It-Torċa: Omelija ta’ l-Isqof t’Għawdex tqajjem kontroversja - Omosesswali u separati jħossuhom offiżi

http://www.it-torca.com/news.asp?newsitemid=7402
31.8.8

Omelija li l-Isqof t' Għawdex, Mons Mario Grech, għamel nhar l-20 ta' Awwissu fl-okkażjoni tas-Sena Pawlina, qajmet kontroversja b'mod speċjali mal-komunità omosesswali f'pajjiżna. Din l-omelija tqieset bħala waħda offensiva u ġabet ir-rabja fost bosta għax anke tinstiga lill-mexxejja politiċi tal-pajjiż biex jilleġiżlaw skond il-fehma tal-Knisja.



















L-E.T. Mons. Mario Grech, Isqof t'Għawdex

Fl-omelija tiegħu, Grech jikkwota mill-kitbiet ta’ San Pawl dwar il-libertà umana. Huwa jikkwota wkoll dawk li San Pawl isejjaħ bħala “limitazzjonijiet tal-libertà umana” u jgħid li dawn għadhom “attwali għalina”. Meta jitkellem dwar is-sesswalità huwa jsemmi “iż-żina (li għall-Knisja jinkludi persuni f’konkubinaġġ jew separati li jgħixu ma’ ħaddieħor), l-adulterju u l-omosesswalità”, kif ukoll isemmi “l-ħsara li jagħmlu l-ambizzjoni, il-firda u l-partiti”. L-Isqof Grech temm l-omelija tiegħu bil-kliem “Nawgura li fid-dawl tat-tagħlim ta’ Pawlu, ġensna li jiftaħar tant b’San Pawl, jagħraf liema huma l-vera libertajiet u jassiguraho anke b’liġijiet proprji.”

Dan ta’ l-aħħar kien interpretat minn bosta, b’mod speċjali attivisti omosesswali u anke persuni separati, bħala indħil mhux mixtieq fil-ħidma ta’ l-Istat li, bħala stat lajk, għandu l-obbligu li jiggarantixxi d-drittijiet ċivili anke lil persuni li mhux neċessarjament jgħixu fil-parametri stabbiliti mill-Knisja. Huma jsostnu li l-Istat għandu l-obbligu li jara li ċ-ċittadini tiegħu jgħixu ħajja “tajba”, f’sens ta’ komunità, u m’għandhomx ikunu diskriminati għax l-għajxien tagħhom ma jaqbilx mad-duttrina tal-Knisja.

Dwar dan, mill-Awstralja, l-avukat Malti Joseph Chetcuti, li kemm-il darba semma’ leħnu dwar id-drittijiet ta’ l-omosesswali, fi stqarrija sostna li ħadd m’għandu d-dritt jindaħal lill-persuni kif għandhom jgħixu ħajjithom fil-kamra tas-sodda tagħhom. Chetcuti jsostni li fl-omelija tiegħu, Grech jonqos milli jagħraf li l-kitba ta’ San Pawl saret fi żminijiet u ċirkostanzi soċjali differenti minn tal-lum, fejn fost affarijiet oħra kienu għadhom ma sarux ċerti żviluppi xjentifiċi li nafu bihom illum. Huwa jsostni li jekk Mons Grech “irid jevanġelizza, il-priedka li jmiss għandu jagħmilha dwar il-pedofilija, b’mod partikolari fost il-kleru Kattoliku fid-djoċesi tiegħu stess, u kif dan l-abbuż kisser tant familji.”

Fl-istqarrija tiegħu, Chetcuti jsemmi wkoll li l-katekiżmu tal-Knisja jagħmel distinzjoni bejn l-omosesswalità u l-atti omosesswali, għax filwaqt li jsejjaħ bħala “kontra n-natura” dawk ta’ l-aħħar ma jikkundannax il-kundizzjoni ta’ l-omosesswalità. Mons Grech, jgħid Chetcuti, neħħa din id-distinzjoni minkejja li numru kbir ta’ persuni omosesswali ma jieħdux sehem f’atti omosesswali. Huwa jinsisti wkoll li l-Isqof Grech naqas milli jagħraf li relazzjonijiet omosesswali huma fuq kollox relazzjonijiet ta’ mħabba u rispett.

