16:03:00.007+01:00

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/008-64078-313-11-46-901-20091109IPR64077-09-11-2009-2009-false/default_mt.htm

12.11.9; REF. : 20091109IPR64077

[Excerpt from the article. Click on the hyperlink above to view the entire article.]

A European Court of Cyber Affairs, mutual recognition by EU Member States of same-sex couples, and a set of prisoners' rights in the EU should be incorporated in the 4-year Stockholm programme of laws to consolidate EU citizens' rights, said MEPs at a joint meeting of the Civil Liberties, Legal Affairs and Constitutional Affairs committees on Thursday.

Members agreed on the need to strengthen the EU's common policy on the fight against terrorism, organised crime, illegal immigration, human trafficking and sexual exploitation. A comprehensive set of legal remedies should be offered to victims of crime and in particular trafficking in human beings and gender violence. Ethnic minorities are especially vulnerable, as they also face the risk of becoming victims of discrimination and racist crime, MEPs say.

The committees called for a European strategy aiming at eradicating violence against women, including prevention measures, policies on the protection of victims, in particular young girls, and concrete measures to prosecute perpetrators.

...

Mutual recognition applied to same-sex couples in the EU

The committees called on Member States to ensure that the principle of mutual recognition is applied to same-sex couples in the EU – notably married couples, partners or de facto couples – at least in relation to rights relating to freedom of movement.

...

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L-Orizzont: ILGA–Europe sodisfatta bis-suċċess miksub

2009-11-16T15:58:00.001+01:00

http://www.l-orizzont.com/news.asp?newsitemid=58210

16.11.9 minn Sammy Sammut

Il-fergħa Ewropea tal-International Lesbian and Gay Association – ILGA Europe – kellha kliem ta’ tifħir għall-Malta Gay Rights Movement (MGRM) waqt li esprimiet is-sodisfazzjon tagħha li Malta, l-iżgħar pajjiż irrappreżentat fi ħdanha irnexxie lha torganizza l-akbar u waħda mill-aktar konferenzi ġenerali li qatt saru s’issa.

Dan il-fatt kien ikkonfermat minn ħafna mid-delegati li attendew għat-13-il Konferenza Annwali tal-ILGA–Europe li saret fil-jiem li għaddew fil-Lukanda Corinthia San Ġorġ, f’San Ġiljan, fejn kienet trattata t-tema “Negħlbu l-Barrieri Reliġjużi u Kulturali għall-Ugwaljanza LGBT”. Għaliha attendew aktar minn 300 parteċipant li kienu ġejjin minn 48 pajjiż differenti.

Din kienet ukoll l-ewwel darba li rappreżentanti mill-bord eżekuttiv ta’ ILGA-Europe flimkien ma’ rappreżentanti tal-MGRM, li kellhom sehem importanti fl-organizzazzjoni tal-Konferenza Annwali, ġew milqugħin bl-akbar korteżija minn Kap ta’ Stat. F’diskors ta’ merħba li għamel, il-President tar-Repubblika, Dr George Abela saħaq fuq l-importanza li għandha tingħata l-inklussività waqt li tkun ikkundannata kull tip ta’ diskriminazzjoni. Huwa qabel li l-isħubija ta’ Malta fl-Unjoni Ewropea tista’ sservi bħala fattur pożittiv biex ikun stimulat dibattitu kif f’pajjiżna jkunu rrispettati d-diversità u d-drittijiet tal-minoranza.

Qabel il-konferenza ewlenija tlaqqgħet ukoll Konferenza dwar id-Drittijiet ta’ Persuni Transesswali, li fi tmiemha kienet adottata dikjarazzjoni importanti li ġiet approvata mid-delegati tal-Konferenza Ġene rali tal-ILGA –Europe. Flimkien mal-konferenza TransEurope, ttellgħet ukoll wirja fiċ-Ċentru tal-Kreattività fil-Kavallier ta’ San Ġakbu, liema wirja se tibqa’ miftuħa għall-pubbliku sa nhar il-Ħamis, 19 ta’ Novembru.

Il-konferenza prinċipali kienet miftuħa mill-Ispeaker tal-Kamra tar-Rappreżentanti, Dr Louis Galea, li tkellem dwar il-fatt li d-drittijiet ta’ persuni LGBT, mhumiex drittijiet adizzjonali iżda drittijiet umani. Min-naħa tiegħu, ir-rappreżentant tal-Partit Laburista, Evarist Bartolo saħaq li “issa hu l-mument” għad-drittijiet LGBT, waqt li rrifletta fuq ir-realtà u l-ħtieġa urġenti li ċittadini LGBT f’Malta jkollhom drittijiet tassew imħarsin. Irrifera wkoll għall-fatt li d-drittijiet umani huma drittijiet universali u ma jiddependux mill-kultura ta’ dak li jkun.

L-assemblea kienet indirizzata wkoll, fost oħrajn, mill-kap tad-delegazzjoni Maltija għall-Assmblea Parlamentari tal-Kunsill tal-Ewropa, id-deputat Nazzjonalista Dr Francis Agius, mill-eks-Deputata Parlamentari Taljana, Vladimir Luxuria, mir-rappreżentanta tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea, Belinda Pyke, il-membru parlamentari Ewropew, Ulrike Lunacel, mill-pastor mill-Latvja Juris Calitis u Fritz Huffnagel, Deputat Sindku ta’ The Hague.

Id-delegati tal-konferenza kellhom iċ-ċans li jsiru aktar familjari mal-gżejjer Maltin billi l-MGRM ħaseb biex jorganizza għadd ta’ żjajjar kulturali f’diversi postijiet turistiċi u storiċi, apparti dawra fuq il-baħar mal-Port il-Kbir.

Intant, il-Malta Gay Rights Movement radd ħajr lill-Awtorità ta’ Malta għat-Turiżmu, lill-Ministeru tal-Affarijiet Barranin Olandiż, l-uffiċċju tar-Rappreżentanza tal-Kummis sjoni Ewropea f’Malta, kif ukoll lit-Taqsima tal-Visa tal-Ministeru għall-Affarijiet Barranin għall-koperazzjoni sħiħa li sab mingħandhom.

It-Torċa: Policy paper li tagħti ħjiel tas-sitwazzjoni tal-ħaddiema LGBT

2009-11-16T15:54:00.002+01:00

http://www.it-torca.com/news.asp?newsitemid=8662
15.11.9 minn Aleks Farrugia

Huwa dritt fundamentali li kull persuna titwieled hielsa bl-istess drittijiet u dinjità. Dan il-principju universali jfisser li hadd m’ghandu jsofri diskriminazzjoni, la fis-socjetà u wisq anqas fuq il-post tax-xoghol, minhabba razza, twemmin, sess, identità jew espressjoni tal-generu u orjentazzjoni sesswali fost ohrajn. Ghaldaqstant il-Ligi tistipula li kull bniedem ghandu drittijiet indaqs u ghandu jkollu kull opportunità li jimxi ’l quddiem fl-izvilupp tal-personalità tieghu.

Id-drittijiet tax-xoghol ta’ lesbjani, irgiel gay, bisesswali u persuni transgender (LGBT) huma drittijiet trejdunjonisti, u d-drittijiet fundamentali tal-bniedem. Ghaldaqstant il-General Workers’ Union hadmet flimkien mal-Malta Gay Rights Movement (MGRM) u ghaqdiet ohra biex flimkien fasslu policy paper li taghti hjiel tas-sitwazzjoni ta’ dawn il-haddiema. Din il-policy paper kienet approvata mill-Kungress Nazzjonali tal-GWU li sar fil-5 ta’ Ottubru li ghadda.

Working group

Matul din il-gimgha tlaqqa’ ghall-ewwel darba working group li kien rakkomandat f’din il-policy paper biex jibda l-hidma konkreta favur id-drittijiet ta’ persuni LGBT fi hdan il-GWU.

Silvan Agius kien fost dawk li attendew għal din il-laqgħa: “Il-fatt li l-GWU qiegħda tindirizza l-is-sues tal-persuni LGBT tfisser ħafna soċjalment. Tfisser fost oħrajn li din m’għadhiex biss issue tal-MGRM. Il-policy paper tal-GWU qiegħda ssej-jaħ għall-waqfien minn kull forma ta’ diskriminazzjoni fuq il-post tax-xogħol. F’dan il-working group m’aħniex se naħdmu biss biex jissolvew il-prob-emi li jinqalgħu, iżda anke fuq ħidma produttiva.”

Mistoqsi dwar l-isfidi li għandu quddiemu dan il-working group, Silvan Agius isostni li: “L-isfida hija li wara t-twaqqif ikun hemm impenn biex dan il-working group ikompli jaħdem. Hemm bżonn ta’ aktar in-vestiment biex il-ħidma tin-firex. Per eżempju, il-Kon-ferenza Nazzjonali li se tkun qiegħda tagħmel il-GWU dwar il-ħaddiema LGBT nemmen li għandha tħalli impenn pożittiv. Sfida oħra li jkollna struttura fejn persuni LGBT jistgħu jmorru bil-problemi tagħhom, kif għandhom setturi oħrajn ta’ ħaddiema.”

L-eżempju internazzjonali

Bosta trade unions mad-war id-dinja għamlu mill-kawża tal-persuni LGBT il-kawża tagħhom. Fis-sena 2007 deher ċar li l-kampanji li bdew it-trade unions kienu qiegħdin iħallu l-frott għax matul dik is-sena f’rapport li l-Organizzazzjoni Dinjija tax-Xogħol (ILO) ħejjiet bit-titlu: ‘Equality at work: tackling the challenges’ (L-ugwaljanza fuq il-post tax-xogħol: naffrontaw l-isfidi) saħqet li: “international and national human rights institutions and mechanisms are attaching increased importance to fighting discrimination ba-sed on sexual orientation, and many countries have adopted legal provisions prohibiting discrimination at work based on sexual orientation”.

Għalkemm jeżisti dan ir-rikonoxximent mill-ILO, ma-dankollu ma nistgħux ngħid-u li l-proċess biex persuni LGBT ma jibqgħux isofru minn diskriminazzjoni u umiljazzjonijiet, fost affarij-iet oħra, fuq il-post tax-xogħol qabad xi ritmu mgħaġġel u sod.

Fl-Ewropa, l-ETUC mhux biss irrikonoxxiet id-drittijiet ta’ ħaddiema LGBT fid-dawl tal-qafas legali tal-Unjoni Ewropea dwar l-ugwaljanza kif imniżżla fid-Direttiva tal-Kunsill tal-Unjoni Ewropea Nru. 2000/78/KE li tistabbilixxi qafas ġenerali għall-ugwaljanza fit-trattament fl-impjieg u fix-xogħol u fid-Direttiva tal-Kunsill tal-Unjoni Ewropea Nru. 2006/54/KE dwar l-implimentazzjoni tal-prinċipju ta’ opportunitajiet indaqs u ta’ trattament ugwali tal-irġiel u n-nisa fi kwistjonijiet ta’ im-pjiegi u xogħol, li tipprojbix-xi d-diskriminazzjoni kontra persuni li jagħmlu intervent kiruġiku biex jikkorreġu jew jibdlu l-ġeneru tagħhom. L-ETUC fil-pjan strateġiku għal erba’ snin fasslet il-prijoritajiet li jinkludu l-impenn tal-ETUC li jittieħdu inizjattivi biex tkun indirizzata d-diskriminazzjoni fuq bażi ta’ orjentazzjoni sesswali u l-identità jew espressjoni tal-ġeneru.

