http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080713/local/paceville-gay-pride-march-calls-for-human-rights
Sunday, 13th July 2008
Christian Peregin
Last night's Gay Pride march culminated in a heartfelt speech by Malta Gay Rights Movement chairman Gabi Calleja, who called for human rights to stop being denied to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
"I already have the right to marry, start a family and be free from harassment and discrimination, because these rights belong to all of us. To take these rights away from me is to believe I was a lesser form of human being," she told the crowd that gathered for the event at Paceville last night.
"When the Malta Gay Rights Movement asks politicians to grant legal recognition to same sex partnerships, what we are demanding is to be allowed to exercise an already existing right. And every day that goes by without that legislation is a violation of that right," she said.
Participants at the march walked from the Baystreet complex to the gay nightclub Klozet in Paceville, where a street party was held featuring performances by popular artists Ira Losco, Miriam Christine Borg, Claudia Faniello and Kristina Casolani, among others.
The event also included speeches by representatives of the Nationalist Party, the Labour Party and Alternattiva Demokratika.
"We want to urge you to live your lives fully, free from fear of harassment and discrimination. We encourage you to rejoice in your relationships and to express your love openly for it is what makes our lives worth living and what most distinguishes us as human beings," Ms Calleja said, explaining this year's theme 'Live, Love, Be'.
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