Tista' taqra wkoll l-omelija kollha: http://patrickattard.blogspot.com/2008/08/il-vera-liberta-minn-mon-mario-grech.html

Sydney Morning Herald: Olympics 2008: Out-and-out champion celebrates

http://www.smh.com.au/news/diving/outandout-champion-celebrates/2008/08/24/1219516264750.html
Jessica Halloran; August 25, 2008

Matthew Mitcham dives for gold; (Photo: Tim Clayton)

HE KISSED him briefly in the stands and gave him his Olympic bouquet. Later, outside the glowing blue Water Cube, Matthew Mitcham and his partner, Lachlan Fletcher, firmly embraced, both shedding tears. Next it was his mother Vivien's turn to hold her golden boy, and more tears fell.

A stunning final dive that was awarded the highest score in Olympic history gave Mitcham the gold. She proudly said her son was a man of "firsts".

"Coming out publicly, that was a first," said Vivien. "The highest score awarded to an Olympic dive ever, another first. How many more firsts can this child get? Can you find something else to be first in? He's just done so well. He deserves it."

Just as he has shown flipping around at 10 metres high, Mitcham has shown no fear about disclosing his sexuality. He was the first Australian athlete to go to an Olympics openly gay.

Carefully nursing Mitcham's Olympic bouquet, Fletcher spoke of the incredible journey that

the diver had taken to the top. Fletcher has been the one constant over the past two years.

He was his rock when Mitcham retired in his late teenage years suffering anxiety and depression. He watched him become a stunt diver at the Sydney Royal Easter show, supported his fight back into the sport and now to win Olympic gold.

"It's been so up and down," Fletcher said. "When I first met him, he was pretty unhappy, he wasn't liking the diving in Brisbane at all, he didn't want to do it, wasn't happy being there.

"It took a lot for him to retire and stop doing it because it had been his life for so long. He wanted to try and be happy again. He took time to do normal things that people do.

Matthew Mitcham at the Sydney Aquatic Centre; Photo: Steve Christo

"Then after five or six months he started to really miss it again and he had the opportunity to dive with Chava [Sobrino, his coach]. He started that and loved it ever since, every second of it, which is great to see him happy all the time."

Gay website Outsports.com said he was the only man among 10,500 Olympic athletes to publicly say he is gay. But his mother said while he has always been proud of his sexuality, Mitcham was initially concerned that coming out would affect him financially.

"He was only hesitant because he was worried about that factor of sponsorship," Vivien said. "It was a bit of a worry. But I think everybody has caught up now."

Fletcher said that Mitcham, 20, was concerned that his sexuality would overshadow his diving achievements. He has become a pin-up boy gracing the covers of national gay magazines here and overseas. Gossip blogger Perez Hilton featured a shirtless Mitcham accompanied by the tagline: "Yum. Yum. Yum! Can we have a piece of that????"

But the almost perfectly executed back two-and-a-half somersault with one-and-a-half twists and a 3.8 degree of difficulty, earning 112.10 points, made sure people would be talking about his final dive that gave him gold. The Chinese home crowd gasped as Mitcham nailed the breathtaking dive.

"The biggest thing he was worried about was people paying more attention to that than his actually diving," Fletcher said. "And I suppose that kind of did happen a little bit. Hopefully, now it won't be so much of an issue any more."

Mitcham was 30 points behind top Chinese favourite Zhou Luxin before the last attempt. Fletcher said he felt "stupidly nervous" as Mitcham went for his final dive.

Sobrino, who was instrumental in reviving Mitcham's career, was gobsmacked by the final dive. "It was his best dive and that's why we put it at the end," Sobrino said.

"The expectancy of that dive was around 106 to 108 points. But not 112, never. He did it at the right time, at the right moment, in the right pool with the right crowd, so I'm pretty happy and we got the right medal."