Aktar minn hekk, f’Diċembru 2008, l-ETUC għaddiet għall-azzjoni meta l-Kumitat Eżekuttiv adotta r-rakkomandazzjonijiet dwar l-azzjonijiet li għandhom jittieħdu u l-attivitajiet li għandhom isiru bil-għan li jikber l-għarfien għad-drittijiet ugwali, ir-rispett u d-dinjità tal-ħaddiema rrispettivament mill-orjentazzjoni jew l-identità jew espressjoni tal-ġeneru tagħhom.

Sehem il-GWU

Fid-dokument tagħha ‘Twemmin’ il-GWU tagħmel emfasi fuq il-fatt li ħaddiema ma għandhomx ikunu abbu-żati minħabba l-orjentazzjoni sesswali, l-identità jew l-espressjoni tal-ġeneru tagħ-hom.

Bit-twaqqif ta’ dan il-wor-king group, il-GWU qiegħda tagħmel pass ieħor ‘il quddiem. Hija l-ewwel trade union f’Malta li qiegħda taħdem attivament favur id-drittijiet ta’ ħaddiema LGBT.

Silvan Agius jgħid hekk: “Il-GWU qiegħda tagħmel pass importanti ħafna f’pajjiżna. Barra minn Malta, it-trade unions diġà qiegħdin jaħdmu fuq dawn it-tip ta’ inizjattivi. Fi ħdan il-GWU jidher li hemm impenn qawwi favur il-ħaddiema LGBT u dan jidher mill-fatt li qiegħda tagħti wiċċ lil din il-kwistjoni. Dan għalija huwa xhieda li għal darb’oħra l-GWU qiegħda tkun progressiva sew.”

Proposti tal-GWU dwar persuni LGBT

Il-GWU tgħid li l-Gvern flimkien mal-imsieħba soċjali, għandhom jiddiskutu l-parametri legali fil-Kunsill Malti għall-Iżvilupp Ekonomiku u Soċjali biex mill-Parlament fil-futur qrib jgħaddu liġijiet li jintitolaw lill-persuni LGBT għall-istess ammont ta’ ‘bereavement leave’ u leave urġenti tal-familja. Sussegwentement wara dan iż-żewġ kisbiet, id-drittijiet kollha li jgawdu l-ħaddiema llum għandhom ikunu implimentati. Barra minhekk, il-GWU, min-naħa tagħha se:

• tara li bis-sehem tagħha, persuni u għaqdiet oħra interessati fuq din il-kwistjoni, fost l-oħrajn ikun assigurat li ħaddiema LGBT jkunu organizzati u mhux aktar sfruttati, u dan għandu jseħħ bi qbil kollettiv;

• torganizza Konferenza Nazzjonali fejn it-tema prinċipali jkunu d-diffikultajiet li għandhom ħaddiema LGBT u d-diskussjoni tkun dwar x’għandu jsir f’pajjiżna b’mod konkret u mingħajr dewmien fil-qasam tal-impjiegi, biex dawn il-problemi jkunu identifikati u indirizzati ħalli d-drittijiet ta’ dawn il-persuni jkunu l-istess bħal ta’ kull ċittadin ieħor;

• titqassam informazzjoni u jintużaw mezzi tal-midja biex tkun ippreżentata s-sitwazzjoni preżenti, kif ukoll tingħata informazzjoni dwar x’inhuma l-best practices u l-linji gwida f’dawn iċ-ċirkostanzi. L-għan għandu jkun li titqajjem kuxjenza nazzjonali;

• tinkludi temi LGBT fit-taħriġ intern għall-ħaddiema u shop stewards tagħha biex dawn ikunu preparati f’każi ta’ diskriminazzjoni;

• tippubblika l-ġist tal-policy paper fil-midja biex ikun magħruf li l-GWU qiegħda tieħu passi pożittivi biex tikkumbatti din it-tip ta’ diskriminazzjoni fil-postijiet tax-xogħol;

• taħdem flimkien ma’ u (fejn tista’) tattendi attivitajiet organizzati mill-kommunità LGBT;

• tara li jkollha kordinatur li l-irwol ewlieni tiegħu jkun li jippromwovi l-interess tal-ħaddiema gay u taħdem biex il-linji tal-policy paper ikunu mplimentati.

[Jekk trid kopja tal-Policy Paper ibgħat email lis-Sur Charles Vella.]

Independent: J’accuse: Hold on... let me get this straight

2009-11-16T02:03:00.002+01:00

http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=97252

15.11.9? by Jacques René Zammit

This week’s news highlight tells us that not many Maltese are really in favour of having a lesbian Prime Minister. Also, they’d rather have a Roman Catholic head honcho than one of any other particular faith (I wonder what they would make of a Blairite conversion at the end of the mandate). Once we are talking preferences, it also transpires that we’d rather go for the paler sort of grey when it comes to skin colour – and yes, we do constantly labour under the illusion that we are a Catholic, Latin bunch so much so that we’d rather be led by a leader in our own image (or in that of our mind’s eye) than any other deviant.

That’s just “brill” isn’t it? Just as you were despairing at the incapacity of the Maltese electorate to develop the sort of selective taste that moves beyond partisan parochialism, you are bitch-slapped in the face by a Eurobarometer survey condemning the nation of troglodytes to eternal damnation in the circle of the hypocritically conservative, where there is constant gnashing of teeth and people are bombarded with repeat recordings of tasteless jokes about “fags, faggots and other sorts of homophobia”. (In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve decided to up the ante on the vocab in my articles in order to hitch a ride on the sensational success that rudewordery has around these parts. And yes, I invented “rudewordery”, but if Carroll can have a “jabberwocky” then I can have a “rudewordery”.)

So it is little consolation to know that the majority of the population would be OK with a person of the weaker sex (see that not so subtle deliberate provocation there? Quick write a letter to the Indy) were she to take up office in Castile. The results of the survey should come as no surprise really. When it comes to views on ethnic origin and religious persuasion, all you need to do is to take a quick look at the lyrics of the official hymn of that tolerant party in power and you will find the lovely phrase “ta’ Kattolci, ta’ Latini, Maltin veri nahilfuh” (as Catholics and as Latins, we do swear this as true Maltese). The implication is clear: the true Maltese is Catholic and Latin (Latin? stop laughing at the back) and that’s why Lawrence Gonzi is not gay, black or a Mormon (and Paula Mifsud Bonnici is not a lesbian).

Queer

As in weird, of course, is the background debate going on between Joseph’s Labour and its detractors. It was announced sometime in the last 10 days that Labour would now have an LGBT department. For a second the gourmand part of my nature took over, and I sat there wondering why Labour would

dedicate a whole section to sandwiches involving bacon. Upon regaining control of my mental faculties and avoiding an automatic trip to the closest eatery, I remembered that LGBT refers to an agglomeration of what could, before the advent of the politically correct era, best be described as the sum total of forms of deviance from the perceived norms of sexual orientation (in a Catholic and Latin country to boot).

So Labour had set up a workshop for fathoming whatever it is that lesbians, gays and the B&Ts desire in life. Rather unfairly, spinmeisters over at the Catholic workhouse in Triq Herbert Ganado shot at Labour for this move, which seemed to be straight (pardon the word) out of the “That 70’s show”. In doing so they insisted that LGBTs deserve no special attention whatsoever. Now, I am prepared to accept that this LGBT section business is just as much a marketing ploy as any other in the cynical world of hypocritical politics, but I also find this argument that LGBTs do not merit specific regulation in order to ensure that their rights are not trampled on rather generalistically.

This latest attempt to delineate the cool from the uncool smacks of overspin and reverse psychology. True, in the real world where black is just the absence of light and the words Roman and Catholic put together do not conjure up (perceived) ideas of the inquisition all over again, there is no longer the need for special LGBT sections to remind the “others” that the party is thinking of them. True, in the real world where gay politicians are simply politicians who also happen to be gay and closets are things you put clothes in, there is no need for a vociferous reminder of the existence of that section of the population who have long foregone the missionary position.

Twisted

But that is the real world though, and we do not live in the real world. While in the real world the creation of an LGBT section is anachronistic, in this world of ours you would have to be downright stupid to assert that the majority of the population is long past the stage of spoonfeeding when it comes to LGBTs and their rights. So there you are, in this world run by Catholics and Latins, poofters and dykes deserve specific representation – particularly since there are probably many people who would read this sentence and find that there is absolutely nothing incorrect with my choice of provocative vocabulary.

So do let Labour find its feet and get in touch with its LGBT side in the hope that some ground is broken in the field of phobia barriers in this society of ours (in this case it’s either homophobia, lesbophobia, biphobia or transphobia). Of course we have to take long hard breaths in order to be patient with our partitocracy and its mind-numbingly slow effort to crawl into the 21st century. Meanwhile, in Salt Lake City, bang in the middle of the US Bible Belt, the Mormon Church supported state ordinances banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. A spokesman for the Mormon Church said that the new laws cause no damage to traditional marriage. Un-blooming-believable.

Bent

The whole business of the Eurobarometer survey reminded me of a recent interview that I read on the Spiegel Online. Umberto Eco was interviewed on the subject of his new exhibition at the Louvre in Paris and he discussed its theme: the place of lists in the history of culture. Eco is one for pointing out striking pieces of information that have always been there for all to see but there was nobody there to quite point them out. That is the job for the hermeneuticist that is Eco. His latest fixation on lists is incredibly interesting. According to Eco, our very idea of “definitions” is based on lists. To define anything you require a list of characteristics – a scientist might call water H20 but really it is the colourless, odourless, liquid substance that places it in a recognisable box.

The same goes for the platypus and a million other animate or inanimate objects. Lists, says Eco, have been a common feature throughout the history of humankind and have remained with us to this very day. Our Eurobarometer results showed us the list of qualities the majority of our society seems to want in a female Prime Minister – not the most welcome bit of news but there you have it.

Distorted

Before I sat down to write this article I had a little online spat with Lou Bondi on Facebook, which again brought back to mind Eco’s Spiegel interview. Lou has a habit of asking questions to the general public on Facebook, presumably in a little exercise to get some feedback on some upcoming topic for Bondiplus – when he’s not busy playing X-Factor for Prime Ministers. This week Lou asked his faithful followers this question: “In a democracy, should citizens have the right to insult PUBLIC figures or institutions?”

I must admit that I joined the ensuing conversation rather late in the day, but it was me and my iPhone stuck in what passes for rush hour traffic on Pont Charlotte, Luxembourg and so I found nothing better to do than to point out to Lou that no liberal democracy in the world would go so far as to discuss a “right to insult”. No charter of rights or court of law would go so far as to couch the freedom of expression in those terms – if it did then we might as well speak of the right to “randomly poke other people’s eyes with red hot irons”.

Quite obviously miffed by my pointing out that the framing of the question seemed more like a desperate attempt at sensational journalism than a real opening for a discussion of freedom of expression, Lou did what public personae used to running a show tend to do – he played the man and not the ball. Bondi tried to play down my legal background by claiming to be baffled by what he called my ignorance of the fact that “countless Supreme Courts from the US to Europe have handed down sentences protecting the right to insult”. That I did not know this, according to Lou, was a clear demonstration of how cheap law degrees have become.

Aside from the fact that the only cheap thing in Lou’s reply was the repartee itself, there remained the issue of these myriad cases of the courts of law protecting the “right to insult”. Of course courts of law would not frame their words in that manner – courts of law deal with the freedom of expression and possible limits thereto. You will not find a court of law speaking of a “right to insult” but of the freedom to express oneself. There is a not too subtle difference and apparently it takes a lawyer with a cheap degree to tell the difference.

Lou had invited me to Google the right to insult. It was my turn to be baffled. Baffled, first of all by the high standards of research being displayed publicly by the sans pareil of Maltese investigative journalism. I would then be baffled by the results on Google (I had to check). Sure there is a whole string of references to the “right to insult” but invariably they turn out to be journalistic reviews of cases. In none of the cases is there a reference to the “right to insult” but simply an exploration of the limits to the freedom of expression. In every case the right to express one’s opinion is carefully balanced against the right of others not to be harmed thereby.

Discriminating

All of which brought me back to Eco’s interview. The author was asked what he thought of the lists created by such search engines as Google: are they the perfect lists? Are they the perfect answer? Here is what he had to say: “These lists can be dangerous – not for old people like me, who have acquired their knowledge in another way, but for young people, for whom Google is a tragedy. Schools ought to teach the high art of how to be discriminating.” He goes on to explain how the art of discriminating and identifying the right sources from within the lists is still a skill that has to be learnt - having Google at your fingertips is only half the work.

It’s ironic how even in a country like ours where we need sections for LBGTs and where people cannot tell between literature and really offensive material, we still discover that some people need to learn how to “be discriminating”. In the same way, this very article requires a discriminating mind: one that can tell that words usually considered to be offensive and insulting to sexual minorities have been peppered throughout the text in order to create a caricature and throw an intentional spotlight on the very issue to be discussed. I’m no Shakespeare so I’ve taken this literary licence up in a very clumsy manner (especially considering how I write this in the early hours of the morning) – so if anyone feels in any way insulted let me guarantee him or her that it was not my intention to be insulting but merely to illustrate through satire.

I do not believe in the existence of the “right to insult” but I am a strong supporter of the freedom of expression. I believe that intelligent people (the spoudaios of this world) will set their own limits and they would definitively not avail themselves of a right to insult even if it were available. The problem, alas, is that the world is not so full of spoudaios – which is why there will always be someone, somewhere googling “the right to insult”.

Jacques blogs daily at www.jacquesrenezammit.com/jaccuse. Comment is free and most insults are immediately answered.

Times: Blog: Be Cross, Yourselves

2009-11-16T01:28:00.003+01:00

http://www.timesofmalta.com/blogs/view/20091115/andrew-borg-cardona/be-cross-yourselves

Sunday, 15th November 2009 by Andrew Borg Cardona

[Excerpt from the article]

...

Nothing to do with anything I've written so far, but I was a bit dubious about the Labour Party's establishment of a LGBT Section, since I tend towards the belief that human beings are individuals whatever their orientation and for a mainstream political party to distinguish between individuals wasn't quite the done thing. The mere fact that a special section was being set up somehow gives credence, perversely, to those who think that gays or lesbians or whatever are somehow lesser mortals.

I didn't feel the same about the General Workers' Union taking a similar route, because it is a fact, sadly, that bigotry at the work-place still exists and more vigorous means of fighting it are still needed.

But from the way the leader, and probably half the membership (work it out) of the Alleanza Nazzjonali came out against the Labour Party's move, it became apparent to me that perhaps there is a need for the Labour Party's position. To put it bluntly, if something irritates Josie Muscat, then it's probably a good idea.

This is a philosophy that I find stands the test of consistency.

[Click on the hyperlink above to view the entire article and the comments on the Times'website.]

MaltaStar: “Gay people need to believe in change”

2009-11-16T01:17:00.002+01:00

http://maltastar.com/pages/ms09dart.asp?a=5457

14.11.9

14 November 2009 23:06

“Gay people are expecting to be protected in case of discrimination, they want to have something to look forward to in the form of civil unions … they want to lead a quiet life free of bullying and homophobia.”

Albert Gauchi Cunningham speaks with maltastar.com on civil rights and the LGBT Labour.

No homosexual gets persecuted for his/her sexual orientation in Malta, but at the same time it must be a very frustrating place for homosexuals, because after the decriminalization of homosexuality in the 1970s no other gay civil right was obtain. Are we afraid of change?

That is completely true infact it was under Dom Mintoff's premiership that it became legal to be gay if one could put it that way, something which Nationalist MP's were against. But that is a long time ago now and very few of those in or out of the gay scene remember this today.

Gay people are frustrated because so little has been done and for the past years all governments have done was to dither and seed false hopes on the eve of general elections. Many had hoped that with Malta joining the E.U. certain rights would become automatic but as everyone and his brother can witness this is very far from the truth. Infact as of late we seem to be regressing rather than progressing; and here I'm referring to the sudden drive to ban this and stop that and arraign him or her because she/he wrote something which someone considers to be blasphemous.

Unfortunately the EU issue was sold so well that now it has spectacularly fallen short of expectations. Gay people are expecting to be protected in case of discrimination, they expect to be able to aim their relationship to a high, they want to have something to look forward to in the form of civil unions, they want to be treated as family in a hospital and they want to inherit their deceased partners' assets, they want to lead a quiet life free of bullying and homophobia, they want a Commission ,which says it’s all about equality, to stand up for them and not ignore them, they want to have the right for bereavement leave if their partner dies, they want to have the rights for housing when and if they're eligible for it.

Gay people don't want anything spectacular or out of this world all they're just asking for is what should be rightfully theirs! Are homosexuals afraid of change you ask? Well who isn't? But if we dare to dream of change than hopefully we will be able to live it! And gay people need to start believing in change and when the time comes vote for it!

You will start the Labour LGBT. How are things going and what are your expectations?

Well I wouldn't say I'm starting it! That would be grossly unfair on the many people around me. It is actually a group of people coming from different walks of life who have shown interest in being part of this group and just like the others I was approached by the PL leadership to form part of the Party and also of this network to which I wholeheartedly agreed.

The LGBT Labour has already started functioning with and within the Forum Zaghzagh Laburisti mainly thanks to Daniel Micallef , its president, although it has not officially launched. We were keeping a rather low key until all hell broke loose when Dr.Joseph Muscat met a few ILGA members and was reported on the times.com which led to a string of encouraging and supportive comments, others which were against and some others which poked fun at us and accused us of segregating gay people along with the downright offensive remarks by some homophobes. But anyway LGBT Labour is not here to waste time answering people who have only one agenda i.e that of pushing the Conservative bandwagon further.

We are definitely not trying to segregate anyone infact this Network is not like some section which will be organising “coffee mornings for gays” (imagine that!!) but one which will approach different people to get feedback and let the Party know how gay people feel and what they expect from Labour, it would then be up to the Party to match up to those expectations with real and tangible policies, some of which we hope to offer ourselves.

We are here to build bridges between the Labour Party and many gay people in Malta whether Labour, Nationalist or apolitical. LGBT Labour wants to make the progressive movement the natural home of all gay people in Malta, we want to see that Malta's Socialist movement (like all those around Europe) fills the void and removes the disillusionment gay people are feeling, we want to see gay people believe that change can happen and that this change could come about with Dr.Joseph Muscat as Prime Minister.

Read part one1 of the interview: “Education can eradicate homophobia”

[Click on the hyperlink at the top to view the comments on MaltaStar's website.]

Times: Editorial: Values cannot be taken for granted

2009-11-15T02:18:00.000+01:00

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20091114/opinion/values-cannot-be-taken-for-granted

Saturday, 14th November 2009

From time to time, the University carries out surveys among students in an attempt to try and give an indication of their views on faith and morals. Despite Malta's strong Catholic cultural roots, the inexorable trend over the recent years has shown a sustained move away from the relatively unchallenged traditional values of the past.

The increased acceptance of contraception, cohabitation, gay marriage, divorce, the morning-after pill and abortion are a reflection of the changing moral norms of society in general.

These changes are greeted by the progressives as a sign of emancipation, a sign that Malta is coming of age and joining the mainstream of society in the rest of the Western world. Alas, such simplification risks glossing over the implication of what such progress could lead to.
Look at the wider picture and you will notice that these so-called progressive changes have had a devastating impact on the integrity and stability of long-term relationships. As a result, the family institution is in crisis and the birth rate in Europe has plummeted to worryingly low levels that make the sustainability of European culture anything but secure.

President George Abela recently pointed out that: "The family was a universal and irreplaceable community rooted in human nature that was the basis for all societies at all times. As the cradle of life and love for each new generation, the family was the primary source of personal identity, self-esteem and support for children. This raises the question as to whether the strong family values of marriage and fidelity, child-bearing and rearing and the family value bond will continue to resist the daunting challenges ahead."

If the prevailing trend in the decline in traditional values advances unabated, the answer is obviously negative.

Not surprisingly, the University survey, despite its limitations, reveals the clear link between the upholding of traditional values and the Catholic faith, pointing out that belief in what the Church stands for has dropped dramatically, from 75 per cent in 2003 to 51 per cent just five years later.

It is definitely a positive sign that students today are more acutely aware of the desire to act freely without adopting or accepting values and lifestyles because of fear and coercion. Belief in the faith and values of our ancestors can no longer survive just out of habit and convention.
This explains the eagerness of the University Chaplaincy to engage more effectively with the students. The Chaplaincy plans to encourage University students to delve into the tenets of their faith through a series of discussions held on campus.

As the University Chaplain, Fr Michael Bugeja, rightly said: "If we accept our Catholic faith without true knowledge, it will eventually fizzle out. Students need to be directed towards an informed faith in which they discuss issues they may not be convinced of."

The survey reveals that an astonishingly high number of students yearn for religious guidance. While 91 per cent claim to want to deepen their religious awareness, only about 20 per cent ever avail themselves of the services offered by the Chaplaincy. This paradoxical and puzzling contradiction will definitely prove to be quite a challenge to tackle and reconcile.

Undoubtedly, we live in a culture where traditional values can no longer be taken for granted. They have to be fathomed, analysed and made our own if we want to foster a faith worthy of adults, especially those of our future professional class.

[Click on the hyperlink above to view the comments on the Times' website.]

Times: Pandora's Box is opening [Labour's LGBT Group]

2009-11-14T16:28:00.002+01:00

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20091114/opinion/pandoras-box-is-opening

Saturday, 14th November 2009 by Josie Muscat

The Labour Party's decision to provide a home for Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transexual groups (LGBT) comes as no surprise. The setting up of an LGBT Section within the PL has been ostensibly done in the name of tolerance and inclusion. Unfortunately, this move, which follows the traditional socialist pattern, makes a mockery of individual rights for these are not there to be enjoyed by virtue of an individual being a "member" of a particular group.

Far from being inclusive, the end result will be divisive. Traditionally the begetter of socialism, Marxism has thrived on envy and class warfare. Since it can no longer seriously claim to be fighting for the working class, Marxism now seeks to survive by identifying other perceived victim groups in order to justify its existence and founding principles. And where victims do not exist, the Left simply creates them.

The end result is to divide society into distinct and fragmented groups, each lobbying for their vested interests, which many a time are in conflict with, or detrimental to, society as a whole. This is a deliberate strategy because a divided society cannot function effectively and the resulting contradictions would always necessitate the intervention of the state. In the weak position they find themselves in at the moment, progressives all over Europe are seeking new ways to bring in the old, all-knowing, controlling state through the back door.

A free society, however, is built on the concept of natural justice and inalienable rights irrespective of race, sex or creed. By bestowing extra rights on real or imaginary victim groups, the Progressive ideology therefore completely undermines natural justice by bestowing extra privileges that are based entirely on race, sex and creed. It is a complete inversion of values.

If the PL set up an LGBT section within its structures, why shouldn't it create sections for illegal immigrants, drug addicts who insist on seeing themselves as victims of society, criminals who claim they were driven to crime by poverty and every other group that, rightly or wrongly, believes it is a victim?