It was the eighth and last medal in a sport that China dominates and was expected

to sweep. Mitcham cried and bounced around the pool deck before climbing up to the stands to embrace Fletcher.

"It's going to take a while to sink in," Mitcham said. "My cheeks hurt from smiling. My face hurts from the chlorine. My legs are sore from jumping up and down. I'm in pain and I'm tired. But I'm so happy."

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Related Links:

SMH: Out, proud and ready to go for gold; 24 May 2008
SMH: 10,500 athletes, and only 10 of them gay; 18.8.8
Courier Mail Australia: Matthew Mitcham the only openly gay male athlete at Games


YouTube: Matt Mitcham 5255B Lin Yue 5255B Zhou Luxin 307C


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Youtube: Matthew Mitcham Gold (final dive); 26.8.8

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YouTube: Interview with Matthew Mitcham after the gold medal; 24.8.8

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Kullħadd: Il-mara maqbuda f’ġisem ta’ raġel

http://www.kullhadd.com/?task=2&sectid=&articleid=11857
http://kullhadd.blogspot.com/2008/08/il-mara-maqbuda-fgisem-ta-ragel.html
24.8.7; Ramona Portelli

Sa ftit zmien ilu li ragel jilbes ta’ mara jew li mara tilbes ta’ ragel kienet xi haga ta’ barra minn hawn. Maz-zmien bil-mod il-mod din bdiet tindara u tigi accettata mis-socjetà, l-istess ukoll hawn f’Malta. Fil-fatt illum il-gurnata m’ghadux aktar dak iz-zmien fejn l-irgiel jilbsu ta’ nisa jinhbew u ma jithalltux mas-socjetà. Anzi ghall-kuntrarju dawn illum saru jghixu hajja normali jew almenu kwazi normali bhall-kumplament tan-nies l-ohra.

Ghazilt li nitkellem ma’ Maxine Attard - transesswali ta’ 25 sena u li dan l-ahhar qed tghix Marsascala. Maxine hija persuna single u ma tahdimx. L-isem Maxine mhux l-isem proprju li twieldet bih. Ghalkemm ma riditx ittini informazzjoni ta’ x’inhu isimha fil-verità, xorta wahda rrispettajt id-decizjoni taghha. Kif spjegatli hi stess hija tiddeskrivi ruhha bhala mara maqbuda go gisem ta’ ragel li xi minn daqqiet ma tkunx tista’ tesprimi l-vera karattru taghha dak li veru hu!!!

Maxine qaltli li minn dejjem kienet thoss li hi mhux verament tifel kif fil-verità twieldet. Sa certu punt kienet thossha l-istess kif ihossuhom il-bniet.

“Qabel kont nghid li jien gay, imma xorta kont inhoss li hemm xi haga nieqsa u wara rrealizzajt li jiena transesswali”, bdiet tesprimi ruhha Maxine.

Bhala passatempi Maxine thobb tisma’ hafna d-diski u tghid ukoll li huma hajjitha ghax tismaghhom minn x’hin tqum sa ma torqod.

“Nimmagina li kieku fil-hajja m’hemmx diski, hajti tkun monotona. Inhobb nuza l-internet, nara dvds u nhobb infaddal affarijiet li ghandhom x’jaqsmu mal-kantanti Madonna u Kylie Monigue. Fil-fatt kull haga li ghandha x’taqsam maghhom ghandi kamra mimlija affarijiet taghhom. Inhobb hafna l-hwejjeg u l-make-up u nimxi mal-moda. Minbarra dan, inhobb hafna l-qtates. Fil-fatt ghandi erbgha u dawk ghalija qishom it-tfal tieghi. Inhobb nimxi, nohrog u nibbazzja ma’ shabi u nhobb nidhaq hafna u gieli nsajjar xi haga”.

Appogg familjari

Ghaliha l-familja hija l-priorità ta’ hajjitha. Maxine hija z-zghira nett minn fost hutha bniet l-ohra.