We, at Azzjoni Nazzjonali, see this as the thin edge of the wedge. We have repeatedly warned that with the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty and the enshrinement of the so-called charter of fundamental rights, these alien, undemocratic and unchristian tenets will be imposed on us whether we like it or not. The European Court of Human Rights has just ruled against the use of crucifixes in classrooms in Italy. It said the practice violated the right of parents to educate their children as they saw fit and ran counter to the child's right to freedom of religion.

Everything that Azzjoni Nazzjonali claimed would come in on the back of the Lisbon Treaty seems about to happen.

We are already witnessing the mushrooming of posters such as those found in Mosta and Naxxar espousing so called alternative families, posters depicting a child with two parents of the same sex. It is a subtle strategy propaganda paid by tax payers' money to condition the population to accept the inevitable imposition of progressive Marxism. The PL, true to its calling, has espoused it. Will the PN follow suit?

Dr Muscat is leader of Azzjoni Nazzjonali.

[Click on the hyplerink above to view the comments on the Times' website.]

Di-ve: MEPs push for mutual recognition of same-sex couples

2009-11-13T20:07:00.000+01:00

http://www.di-ve.com/Default.aspx?ID=72&Action=1&NewsId=65988&newscategory=31
13 November 2009 by di-ve.com - editorial@di-ve.com

EU members should recognise same-sex couples recognised in other member states, MEPs agreed at a joint meeting of the Civil Liberties, Legal Affairs and Constitutional Affairs Committees of the European Parliament on Thursday.

The committees were discussing what should be incorporated in the 4-year Stockholm programme of laws to consolidate EU citizens’ rights.

MEPs were in agreement on the need to strengthen common policy in the fight against terrorism, organised crime, illegal migration, human trafficking and sexual exploitation, but also sought to guarantee prisoners’ rights.

They noted that cybercrime was on the increase, and called for the setting up of a European Court of Cyber Affairs specialising in such matters.

The committees also called on member states to ensure that the principle of mutual recognition is applied to same-sex couples in the EU, at least in relation to freedom of movement rights.

On migration, members said that it would best be reduced via preventive measures. At the same time, however, the right to family reunification needed to be addressed, and while circular migration should be promoted, this should not undermine integration efforts.

On prisoners’ rights, MEPs said that EU citizens should be able to challenge disproportionate or unclear rules, and the inappropriate implementation of rules. In addition, the EU should establish minimum standards for prisons and detention centres and issue a common set of prisoners’ rights.

The draft resolution, by Spanish MEP Juan Fernando López Aguilar and Italian MEPs Carlo Casini and Luigi Berlinguer, was adopted with 29 votes in favour, 18 against and 37 abstentions. It will now face a plenary vote at the parliamentary session of November 23-26.

Comments
J Farrugia / 11/13/2009
NO NEVER WILL WE ALLOW THESE ATHEIST MEPs to interfere in our internal matters, and even if they succeed in their heinous attempt, we will never accept immorality amongst us. That's for certain. They have lost their own souls with all this ''pigsty correctness'' but we will not lose ours.

ILGA: Successful conclusion of the largest ever ILGA-Europe annual conference co-hosted by the Malta Gay Rights Movement

2009-11-12T15:58:00.002+01:00

12.11.9

The 13th Annual ILGA-Europe conference was successfully concluded recently in Malta. Over 300 participants from 48 countries took part in the conference, which had as its theme "Overcoming cultural and religious barriers to LGBT Equality".

The conference was notable for achieving a number of "firsts". It was the first time that representatives of the executive board and staff, together with representatives of MGRM, met with a country's Head of State. This occurred in a meeting at the Palace in Valletta with His Excellency Dr George Abela. During this meeting Dr Abela stressed the importance of condemning discrimination and the importance of inclusivity, as emphasized in his inaugural speech. He agreed that Malta¹s EU membership can serve as a useful factor in stimulating debate on greater acceptance within Malta of diversity and minority rights.

Preceding the main conference there was a Transgender Rights conference and also an EU Network meeting. A declaration of the Trans Rights conference was overwhelmingly adopted, and also endorsed by the delegates of the main conference. In association with the Trans Rights conference an audio-visual Transgender exhibition was set up at St James Cavalier, and remains open to the public until the 19th of November.

The main conference was opened by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Louis Galea, who pointed out that LGBT rights are not additional rights, but human rights. He also articulated the theme of the conference and dwelled on the role of religion and culture in Malta.

Dr Evarist Bartolo from the PL also addressed the plenary opening session. He said that the time for LGBT rights was now, reflecting the urgent needs and reality of LGBT citizens in Malta today. He pointed out that human rights were universal rights and not culture-specific.

Dr Francis Agius, PN head of the Parliamentary Assembly to the Council of Europe, also spoke in a plenary session and explained the evolvement of LGBT rights from within the context of the Council of Europe.

The conference was also addressed by former Italian MP Vladimir Luxuria, European Commission representative Belinda Pyke, Austrian MEP Ulrike Lunacek, Latvian pastor Juris Calitis and Fritz Huffnagel, deputy mayor of The Hague.

The conference included an active social programme organised by MGRM, which included a harbour cruise, a tour of Mdina and Palazzo Parisio, and a visit to G?ar Lapsi.

There was also a bus stop campaign incorporating Maltese versions of the ILGA-Europe "Different families Same Love" posters, which was scheduled to coincide with the conference¹s duration in Malta.

MGRM consider this to have been a very successful conference in Malta, raising the issues and profile of LGBT issues especially locally. It was satisfying that the smallest country represented within ILGA-Europe organized the largest and one of the most successful annual conferences to date, a fact acknowledged by the many delegates at the end of the conference.

MGRM would like to express its thanks to the Malta Tourism Authority, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the EU Commission Representation in Malta, and the Ministry of Foreign Affair¹s VISA Section for their support.

Independent: Female PM, yes... lesbian non-Catholic, no chance

2009-11-12T00:13:00.000+01:00

http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=97028

10.11.9? by Chiara Bonello

Anyone aspiring to the prestigious post of Prime Minister of Malta must first ensure that they personally comply with a number of requirements; namely one must be straight, hold Roman Catholic beliefs and be of the same ethnic origin.

These results were revealed by the Eurobarometer survey on discrimination in Europe, which was published yesterday by the European Commission. On a European level, discrimination on ethnic grounds is the most prevalent form, followed closely by age and disability.

A mere one per cent of the Maltese respondents would be reluctant to have a woman filling the shoes of Prime Minister, and 78 per cent would have no problem with female representation. If the possibility of different sexual orientation, an alternate religious belief or a different race loomed on the horizon, however, it would be a different story.

These possibilities instill feelings of fear and trepidation among the respondents, as more than 25 per cent say they would be very uncomfortable with the idea of having a Prime Minister of different religious beliefs or ethnic origin. In both cases more than half of the respondents fall well below the comfortable mark.

In general the ideas of a leader aged over 75 or having a different sexual orientation is only slightly less palatable, according to the survey, with some 32 per cent finding the idea disquieting

On a general level ethnic origin seems to be the most common basis for discrimination in Malta, with some 77 per cent judging it to be between fairly and very widespread. The same is true of the European Union in general, with 61 per cent perceiving it to be the most common.

Furthermore, it seems that more than half the respondents believe this problem to have grown significantly over the past five years, becoming more widespread. When it comes to creating equal opportunities for people of different ethnic origin, on the other hand, some 55 per cent are in favour.

Sexual orientation is another issue for most respondents, with a mere 12 per cent describing the problem as very rare or non existent. Some 47 per cent believe the problem has become only slightly more widespread.

The respondents were generally in favour of equal job opportunities, despite the various differences. 88 per cent were for identical opportunities for men and women, and 81 per cent supported equal opportunities for people of different sexual orientations. Neither age nor religion was considered reason for biased opportunities.

Compared to the16 per cent of Europeans who reported experiencing some form of discrimination over the past twelve months, the Maltese are not too hard done by.

Some 90 per cent claim that they have not experienced any form of discrimination over the same period, and moreover 73 per cent claim they have not witnessed any form of discrimination over the same period.

Overall the majority are thus far undecided as to whether enough is done to combat discrimination in Malta, as 74 per cent is equally divided between those who believe enough is being done and those who think this is not really the case.

L-Orizzzont: Biża’ mill-progress?

2009-11-12T00:08:00.000+01:00

http://www.l-orizzont.com/news.asp?newsitemid=58095
11.11.9 minn James Piscopo

Nhar l-Erbgħa, 28 ta’ Ottubru, nistqarr li bqajt sorpriż wara li qrajt artiklu miktub mill-Arċisqof Emeritus Mercieca, lil waħda mill-gazzetti lokali li toħroġ kuljum. F’dan l-artiklu, li jirrifletti l-opinjoni tal-Isqof Mercieca fuq il-progress, laqtitni speċjalment sentenza partikolari li fiha jgħid: “It is dangerous to state that I have the right to do what my conscience tells me to do simply because my conscience tells me to do it.” Għalkemm il-kuxjenza ma timxix dejjem tajjeb, lanqas irrid li l-moralità tiegħi, u dak li jiddefinixxi x’inhu tajjeb jew mhux, tiddependi fuq ħaddieħor li jgħidli kif għandi ngħix jew x’nagħzel għax dan jemmen hekk. Nistqar li dan malajr ġabli xeni quddiem għajnejja meta l-poplu Malti kien jirċievi istruzzjonijiet minn fuq il-pulptu kull nhar ta’ Ħadd, x’għandu jagħmel fil-ħajja tiegħu, kif għandu jaħsibha, saħansitra kif kellu jivvota. Żmien li ddomina l-Ewropa mill-Medjuwevu u żmien l-Inkwiżizzjoni, u sfortunatament anke żmien ħafna aktar riċenti fix-xena lokali.

Għalkemm naf li jeżisti dan it-tip ta’ biża mill-progress, jien nemmen f’bidla fil-mentalità. M’għandniex minn xiex nibżgħu nkunu progressivi. M’għandekx tibża’ li timraħ ’il bogħod, ’il bogħod mill-‘istatus quo’. Għalhekk nemmnu fid-drittijiet tal-omosesswali, fl-introduzzjoni tad-divorzju, fl-użu responsabbli tal-kontraċettivi; għax huma ideat li mhux talli m’għandekx tibża’ taffaċċjahom, talli r-realtà u l-istatistika turi li wasal iż-żmien li dawn l-ideat ikunu diskussi u introdotti fil-gżejjer tagħna. Hawnhekk nemmen li tinsab il-problema fi ħdan il-Knisja: li tibqa’ tħares lejn it-tagħlim tagħha u mhux lejn ir-realtà. U dan juri kemm din hi l-akbar istituzzjoni politika konservattiva fid-dinja. Bħala studjuż tal-istorja, naħseb li m’hemmx eżempju iktar ċar li juri l-konservatiżmu għall-vantaġġ tal-Knisja mill-eżempju tas-snin 50. Qalb id-diskussjoni taħraq fil-pajjiż bejn l-Integrazzjoni ta’ Mintoff u l-Indipendenza ta’ Borg Olivier, il-Knisja ippreferiet ‘status quo’ għal unika raġuni li dak iż-żmien l-Imperu Ingliż ħalla l-poter li kellha l-Knisja fi ħdanha, u la l-Indipendenza u lanqas l-Integrazzjoni ma ggarantiet li l-Knisja tibqa’ b’dik l-influwenza u l-poter li kellha.