“Huti huma l-imhabba li ma naqset qatt, huma s-sapport li dejjem sibt u li qatt ma naqas. Huma jghinuni f’kull decizjoni u sibthom dejjem kemm jekk fil-hazin u anke fit-tajjeb. Fil-fatt nixtieq nahtaf din l-okkazjoni sabiex nirringrazzjahom minn qalbi ta’ kemm ikunu mieghi. Huti kollha mizzewgin u bil-familja taghhom u jiena nigi zija ta’ hames neputijiet. Ommi ghalija hija l-isbah don. Inhossni ffortunata li baqghet thobbni u tirrispettani. Ghalija hi l-ikbar u l-iktar habiba sinciera tieghi li l-imhabba taghha hija mhabba li ma nista’ niddiskriviha qatt. Missieri hu ta’ ftit kliem imma b’harsa minn ghajnejh jurini kemm infisser ghalih u li dejjem lest li jghini u li jhobbni bhalma jhobb il-kumplament ta’ huti. B’wicci minn quddiem nista’ nghid li l-familja tieghi jharsu lejja bhala binthom u ohthom u dejjem jghinuni biex inkompli nimmatura u nikber f’hajti u meta nhares lura naf li dejjem kienu hemm biex ituni kull sapport u ghajnuna li ghandi bzonn”, qaltli kburija Maxine dwar il-familja taghha.

Tfulija ta’ Maxine

Tlabtha tirrakkontali dwar it-tfulija taghha. Fil-fatt iddiskrivitha bhala tfulija sodisfatta.

“L-iskola kont iktar infittex u nilghab mal-bniet u anke bhala hbieb kelli aktar bniet. Gieli kont nigi bullied ukoll. Imma l-izjed zewgt ihbieb li kelli huma l-iktar zewg kugini li jien inhobb - Nadia u Daniel. Dejjem kienu hemm ghalija imma sfortunatament Daniel kien miet f’incident tat-traffiku. Hassejtha hafna u dak iz-zmien hajti xtaqtha tieqaf. Sal-lum il-gurnata Daniel ghadu mieghi u jghini f’kull problema li jkolli. Meta nkun imdejjqa naqbad ir-ritratt tieghu li ghandi mwahhal fis-salott u mieghu niftah qalbi”.

Bhala gugarelli Maxine kkonfermatli li minn dejjem kienet tfittex il-pupi. “Allahares xi hadd kien iressaqli karozza jew xi ballun quddiemi ghax vera kienu jdejjquni!!”, kompliet tghidli Maxine.

Dwar il-fatt jekk illum tikkunsidrax li taghmel l-operazzjoni sabiex tibdel is-sess taghha, Maxine wiegbet, “Iva dik hija l-holma ta’ hajti. Nixtiqha hafna hafna. Xi darba inkun kompluta minn kollox. Imma ghalkemm Malta huwa pajjiz fl-Unjoni Ewropea, xorta l-pilloli li ghandi bzonn irrid nixtrihom u huma gholjin wisq. Xi minn daqqiet inhossni qed naqta’ qalbi u noqghod nghid li pajjizi ohra li qedghin fl-Ewropa jsibu l-ghajnuna kollha li ghandhom bzonn u hawn Malta hlief jaghlquli l-bibien f’wicci ma sibtx ghal din il-bicca xoghol”, qaltli ddispjacuta Maxine.

In-nies ta’ madwarha jiddeskrivu lil Maxine bhala persuna ferhana, ta’ qalb tajba li lesta dejjem tghin lil kulhadd u fuq kollox in-nies ihobbuha hi kif inhi bid-dahqa taghha. Maxine fuq kollox hija persuna li lesta dejjem li taffronta l-affarijiet difficli u ma taqta’ qalbha qatt.

Peress li fuq il-karta ta’ l-identita taghha hija mnizzla bhala persuna ta’ sess maskili, dan il-fatt idejjaqha hafna. Fil-fatt meta tigi biex tuza l-karta ta’ l-identità taghha ma tiehux pjacir. “Li nuri l-ID card tieghi meta naf li ser nigi bzonnha ma nihux pjacir ghax iddejjaqni hafna dik il-haga li naf fic-cert li l-affarijiet ser jigu fit-tul u n-nies ser jippruvaw minn kollox biex jaraw kif ser iwaqqghuk ghac-cajt u jhammguk. Din il-haga ggalghni nhossni skomda hafna biha, anzi meta nkun naf li wasalt ghal xi qadja li jikkonsistu l-ID card ingieghel lili nnifsi nigi f’sitwazzjoni verament hazina”, spjegatli Maxine.

Min-naha l-ohra meta tmur tixtri minn go xi hanut tal-hwejjeg ovvjament tan-nisa, Maxine tispjega li dejjem giet moqdija tajjeb u dejjem sabet l-ghajnuna necessarja.

Problema li thoss ghadha diffikultà sal-gurnata tal-lum hija x-xoghol. “Meta mmur biex napplika ghal xi xoghol dejjem insib xi diffikultà ghall-fatt li jittimbrawni li minix persuna normali u li jiggudikaw l-apparenza tieghi. Dejjem jghiduli li se jibaghtu ghalija u minn dan kollu ma jsehh xejn. Ghalija hajti bla xoghol hija difficli wisq”, kompliet tistqarr Maxine.

Tirbah it-titlu Ms Klozet 2008

Ghall-ewwel darba din is-sena stess, sar konkors tas-sbuhija differenti minn dawk li normalment insegwu. Dan il-konkors b’tema rigward id-diversità ssejjah Miss Klozet 2008. Numru sostanzjali ta’ transvestiti hadu sehem f’Marzu li ghadda, fejn Maxine rebhet dan il-konkors bit-titlu ta’ Miss Pearl.

Maxine tghid, “f’hajti dejjem xtaqt niehu sehem f’konkors bhal dan u inkurunajt il-holma tieghi billi kelli l-privilegg li nilbes il-kuruna fuq rasi. Miss Klozet fethitli hafna bibien u qed tghini hafna billi nkun nista’ nesprimi iktar min jien u qed inkun ukoll ta’ ghajnuna ghal hafna nies ohra.

Hawnhekk nixtieq nirringrazzja hafna lil Simone, Albert u Eduardo ta’ kemm imxew mieghi tajjeb u ghal din l-opportunità”.

Hajja personali

Dwar kif tqatta’ l-granet ta’ kuljum taghha, Maxine qaltli li ta’ kuljum taghti l-attenzjoni taghha lill-qtates. Ta’ spiss tmur ghand ommha.

“Mal-gurnata nkun fil-kumpanija ta’ shabi, fil-fatt iktar kemm inkun f’kumpanija, aktar hajti tkun inqas monotona ghax jiena persuna li jdejjaqni l-kwiet. Il-kumplament tal-gurnata noqghod nizvoga mad-diski ta’ Madonna u Kylie Monigue”, qaltli Maxine.

Dwar jekk tmurx tisma’ l-quddies kull nhar ta’ Hadd, Maxine wiegbet, “Il-knisja ma mmurx però jien dejjem nibqa’ nemmen u nafda f’Alla ghax dak huwa t-taghlim li tghallimt fuqu, ghalkemm il-qassisin u certu nies jinfluwenzaw b’lenti hazina lin-nies bhalna. Jien nemmen li Alla jhobbni kif jien!!!“, ziedet tghid Maxine.

Dwar relazzjonijiet ta’ imhabba, Maxine qaltli li ricentament ma kellix fit-tul, però stqarret mieghi li kienet f’relazzjoni u li damet tmien xhur ma’ persuna straight.

“Ghall-bidu kollox deher sabih, però wara ftit zmien qbadtu jaqlibhieli. Batejt hafna imma jiena pesuna niggieled hafna mal-hajja u nibqa’ nhares dejjem lejn il-futur u ‘l quddiem. Jiena naf f’liema sitwazzjoni qieghda u naf ezatt xi rrid. Nixtieq hafna li nkun f’relazzjoni ma’ ragel li jhobbni u jaccettani kif jien u li ma jaghtix kaz x’jghidu n-nies. Fil-hajja tieghi naf li mhux possibbli li jkolli familja bi tfal, izda bhalma digà ghedt il-qtates huma t-tfal tieghi”, sostniet Maxine.