B’dan l-artiklu mhux l-iskop tiegħi li nattakka l-Knisja u l-użanzi tagħha. Però wieħed irid jkun flessibli u prattiku skond ir-realtà taż-żminijiet. Dak li kien jgħodd għal xi 30 sena ilu, mhux bilfors għadu jgħodd illum. Jien nemmen li ħarsa lejn l-istorja lokali turina minn veru żamm il-progress lura. Ideat progressivi li fis-snin 70 u 80 kienu kkunsidrati wisq perikolużi għax progressivi, introdotti minn Mintoff, issa saru ħaġa ‘forgranted’ u essenzjali. L-istorja qiegħda turina li għal min ibeżża lil min lest jimraħ il-bogħod, hemm l-evidenza li dan qatt ma ħareġ rebbieħ. Għalhekk m’hemmx lok għall-biża’ mill-progress.

Wara iżjed minn 20 sena ta’ konservatiżmu f’Malta, nissogra ngħid li ma fadalx iżjed x’“tikkonserva” ħlief il-korruz-zjoni u burokrazija li fniet lil dan il-pajjiż.

Għalhekk nemmen li issa aktar minn qatt qabel, wasal iż-żmien ta’ bidla. Mhux sempliċiment bidla tal-kulur fil-gvern biss, imma nemmen li għandna bżonn bidla fl-ideoloġija, bidla fil-mentalità, bidla fit-tmexxija. Biżżejjed tara li bi tmexxija konservattiva għal dan iż-żmien twil, spiċċajna bigħejna l-assi nazzjonali, prattikament kollha, u pprivatizzajnihom, bil-konsegwenza li l-uniku mod kif il-Gvern idaħħal il-flus, jew aħjar kif jipprova jlaħħaq mad-defiċit, hu direttament mit-taxxi tal-poplu.

Nagħlaq b’sentenza li qal il-Professur Alfred Vella, pro-rettur tal-Università, fuq il-programm ġrajjiet kurrenti fuq One TV “TX”: “Aħna nistennew li ideat progressivi joħorġu minn studenti universitarji, għax jekk ma jkunux dawn l-istudenti, liema ġenerazzjoni se tippromwovi dawn l-ideat?”.

Hu dan l-iskop tal-għaqda MOVE – Progressive Students; li nwasslu l-messaġġ progressiv fuq il-Campus tal-Università. Bdejna u se nkomplu naħdmu biex inwasslu dak li nemmnu fih. Għax nemmnu li l-progress, ma fihx minn xiex tibża’ minnu.

L-Orizzont: Malta għadha lura kontra d-diskriminazzjoni

2009-11-12T00:06:00.000+01:00

http://www.l-orizzont.com/news.asp?newsitemid=58086

11.11.9 minn Sammy Sammut

Fatti u figuri li jirriżultaw mill-aħħar stħarriġ tal-opinjoni pub-blika, li sar mill-Ewrobarometru u li kien ippubblikat mill-Kummissjoni Ewropea, juru li l-maġġoranza taċ-ċittadini fil-gżejjer Maltin jemmnu li mhux qiegħed isir biżżejjed biex tkun miġġielda kull forma ta’ diskriminazzjoni.

Waqt li huma ftit aktar minn 50% taċ-ċittadini f’Malta li huma ta’ din il-fehma, kontra l-medja Ewropea ta’ 44%, interessanti l-fatt li mill-aħħar stħarriġ li kien sar, dawk b’din il-fehma negattiva żdiedu b’aktar minn tmienja fil-mija.

Il-Maltin huma tal-fehma li d-diskriminazzjoni, hi mifruxa sew f’pajjiżna. 77% tal-Maltin, kontra l-medja Ewropea ta’ 61%, huma tal-fehma li l-akbar diskriminazzjoni ssir fuq il-bażi ta’ razza jew oriġini etnika.

Id-diskriminazzjoni li ssir fuq il-bażi tal-orjentazzjoni sesswali hi msemmija fit-tieni post – b’57% kontra 47% fl-Ewropa – segwita mid-diskriminazzjoni minħabba l-età – 44% kontra t-58% fl-Ewropa. Huma biss ir-riżultati miksubin dwar id-diskriminazzjoni fuq il-bażi ta’ reliġjon u l-ġeneru tas-sess li kellhom riżultati qrib il-medja Ewropea u kienu msemmijin fl-aħħar postijiet.

Dan huwa it-tielet f’serje ta’ stħarriġiet speċjali tal-Eurobarometru dwar id-diskriminazzjoni fl-Ewropa u jimmira li jsegwi kif inbidlu l-opinjonijiet u l-perċezzjonijiet fis-snin riċenti.

Dan l-aħħar stħarriġ sar bejn id-29 ta’ Mejju u l-15 ta’ Ġunju 2009, b’kampjun ta’ 26,756 persuna li ġew intervistati fi 30 pajjiż Ewropew (is-27 Stat Membru tal-UE u t-tliet pajjiżi kandidati).

Din id-darba, żdiedu xi mistoqsijiet fuq l-impatt tar-riċessjoni fuq il-livell ta’ diskriminazzjoni. Barra minn hekk, u għall-ewwel darba, l-istħarriġ kopra wkoll it-tliet pajjiżi kandidati: il-Kroazja, dik li kienet ir-Repubblika Jugoslava tal-Maċedonja (FYROM) u t-Turkija. L-istħarriġ preċendenti twettaq f’Settembru 2006 u 2008. Il-pubblikazzjoni tar-riżultati tal-Ewrobarometru dwar id-diskriminazzjoni kienet f’waqtha billi l-ġimgħa d-dieħla – fis-16 u s-17 ta’ Novembru 2009 – il-Presidenza Svediża tal-UE u l-Kummissjoni Ewropea se jorganizzaw it-tielet ‘summit’ tal-UE dwar l-Ugwaljanza fi Stokkolma. Dan l-avveniment annwali jimmira li jixpruna l-kwis-tjonijiet tad-diskriminazzjoni u d-diversità sal-quċċata tal-aġendi tal-UE u tal-Gvernijiet nazzjonali, u biex jaqsam l-għarfien u l-esperjenzi biex jiġu żviluppati mezzi aktar effettivi biex jiġġieldu kontra kull tip ta’ diskriminazzjoni. Mill-istħarriġ li sar f’Malta jirriżulta li hija biss minoranza taċ-ċittadini Maltin, u ħafna inqas mill-medja Ewropea, li għalihom ma tagħmel l-ebda differenza jekk fost ħbiebhom u dawk midħla tagħhom ikun hemm persuni li jkunu jbatu minn xi diżabilità, li jkunu ta’ razza differenti jew li huma omosesswali.

Huma biss 31% ta’ dawk il-Maltin intervistati li qalu li jaċċettaw li fost ħbiebhom u dawk midħla tagħhom ikun hemm persuni ta’ oriġini etnika differenti minn tagħhom, kontra l-medja Ewropea ta’ 57%. Kienu 32% tal-Maltin (kontra l-medja Ewropea ta’ 38%) li wieġbu li fost sħabhom hemm min hu omosesswali; 42% (fl-Ewropa 58%) qalu li fost sħabhom hemm min ibati minn xi diżabilità waqt li 37% (kontra l-medja Ewropea ta’ 64%) wieġbu li għandhom ħbieb ta’ twemmin jew reliġjon differenti. F’diversi lati, il-Maltin jaqblu ma’ sħabhom l-Ewropej dwar id-diskriminazzjoni li tista’ ssir fost il-persuni fl-għażla li jingħataw impjieg. Minkejja dan irriżultaw xi differenzi.

Il-Maltin jgħidu li l-akbar diskriminazzjoni tista’ ssir minħabba l-mod ta’ kif ikun liebes dak li jkun, il-mod kif jippreżenta ruħu, imbagħad il-kulur ta’ ġildu, imbagħad wara l-età u d-dehra ġenerali tiegħu. L-orjentazzjoni sesswali ta’ dak li jkun kienet imsemmija minn 31% taċ-ċittadini Maltin, waqt li l-medja Ewropea kienet 18% biss. L-istħarriġ wera wkoll li l-maġġoranza tal-Maltin jaħsbu li d-diversità hija rrap-preżentata sew fil-qasam tal-midja.

Dan japplika għal kull kriterju – razza, reliġjon, età, diżabilità u orjentazzjoni sesswali. Minkejja dan, però, ir-riżultati miksuba fost il-Maltin intervistati huma inqas mill-medja Ewropea, ħlief fil-każ tad-diżabilità. Il-maġġoranza assoluta tal-Maltin aktar jiffavorixxu mara (9.0), persuna b’diżabilità (7.5), persuna taħt it-30 sena (6.9) jew persuna omosesswali (6.7) f’xi pożizzjoni politika importanti. Min-naħa l-oħra, joqogħdu aktar lura f’każ ta’ persuna bi twemmin differenti (4.6), xi ħadd b’oriġini etnika differenti (4.4) jew xi ħadd li għandu aktar minn 75 sena (4.1). Jirriżulta wkoll li kważi wieħed minn żewġ Maltin jgħidu li huma konxji minn drittijiethom fejn tidħol id-diskriminazzjoni.

Dan huwa 12-il punt perċentwali aħjar mill-medja Ewropea. Minkejja dan, però, kważi kollha jilmentaw li jeżisti nuqqas ta’ informazzjoni dwar dan. Bħal fil-maġġoranza taċ-ċittadini Ewropej, iżda b’porzjonijiet akbar, f’każ li jisfaw vittma ta’ xi forma ta’ diskriminazzjoni jew iffittar, iċ-ċittadini f’Malta l-ewwel ma jirrikorru jkun għand il-pulizija (62%), imbagħad għand avukat (56%) segwiti mit-trejdunjins (36%) Min-naħa l-oħra, ikunu inqas disposti mill-midja Ewropea, li jirrikorru lejn xi tribunal jew xi organizzazzjoni għal drittijiet indaqs.

16% tal-Ewropej jirrapportaw

li esperjenzaw diskriminazzjoni

Madwar wieħed minn kull sitta min-nies fl-Ewropa jiddikjaraw li esperjenzaw id-diskriminazzjoni personalment fis-sena li għaddiet, skont stħarriġ ta’ opinjoni ġdid rilaxxat mill-Kummissjoni Ewropea llum. Sadanittant, 64 fil-mija tal-Ewropej jinsabu mħassbin li r-riċessjoni se tikkontribwixxi għal aktar diskriminazzjoni tal-età fis-suq tax-xogħol.

L-aħħar riżultati tal-Ewrobarometru waslu f’waqthom qabel is-’summit’ Ewropew tal-Ugwaljanza ta’ din is-sena, li għandu jsir fi Stokkolma fis-16 u 17 ta’ Novembru.

“Id-diskriminazzjoni baqgħet problema madwar l-Ewropa u l-perċezzjonijiet tagħha huma stabbli f’mod wiesa’ meta mqabblin mas-sena li għaddiet,” qal il-Kummissarju tal-Opportunitajiet Indaqs, Vladimír Spidla.

“Qasam ta’ tħassib hu li qiegħed jidher li se jkun hemm żieda fid-diskriminazzjoni tal-età bħala riżultat tar-riċessjoni.

“Dawn ir-riżultati juru li minkej-ja l-progress, għad baqa’ triq twila qabel ma naslu biex inġibu lin-nies konxji tad-drittijiet tagħhom għal trattament ugwali, partikolarment fil-livell nazzjonali u niżguraw li l-ugwaljanza ma tibqax frażi vojta iżda issir realtà,” żied jgħid il-Kummissarju.

L-esperjenza personali tad-diskriminazzjoni skont dawk li wieġbu, baqgħet il-biċċa l-kbira l-istess mill-aħħar stħarriġ li sar is-sena li għaddiet, bl-età tingħata bħala l-aktar raġuni komuni (6 fil-mija ta’ dawk li wieġbu).