Qlibt is-suggett ghal make-up u z-zraben tat-takkuna. Ridt inkun naf minn fejn tghallmet tapplika l-make-up fuqha nnifisha. “Minn dejjem kont inhobb nesperimenta bil-make-up u nista’ nghid li dan l-ahhar zmien tghallimt naghmlu minghajr l-ebda ghajnuna u nista’ nghid ukoll li tghallimt wahdi”, wiegbet sodisfacenti.

Dwar it-takkuna kkonfermatli li minn dejjem kienet thobbha ghax meta kienet zghira kienet tilbes ta’ ohtha. “Illum il-gurnata ma noqghodx minghajr takkuna pencil, jekk ma jkollix takkuna ma nhossnix mara 100%. Nammetti li tghajjini xi ftit imma go saqajja tibqa’ ghax inhobbha.”

Dwar l-ilbies taghha minn filghodu sa filghaxija, Maxine stqarret mieghi li hadet decizjoni li hajjitha minn issa sal-futur taghha timxi ta’ mara u li l-hajja tal-passat ta’ ragel waqfet ghal kollox.

Fan kbira ta’ Madonna u Kylie

Maxine tiddeskrivi lilha nnifisha bhala litteralment mitlufa fuq il-kantanti Madonna u Kylie Minogue.

“Rigward Madonna nista’ nghid li kbirt maghha u nikkonsidra lili nnifsi bhala fan kbira taghha minn età ckejkna ta’ tliet snin. Minn dejjem kont insegwiha u ghadni sal-lum. Madonna dejjem tatni l-kuragg li nimxi mad-diffikultajiet li niffaccja jien u nipprova dejjem niehu ftit mid-determinazzjoni u l-kuragg li turi u ma taghtix kaz dak li jintqal fuqha u dik hija l-haga li tghallimt u wasalt fejn wasalt illum. Kylie hija l-mera ta’ karattru li hija jiena li hafna minn nies ixebbhuni maghha bhala simpatijia u l-mod li timxi u l-femminilità. Dawn iz-zewg divas ghadhom u jibqghu l-unici idoli tieghi. Nemmen hafna u nibqa’ dejjem nimxi bil-mod taghhom u nibqa’ dejjem insegwi u affaxxinata lejn il-moda taghhom li jien toghgobni hafna.

Jien u nkun qed inlesti ghall-harga ta’ kull Sibt nilbes dejjem bid-diski taghhom ghaddejin li ghalija jkunu ta’ kuragg u naf fic-cert li l-harga tieghi tkun ser tkun wahda memorabbli”, sostniet Maxine.

Fil-fatt tant hi ffissata li sostniet mieghi li anke gieli taghmel shows ta’ drag queens u li dawn jigu milqugha tajjeb. Thossha komda hafna li tesprimi ruhha b’dan il-mod. Fil-fatt issostni li minn età zghira kienet toqghod taghmel ix-shows ta’ Madonna quddiem il-mera.

Holma unika

Il-holma ta’ Maxine hija wahda semplici hafna - li xi darba tkun mara kompluta u tkun kif dejjem tixtieq li tkun fil-futur.

“Nixtieq li xi darba insib dik l-imhabba li ili nfittex, ragel semplici u umli u mimli mhabba li lest ihobbni ghas-semplicità tieghi u l-vivacità li mimlija jien f'hajti u ma jaghtix kas li jghidu n-nies”.

Fl-ahharnett tlabt lil Maxine tghaddi xi kummenti u pariri lil dawk li forsi bhalissa jinsabu ghaddejjin minn xi diffikultà rigward l-orjentazzjoni sesswali taghhom.