Kollox ma’ kollox, fl-2009, 16 fil-mija tal-Ewropej irrapportaw li esperjenzaw id-diskriminazzjoni (fuq il-bażi ta’ razza, reliġjon, età, diżabilità, jew orjentazzjoni ses-swali), l-istess bħal fl-2008.

Madankollu, kien hemm żieda qawwija fid-diskriminazzjoni fuq il-bażi tal-età u diżabilità.

Tmienja u ħamsin fil-mija tal-Ewropej iqisu li d-diskriminazzjoni tal-età hija mifruxa sew f’pajjiżhom, meta mqabbla mat-42 fil-mija fl-2008, filwaqt li 53 fil-mija ddikjaraw diskriminazzjoni minħabba f’diżabilità (45 fil-mija fl-2008).

Hemm ukoll rabta ċara mal-qagħda ekonomika kurrenti, b’64 fil-mija tan-nies li qed jistennew li t-tnaqqis fir-ritmu ekonomiku se jwassal għal aktar diskriminazzjoni tal-età fis-suq tax-xogħol.

Dan jista’ jirrifletti ż-żieda fil-qgħad fost iż-żgħażagħ f’bosta pajjiżi tal-UE bħala riżultat tat-tnaqqis fir-ritmu ekonomiku u jista’ jirrifletti wkoll għarfien li kull ma jmur dejjem jikber ta’ dawn it-tipi ta’ diskriminazzjoni.

Kollox ma’ kollox, wieħed minn kull tlett Ewropej huma konxji mid-drittijiet tagħhom fil-każ li jsiru vittmi ta’ diskriminazzjoni jew intimidazzjoni.

Madankollu, din iċ-ċifra tostor differenzi konsiderevoli fil-livell nazzjonali.

L-għarfien żdied mill-aħħar stħarriġ fl-2008 fir-Renju Unit (+8 punti), Franza (+7), l-Irlanda u l-Iżvezja (kull wieħed +6), iżda naqas fil-Polonja (-12) u fil-Portugall (-11).

Iż-żieda fl-għarfien pubbliku huwa proċess fit-tul li jeħtieġ sforzi konġunti fil-livell Ewropew u fil-livell nazzjonali, inklużi atturi importanti bħall-Entitajiet Nazzjonali tal-Ugwaljanza.

Il-Kummissjoni Ewropea qed issegwi sforzi f’dan il-qasam permezz tal-kampanja pan-Ewropea ta’ informazzjoni “Favur id-Diversità kontra d-Diskriminazzjoni”, billi jiġu ffinanzjati proġetti nazzjonali li jżidu l-għarfien permezz tal-programm PROGRESS, u preċedentement permezz tas-Sena Ewropea għall-Opportunitajiet Indaqs 2007.

Fit-termini ta’ rapportaġġ ta’ każijiet ta’ diskriminazzjoni, il-biċċa l-kbira tal-Ewropej l-ewwel ma jikkuntattjaw huma l-pulizija (55 fil-mija), filwaqt li 35 fil-mija jikkuntattjaw lill-entità ta’ ugwaljanza tagħhom u 27 fil-mija lil xi trejdjunjin.

Il-fiduċja fid-diversi organizzazzjonijiet li jittrattaw il-kwistjonijiet ta’ diskriminazzjoni tvarja ħafna minn pajjiż għall-ieħor.

Id-‘data’ tal-istħarriġ tqawwi l-qlub għax titfa’ d-dawl fuq il-mekkaniżmi soċjali li bihom tista’ tinstab soluzzjoni għad-diskriminazzjoni.

Ir-rapport juri li ċ-ċrieki soċjali, l-edukazzjoni u l-isforzi biex jiżdied l-għarfien qed jikkontribwixxu għal aċċettanza aħjar tad-diversità.

L-isforzi u l-politiċi li jfittxu li jittrattaw din ir-realtà bla dubju se jikkontribwixxu aktar biex jiġġieldu d-diskriminazzjoni u jippromwovu d-diversità.

YouTube: Defenders 2009 BAN GAY MARRIAGE

2009-11-10T16:28:00.003+01:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNiqfRyoAyA

We shot this short film to protest the passage of Prop 8, the ban on same sex marriage in California. For more info check out our "Educate Against Prop 8" facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Educate-Against-Prop-8/47667975375

Times: Labour Party's new LGBT network (1) & (2)

2009-11-10T15:08:00.003+01:00

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20091110/letters/labour-partys-new-lgbt-network-1
Tuesday, 10th November 2009 by Gabi Gauci, member of LGBT Labour, St Julians

Last week a great historical event occurred: for the first time in Malta's history, Malta's Labour Party acknowledged the needs of the LGBT community by launching the first LGBT political group. This group strives to push forward equality and rights for the LGBT community, something which no other political party endeavours to do.

The term LGBT was first coined in the 1990s and has since become known as the international colloquial term emphasising the diversity of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender individuals. This term has also been used worldwide to refer to anyone who is not heterosexual.

People within the LGBT community have long since been treated as second-class citizens who do not enjoy the benefits of equal rights as heterosexual people. Thankfully in most of the world this has ceased to be the case. However, unfortunately, in Malta this is very much the truth - although people have become accepting (to a certain extent) we are not treated as equals.

The only legislation to have been passed was by Dom Mintoff in the 1980s decriminalising homosexual acts. So thankfully we now enjoy the privilege of doing legally what comes naturally to us. One must ask, however, whether this is enough? This group acts for the good of the LGBT community to promote their rights; not only, as the majority of the Maltese people seems to think, for marital rights but also civil rights.

One might think that gay people enjoy the same benefits that everybody else does, but this is sadly not the case. Are we allowed bereavement leave if our partner were to pass away? No.

Are we entitled to their inheritance in absence of a will? No. Are we considered family when visiting our partner in hospital during family hours? No. Are we entitled to the same civil benefits of a married couple? No. As one can see, it is not only marriage that we are fighting for, but merely to receive the same benefits as a heterosexual couple. Are we not entitled to this? Why should one's sexuality play any part in determining what would otherwise be considered as our basic human rights?

These are exactly the issues which LGBT Labour is trying to fight for. We are not intending to segregate the community, as has been thought by several readers, but rather to fight for equality as a community.

Since no other political party or non-governmental organisation is attempting to do this, the formation of this group, under the open-minded leadership of Joseph Muscat, is a necessary step in the progression of the LGBT community in Malta.

LGBT Labour opens its arms to anyone within the community who wishes to join, no matter their political views or status. We call on the people of our community who, one assumes, would want to be treated with equal respect - and not just acceptance - to join us in fighting for what should be rightfully ours.

[Click on the hyperlink above to view the comments on the Times' website.]
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Times: Labour Party's new LGBT network (2)

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20091110/letters/labour-partys-new-lgbt-network-2
Tuesday, 10th November 2009 by John C. Micallef, Żabbar

A piece of local news last week caught some attention - collecting praise from some people and flak from some others. I am referring to the PL's proposed setting up of a section that caters for the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders.

Now, on face value, one would definitely say that this is a positive move for any political party that deems itself to be on the forefront of progress and openness.

I do not know whether the LP feels that those among us who fall into these categories are being prejudiced in some way. It might be. However, any rights that may be denied are the simple, basic human rights that any citizen living in a democratic and just society would expect to have.

Someone applying for a job would expect to be judged on his/her capabilities and certainly not on whether he/she is gay or straight (notwithstanding some may have their reservations if an interviewee turned up dressed as a drag queen!). Similarly, no one has the right to treat a person differently on any basis whatsoever - be it colour, creed, political belief or sexual orientation. Or age, if you would allow me to add something else. Any sort of harassment is also deplored and unlawful - regardless of the sexual orientation of the victim.

So when one expects that he or she has the same rights as anyone else, what is the use of stigmatising people into groups in the name of their rights - which are basically the same rights as anyone else's?

Should a single mother be prejudiced when applying for a job? Certainly not, but I do not recall there being any sections (within any political party) to cater for her needs. Should a 45 or 50-year old person be prejudiced when applying for a job? Of course not, but many are.

I would now invite the PL (and PN and AD for all they could stand for) to set up sections to cater for the rights of the various segments of society that may be prejudiced in some way.

Maybe they could also set up a section for big-bosomed girls who complain that they never get looked straight in the eyes during job interviews.

[Click on the hyperlink above to view the comments on the Times' website.]

Times: Female PM? Only if she's straight, white and Catholic!

2009-11-10T15:05:00.003+01:00

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20091110/local/female-pm-only-if-shes-straight-and-white

Tuesday, 10th November 2009 - 10:31CET by Ivan Camilleri

The Maltese will readily accept a female to run the country as Prime Minister... provided she is not a lesbian, has the same ethnic origin as the rest of the population and is Roman Catholic.

This emerges from a Eurobarometer survey on discrimination in Europe, published yesterday by the European Commission in Brussels.

The survey, conducted by Misco in May, shows that the overwhelming majority of Maltese, 77 per cent, think discrimination against immigrants in Malta is rampant and has become more widespread over the last five years.

Ethnic origin is the most widespread form of perceived discrimination on the island, according to the survey's respondents, followed by sexual orientation. The most striking responses from the survey surfaced when respondents were asked whether they would be comfortable having a person from a particular category occupying the country's highest political office.

The results show that although the majority said they would be fine with having a woman at Castille - 78 per cent were comfortable and 13 per cent disagree with the idea - only 22 per cent would accept having a Maltese Prime Minister embracing a different religion to theirs. The majority, 69 per cent, admitted they would be uncomfortable if the Prime Minister was not Roman Catholic.

Other characteristics were also deemed to be of utmost importance in the profile of a Maltese Prime Minister. In fact, 45 per cent said they would be very uncomfortable if the person was gay or lesbian and 73 per cent said they would not accept having a leader of a different ethnic origin.

Age also seems to play an important role, as maturity is deemed important in a Prime Minister: 45 per cent said they would not feel comfortable with a person who was under 30, although 46 per cent said this would be acceptable. On the other hand, 78 per cent said they would feel uncomfortable having a Prime Minister aged over 75 years.

Generally, the survey's results show discrimination in Malta is perceived as more widespread with regard to ethnic origin and sexual orientation when compared to the rest of the EU. On the other hand, Malta is more tolerant than the EU average when it comes to discrimination on the basis of disability and gender.

[Click on the hyperlink above to view the comments on the Times' website.]

[See more comments here: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20091110/local/yes-to-a-female-pm-as-long-as-shes-straight-and-not-black]

[See survey results here: http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/1686&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en]

KullĦadd: L-avventura ta’ Luxuria f’Malta

2009-11-10T14:58:00.002+01:00

http://www.kullhadd.com/200911071074/Ahbarijiet/l-avventura-ta-luxuria-fmalta.html

7.11.9 mill-KullĦadd Team

Matul il-gimgha li ghaddiet giet organizzata f’Malta –il 31 International Lesbian and Gay Conference. Wahda mill-aktar personalitajiet famuzi li attendew ghal din il-konferenza kienet Vladimir Luxuria li ghal xi zmien kienet deputat fil-Parlament Taljan f’isem il-partit Rifondazione Comunista. Is-sena li ghaddiet Vladimir Luxuria kienet ir-rebbieha ta’ L’Isola dei Famosi, reality show fuq RAI Due li jsir ta’ kull sena fuq gzira remota, fejn grupp ta’ personalitajiet jghixu flimkien fuq perijodu ta’ zmien f’kundizzjonijiet difficli u minn jissoppravvivi minnhom jispicca jirbah.

Vladimir Luxuria fizikament ghada ragel imma tghix, tirraguna u ggib ruhha ta’ mara. Ftit tas-snin ilu nqalghet polemika fil-bini tal-Parlament Taljan meta Luxuria dahlet fit-toilet tan-nisa fejn giet wicc imb’wicc ma’ Elisabetta Gardini, wahda mill- personalitajet televizivi li spiccaw deputati tal-partit ta’ Silvio Berlusconi, u Gardini ghamlet xenata shiha ghax ragel anki jekk libes ta’ mara, dahal fit-toilet tal-onorevoli nisa.

Luxuria issejjah lilha nnifisha ‘transgender’, ‘il ghaliex la tista’ tghid li hi ezattament mara u lanqa ragel, ghalkemm thossha aktar komda meta tirreferi ghaliha nnifisha tuza aggettivi femminili. Mill-banda l-ohra Luxuria ma thoss li hi transesswali ghax qatt ma biddlet is-sess taghha permezz ta’ operazione kirurgika.

Il-Hadd li ghadda waqt il-programm Domenica 5 immexxi minn Barbara D’Urso, Vladimir Luxuria rrakkontat dwar avventura interessanti li kellha f’Malta waqt li kienet qed tattendi ghall-konferenza. Matul attivita ta’ natura socjali abbinata mal-konferenza, Luxuria ltaqghet ma’ ‘guvni’ il-gmiel tieghu li ftit rat bhalu. Aktar tard wara xi tazza inbid jew tnejn, hija u tipprova tibni r-rapport taghha ma’ dan il-guvni, Luxuria kellha tiskopri li dan il-‘guvni’ tal-holm taghha fil-fatt ma kien ragel xejn, imma kienet mara. Hekk kif skopriet il-verita’, Luxuria rrealizzat li r-relazzjoni ta’ bejniethom, b’Luxuria ragel anki jekk liebsha ta’ mara, u dan il-‘guvni’ mara, anki jekk liebes ta’ ragel, din ir-relazzjoni kienet destinata li taqa’ fin-normalita’ ta’ rapport bejn mara u ragel. U allura spiccat tilfet kull interess, li ma tmurx b’xi mod taqa’ fin-normalita’.

Independent: ‘Parliamentarians duty bound to ensure homosexuals’ human dignity’ – Louis Galea

2009-11-09T04:45:00.000+01:00

http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=96898

8.11.9? by Annaliza Borg

Parliamentarians are duty bound to ensure social justice and to guarantee the human dignity of homosexuals and bisexuals, Speaker of the House Louis Galea told the opening of last week’s International Lesbian Gay Association conference – with the theme Overcoming Cultural and Religious Barriers to Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, and Trans-Gender Equality held in Malta.

Moreover, Dr Galea stressed that parliamentarians need to inform themselves objectively about the issues surrounding sexual orientation. They need to avoid the attitude that homosexuals are claiming any “special” or “additional” rights.

The point of departure in any such debate, Dr Galea said, needs to be Article One of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, adopted some 60 years ago, which states that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”, whatever their sexual orientation.

Moreover, equality and discrimination should be the prime rules of any Christian who loves his neighbour.

And although there are gay-friendly Christian groups, Dr Galea stressed that what is needed is dialogue with the anti-gay Christian community with a view to increasing understanding and tolerance.

Speaking to The Malta Independent on Sunday, he noted that human dignity must be central to any such discussions, and that the subject must not be treated in a prejudiced or populist manner. But, in so doing, we must first understand the subject well and base knowledge on facts, bioethics, science and many other aspects. The issues, he pointed out, are complex.

Homosexuals insist on being included in dialogue, but they too must respect those on the other side of the spectrum or those who are still unsure about certain issues. The discussion must not in any way be polarised, he insisted.

“I believe that the main principle guiding our human rights approach to sexual orientation refers to the fulfilment of human dignity through equality and non-discrimination,” he told the conference, while also observing how there is an even more pernicious type of discrimination, which may never catch the headlines, but which is very often perpetrated insidiously as a result of ingrained cultural and religious traditions, beliefs and pseudo beliefs. In such instances, many show a discriminatory disposition and act accordingly, very often unknowingly, because they have been influenced by those who are expected to know much better.

Within the context, he observes how it is easier to gather support against political, social or economic discrimination than change discriminatory attitudes emanating from a cultural or religious mindset.

In his comments to this newspaper, Dr Galea explained that in principle, he is against same-sex marriages but would keep an open mind as he was aware that same sex partnerships have existed and will continue to exist.

“I am still searching for the truth on the issue”, he told the conference, stressing that he feels no one should immediately jump to hasty conclusions on the sensitive subject.

As yet, Malta is lacking legislation that comprehensively regulates lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and trans-gender equality. Because of this, the Speaker sees a need for the Parliamentary Social Affairs Committee to discuss the subject “objectively, seriously and in a calm manner”.

The time has yet to come for parliament to discuss the matter, he said, adding the observation that there is also space for improvement in current legislation, although there has been some progress in this area in recent years.

The pre-electoral programmes of the main parties make reference to the equality of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation. Dr Galea recalled that even President George Abela referred to the matter in his first presidential speech.

He said there was a need to reflect upon and discuss conflicts that may exist between freedom of religious beliefs and the interests of same-sex couples, in order to resolve such conflicts, while focusing on the possible legal and policy ramifications inherent in the recognition of same-sex relationships.

MaltaStar: “Education can eradicate homophobia”

2009-11-09T04:38:00.000+01:00

http://www.maltastar.com/pages/ms09dart.asp?a=5331

8.11.9

08 November 2009 14:13

Albert Gauci Cunningham sees in education the most powerful tool to eradicate homophobia and sow the seed of equality.

26 year old gay activist Mr Gauci Cunningham is one of the persons behind the setting up of a Lesbian Gay Bi-sexual Transexual (LGBT) section in the Labour Party. He discusses withmaltastar.com the role LGBT people can play in Maltese politics.

What is your general perception of homosexuality in Malta?

My perception is that Malta lacks that basic key to solving half of the problems gay people face, problems that if looked at closely stem from the misplaced conservative ideas and attitudes many hold so close to their hearts. If we want to change the situation then we must start from this very basic key; education. It's useless blabbing about equality and gay rights if our society isn't ready to start fostering a mentality where children from their early teenage years are informed about the possibility that either they or the student behind them or the one next to them or the teacher teaching the class might be gay.

Yes, as hard as it is for some to stomach, kids at school have to be taught from an early age that apart from guys/girls who like the opposite sex there are others (although smaller in number) who prefer somebody of the same sex, people who pass through traumas trying to understand who they really are and what their identity is and who should be helped not shackled in the 'coming out' period. But education goes further than that too.

How prepared is a heterosexual woman who is married and pregnant to face the possibility of having a gay child? How will she and her husband deal with the shock? How will they ever accept something that goes diametrically opposite to what they've been taught by their parents? The answer is probably quite obvious; there is no answer to any of them! Why? Because those who push the Conservative agenda would rather if these issues were not discussed so as not to cause some embarrassment, stupidly omitting the fact that some parents will ultimately face the situation and will be left in the cold making irrational and emotion-laden decisions which would probably worsen an already sensitive situation.

Yes, gay rights such as civil partnerships and laws banning hate crimes are very important and need to be immediately discussed if the individual is really in the center of this government's politics, as the PN so enjoys reminding us, but if we want “sustainability”, if we want long term solutions, if we want to eradicate hate crimes and if we want to sow the seed of equality than we have to start from the basics. I know that this might not be convenient enough for gay people today and I know that it's easier said than done, but LGBT people today have a chance of a lifetime to start building a better society for LGBT people of tomorrow!

It is believed that 3% of the Maltese population falls within the LGBT bracket. Yet it is no strong lobby group (like the environmentalist or hunters for instance). Why is so?

I believe that gay people have never known anything better in Malta, they are used to being governed by a Conservative government very close to the church who funnily enough was seen to be more Liberal than the Socialists up to a few years ago due to the EU issue (which I have a feeling the overwhelming majority of gay people voted for).

There is a lack of empowerment and a feeling of helplessness, an idea of “I can't change anything and my opinion doesn't count.” The Nationalists know this and they wisely feed on it, hoping that the more helpless and apathetic gay people feel the less they will believe that change could ever materialise!

I feel that many gay people have given up on politics and they have or are turning their backs on politicians telling them two different things. To the nationalists many gay people are saying: “You've never done anything for us, your rank and file is generally very conservative and the numerous gays within the PN have either done nothing or even worse been the stumbling blocks against opening up to more gay people”.

To the PL I imagine many saying “yes you are trying to include gay people finally but is this some kind of joke to get our votes? Because if it is you can go to hell and back”. So with the PN there is the feeling of loss of hope while with the PL there is still that blessed question mark hanging over its head! So yes homosexuals know that they can be influential but with so little interest taken in them and after so many heartaches and rejection they feel they'd rather go to a party and send politicians a one-way ticket to hell.

Next Sunday, Albert Gauci Cunningham discusses civil rights and the LGBT Labour.

[Click on the hyperlink above to view the comments on MaltaStar's website.]

GWU: Avviż lill-Ħaddiema Gay

2009-11-06T15:25:00.001+01:00

General Workers Union (GWU)

6.11.9

[Ikklikja fuq l-istampa biex tkun tista' taqraha]

3.11.9

[Ikklikja fuq l-istampa biex tkun tista' taqraha]

Jekk trid kopja tal-Policy paper tal-GWU ibghat email lil Charles Vella.

Sunday Circle: Let's get excommunicated

2009-11-05T22:52:00.004+01:00

8.3.9 by Jo Caruana

The rights of gay people is a hot topic right now. The Sunday Circle speaks to Dr Ing. Patrick Attard, Malta’s first openly gay politician, about his recent excommunication from the Catholic Church and the events that led up to it.

Belief systems are complicated things, and the one aspect that becomes apparent from researching them is that they are also innately personal – you are unlikely to understand my belief system, and I am unlikely to be wholly at home with yours.

Increasingly, Malta seems to be losing its solely catholic shine. And, while still strong, these days many are questioning the church’s systems and beliefs more and more, creating a huge divide between religious stalwarts and those willing to think outside the catholic box to become accepting of more modern day practices such as co-habitation, euthanasia, the use of condoms, divorce and same-sex partnerships.

Dr Patrick Attard slots neatly into the latter category, and his recent choice to excommunicate himself from the Catholic Church started with his desire to live as an openly gay man. In fact, he recently ran in the local general election as Malta’s first candidly gay politician.

Although there are no statistics to shed light on exact facts and figures, it is assumed that locally excommunication from the church is relatively rare. For various reasons this fact is not the same in other parts of Europe. “As an engineer I spent time working in Germany where excommunication from the Catholic Church is something that happens regularly,” explains Dr Attard, pointing to some past German payslips of his that explain this fact. “Contrary to my reasons, there excommunication is popular because along with baptism comes a tax for all employed people; up to 9% of your gross income is subtracted as ‘church tax’ and for many people this is enough to encourage them to officially walk away from the church.”

For Dr Attard though, his choice to excommunicate himself was a far more personal one, hinged on the fact that he feels vilified and unaccepted by the church within which he was baptised as a baby.

“If you look at the teachings of the church,” he explains, “it accepts gay people as long as they don’t perform sexual acts, which is like saying you accept left handed people so long as they don’t write with their left hand. If one looks at these teachings, homosexual acts are referred to as evil, intrinsically disordered and acts of grave depravity. As a gay man, these teaching quickly made me think about whether I could live my life tied to them.

“Then, at the beginning of December 2008, the Vatican opposed a United Nations resolution for the universal decriminalisation of gay relationships. This was unbelievable, as in countries where you are hung, shot or imprisoned if you are gay, this would have offered so much help and relief. But the Vatican turned it down stating that it would lead to civil partnerships around the world... In reality that had nothing to do with the resolution itself but was simply another way of sticking the knife in. Thankfully, the resolution later passed regardless.

“Then came Pope Benedict’s now infamous speech on 22 December, within which he effectively slammed gay people and their rights, and sparked huge debates the world over. That was the cherry on the cake for me, I decided enough was enough and began the process towards my public excommunication.”

The process itself has to begin at the parish church where you were baptised. “I need my baptism certificate and then made an appointment with the Chancellor at the Curia. During the meeting you have to hand-copy and sign a template that details the situation, and which is then signed by the Chancellor on the church’s behalf. A note is then added to your baptism certificate stating that you are no longer a part of the Catholic Church, and that is that.”

Asked whether, despite his excommunication, Dr Attard still feels any connection to God or religion in general he explains: “I personally believe that spirituality is something intrinsically individual. And just as we all need to wear different shoe sizes because while one size fits me it could hurt you, one should not impose one’s belief on others. Beliefs should be able to live in harmony together, which sounds straightforward but is anything but.

“The church is so powerful that no political party dares to criticise it. It is therefore in a position to bully the government – as happens in Italy, Spain, Argentina, Columbia, Chile and, of course, here in Malta. The church bullies politicians by threatening to withhold communion or excommunicate them if they votedin favour of something the church is against in order to humiliate them publicly. This is completely unacceptable.

“It is also unbelievable that the church refuses to accept the need for condoms as an effective guard against killer diseases. Why are we still battling as to whether a condom machine is needed at the university, when condoms can save millions of people (gay or straight) from becoming infected with HIV? (See pyramid)

“I recently went on to the Church’s local MediaCentre website and came across the book that they were heavily promoting, The Catholic Church & Homosexuality by Atila Sinke Guinares. I bought and was horrified by what I found. The opening quote states: ‘If any one lie with a man as wit a woman, both have committed an abomination, let them be put to death: their blood be upon them.’ The book also states that AIDS is punishment to sodomites and goes on to called homosexuality diabolic. This is what the Maltese Catcholic Church are encouraging people to read – I really feel, for instance, for the mother who turns to the church for advice on how to deal with the news that her son is gay and finds this as her only means for education. It was so vile and hateful that I couldn’t stand to read the majority of it. And as there is no law against the incitement of hatred based on sexual orientation and thus no protection, I will go continue on fighting in the way I know how – sending press releases that no one publishes and writing letters that people don’t get to read. But the fight is worth it.

“My standpoint and reasons don’t just fight for the right of gay people but about the need for divorce for people with failed marriages and who want a second chance. It is also about the need for In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) in Malta, the question why topless bathing is an offence for which women can be arrested, and the reasons why we have no crematoriums on the island. The church has caused a lot of suffering through ignorance, especially for illegitimate children. This step is important for me to regularise my position vis-a-vis the Catholic Church and consolidate my position with my conscience. The Church only accepts gays as long as they are celibate, invoking feelings which destroy the self-respect of the individual. It always tries to keep the gay love as dirty and illegitimate since it gets its power from the sense of guilt and shame it tries to instil in its followers. Since I believe it is possible to love another adult man, then my position with the Church is irreconcilable.

Excommunication
Once baptised into the Catholic Church, you are a catholic until the day you die, or until you take an official stand to state otherwise. Simply deciding that you are an ‘atheist’, for instance, just doesn’t cut it, and to officially back yourself, and your beliefs, up you will need to go through the process of excommunication. The word ‘excommunication’ literally means ‘putting someone out of communion’.

MaltaToday: AD’s Green-Left revolution starts here

2009-11-05T15:47:00.005+01:00

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/2009/11/01/t4.html
1.11.9

[Excerpt of the article. To view the complete article click on the hyperlink above.]

Michael Briguglio elected Alternattiva Demokratika chairperson – ‘we won’t be in government… but we have our strength’ by CHARLOT ZAHRA

A generational change in Alternattiva Demokratika (AD)’s top positions took place at yesterday’s AGM, when sociologist Michael Briguglio, 34, was elected as the new chairperson, succeeding Arnold Cassola, who resigned after the party’s dismal result in the European Parliament elections in June.

...

The new AD chairperson has put back on the AD agenda the issue of civil rights such as divorce and gay rights, which had been put on the back-burner of the party’s agenda.

“We believe that in a genuinely democratic society, diversity should not only be respected, but should also be celebrated in a context of reciprocal respect. It is not possible that there is a single model of lifestyle which is imposed on everybody else. In the Maltese context, it cannot be possible that rights such as divorce and gay rights continue being thrown under the carpet,” he added.

The other members on AD’s executive committee are Deputy Chairperson Stephen Cachia, Deputy Secretary-General Henrik Piski, Treasurer Simon Galea, International Secretary Arnold Cassola, and Members Carmel Cacopardo, Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer, Mario Mallia, David Pisani, Mark Scerri, Richard Schranz and Nighat Urpani.

Times: What gays are owed

2009-11-05T15:42:00.002+01:00

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20091105/opinion/what-gays-are-owed

Thursday, 5th November 2009 by Ranier Fsadni

It's a funny old world. The Maltese media are rife with stories and commentary about the illiberal nature of state and society. Then, when one of the most senior representatives of the state gives a ground-breaking speech at a pan-European conference on gay rights, what he said is barely reported.

The Speaker of the House, Louis Galea, has long registered a political interest in gay issues. As minister, he participated in Pride marches. In 2002, he addressed a national conference on psychology, education and homosexuality. His speech, reproduced in the conference book, used the values of liberty and equality as its compass.

On strictly educational matters, he was firm that homosexuality, while raising delicate pedagogical issues, had to be taught as a subject that illuminated, not a dark alley, but the whole of human sexuality and friendship.

And, note well, he made sure his audience understood that he was speaking as a convinced Christian Democrat, rather than despite being one.

The general policy direction he indicated was that of understanding sexuality as a language of intimacy, confident fluency in which requires a lifetime's education, and which therefore cannot be taught well only within the confines of the classroom. That policy fell squarely within the understanding of civic emancipation and participation displayed by the Fehmiet Bażiċi (Outline of Basic Policy) published by the Nationalist Party when he was secretary general.

As Speaker of the House, Dr Galea is now no longer a representative of the PN but the speech he gave last Thursday was just as informed by the political philosophy and the passion that drove him during his long partisan career. Indeed, insofar as that philosophy is based on the belief that social dialogue can serve to emancipate not just others but oneself from the prejudices impeding personal growth, then Dr Galea is its shining embodiment: on questions like gay marriage he clearly has strong doubts but also recognises that truth, on this matter of institution-building, is partly to be reached by searching and listening more carefully (something he also expects from gay rights activists).

At least two general aspects of his speech should have made the news. First was his blunt acknowledgment that gay rights are not about requests for additional rights. If they are worth paying attention to at all, it has to be because they are about aspects of human rights being denied to a segment of humanity.

Coming from any MP that would make news. Coming from the lawmakers' president, it is jolting news.

Second, Dr Galea stated that in his experience - a considerable one for a seasoned national campaigner and a former minister with his breadth of portfolios - prejudices of a religious and cultural nature are more sclerotic than political or economic ones. That too is a weighty statement.

I myself doubt it is actually true. Take religion. It may seem predominant because of people's propensity to cloak their political and economic interests with self-righteousness.

But, as Dr Galea himself noted, much of what passes for religion often embodies ignorance of it.

Interviews conducted by the Malta Gay Rights Movement about the suffering undergone by gay people at the hands of the clergy tend to support my view.

The priest who kissed a lesbian on the lips, thinking he could "straighten" her out, was a chauvinist passing off his cultural belief about malleable women as pastoral theology (and, possibly, lying to himself about his lust in the process). While the priest who chased a gay person away from the confessional was a heretic, denying the Christian creed that God is love.

Such instances are worth noting, and discussing, as they highlight something distinctive about Dr Galea's understanding of justice. It would be a mistake to associate his arguments with liberalism.

I am using "liberal" in the relatively narrow, technical sense of an approach to justice that focuses on process and which claims (misleadingly, I would say) neutrality in relation to values. Dr Galea's approach has ultimate values at its heart.

For him, one cannot discuss justice without an idea of what makes for human flourishing in the background. This theme remained implicit in his speech but the latter would not make sense without it. It is why to discuss gay issues is to discuss not just minority rights but all of us - the very identity of our society.

Dr Galea articulated a view of emancipation that states that if people are owed rights, it is not because we are (or ought to be) indifferent to what they do; but rather because we care that they participate in society.

Gay rights, in particular, raise specific questions on a range of issues that require detailed not waffled discussion (another time, another column). But that discussion, as Dr Galea has shown, may well surprise us all in the common ground it discovers.

[Click on the hyperlink above to view the comments on the Times' website.]

L-Orizzont: Il-PL se jwaqqaf fergħa ta’ LGBT fi ħdanu

2009-11-05T14:45:00.000+01:00

http://www.l-orizzont.com/news.asp?newsitemid=57882
3.11.9

Il-PL se jkun qed iwaqqaf Sez zjoni għal-LGBT fi ħdanu. Dan ħabbru l-Mexxej Laburista Joseph Muscat waqt laqgħa fiċ-Ċentru Nazzjonali Laburista li sa ret ma’ delegazzjoni tal-International Lesbian and Gay Association u Rainbow Rose li kienu f’Malta għal konferenza internazzjonali organizzata mill-MGRM.

Muscat qal li wasal iż-żmien li ma nibqgħux nitkellmu b’mod ipokrità fuq din is-sezzjoni tas-soċjetà tagħna u l-PL ddeċieda li jieħu din it-triq.

Il-PL se jkun l-ewwel partit po litiku f’Malta li jwaqqaf sezzjoni LGBT fi ħdanu. Muscat qal li xi xhur ilu l-FŻL waqqaf sez zjo ni tal-LGBT fi ħdanu u din is-sezzjoni kibret ħafna.

Il-PL ħass li għandu jes ten di din is-sez zjoni b’mod formali fl-istrutturi tiegħu fix-xhur li ġejjin. ’Il qud diem meta tkun stabbilita s-sezzjoni LGBT Labour din tin għata anke rwol for mali u tkun rappreżentata fil-Konferenza Ġenerali tal-PL.

Preżenti għal-laqgħa kien hemm il-Kelliem għas-Soċjetà Ċivili u Drittijiet tal-Minoranzi, Gino Cauchi u rappreżentanti tal-LGBT tal-Forum Żgħażagħ Laburisti.

Di-ve: PL to set up section for LGBT

2009-11-05T14:43:00.000+01:00

http://www.di-ve.com/Default.aspx?ID=72&Action=1&NewsId=65608%20
by di-ve.com - editorial@di-ve.com
Politics -- 02 November 2009 -- 19:15CEST

In the coming months the PL will set up a section for Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender (LGBT) the party’s leader Joseph Muscat announced on Monday.

He was addressing a meeting in the PL’s National Centre with representatives of the International Lesbian and Gay Association u Rainbow Rose who were in Malta for an international conference organised by the Malta Gay Rights’ Movement.

Dr Muscat said that it was time to stop speaking in a hypocrite manner about this section of the society and the PL decided to take this action.

He said that this will be an extension of the LGBT section within its section for the youths.

The PL is the first political party in Malta to make such a move, Dr Muscat concluded.