“M’ghandhom jaqtghu qalbhom qatt, anzi jaffrontaw il-problema taghhom, ma jiqfux u ma jaghtux kas ta’ xi kummenti negattivi u ma jigux influenzati b’li jghidulhom. F’din id-dinja kulhadd normali u kulhadd ghandu dritt li jghix il-hajja tieghu minghajr diskriminazzjoni. Bhala ideat u approaching nahseb li s-socjetà Maltija qed taccetta aktar lill-omosesswali, però xorta wahda baqa’ iktar xoghol dwar kif ghandhom iharsu b’lenti differenti lejn l-omosesswali u transesswali. Ghal kull min jafni nixtieq nirringrazzjah minn qalbi ta’ kemm jaghmlu u ghadhom jaghmlu mieghi, ta’ l-appogg u l-imhabba li juruni, naf dejjem fic-cert li qeghdin lesti biex ituni bicca minnhom. Ghal dawk li ghadhom ma sarux jafuni nispera li ghad jigi dak iz-zmien fejn inkunu nistghu nkunu haga wahda u nesprimu lilna nfusna”, ghalqet Maxine bi tbissima.

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http://maltastar.com/pages/msrv/msfullart.asp?an=23513

Trapped in a male body: Maxine about her life as a transsexual

maltastar.com team Sat, 23 August 2008

Maxine’s dream is to have a complete sex change so that one day she starts living her life as a woman, the way she felt since she was born. In a full interview, to be published in Sunday paper Kullhadd, Maxine Attard, 25, who won the first edition of Ms Klozet 2008, speaks about how difficult it is to get a sex change in Malta. “To have a sex change is my life’s dream. I want it so that one day I can say I am myself. But despite Malta being an EU member, I still have to buy pills which are too expensive. Sometimes I feel that everybody is closing the door in my face, especially when I know that in other European countries they [transsexuals] find help,” says Maxine. Maxine describes herself as a woman trapped in a male body, and that at times she cannot express her real self, “what I really am.” “I always felt, since when I was young, that I wasn’t a boy. When I was young I felt a girl. I used to believe I am gay, yet that wouldn’t explain my feelings… until I realised I am transsexual,” she says. Her life was not simple, as she explains that since schooldays she used to play with girls and most of her friends were girls. Maxine says that she always played with dolls and that she hated playing with cars and balls. “I was bullied [at school] as well,” she tells Kullhadd. Maxine’s life was not only a difficult one when she was young, even now, she still finds difficulty especially when trying to find a job. “When I apply for a job I always find difficulties. Employers tend to put a stigma on me as soon as they see me. All of them say they would call me back, but none of them ever did. It is very difficult for me to cope without a job,” says Maxine. Another problem she faces in her day to day life is when she has to use her identity card. She is still listed as a male because she hasn’t as yet made her full sex change. “I hate it when I have to show my ID card, because I know people will try to make fun of you and make you feel uncomfortable,” Maxine explains. But not all is bleak in her life. Earlier this year, Maxine Attard won the first ever diversity beauty contest in Malta, Miss Klozet 2008. She won the title of Miss Pearl. “This was a dream come true. The Miss Klozet contest has opened new avenues in my life and I can express myself better and help more people,” said Maxine. She explains to Kullhadd that she has a very close relationship with her family, especially her mother and sisters who always helped her in any possible way. “I am the youngest one among my sisters and their love for me never desisted. My mother is the greatest gift, she respects me and loves me… I am very lucky, she is my greatest and closest friend,” she says.

L-Orizzont: Rapport li se jintuża bħala bażi għal liġi Ewropea

http://www.l-orizzont.com/news.asp?newsitemid=46800
23.8.8; minn Victor Vella

Rapport li ħareġ mill-Aġenzija tad-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem tal-Unjoni Ewropea (FRA), qiegħed jintlaqa’ tajjeb ħafna mill-komunità ta’ omosesswali f’Malta. Dan hekk kif l-istess rapport isejjaħ biex ikun hemm regoli għall-pajjiżi Ewropej li ma jagħmlux differenzi bejn żwiġijiet tradizzjonali u dawk bejn persuni ta’ l-istess sess.

Din l-istess aġenzija fir-rapport tagħha qiegħda tirrakkomanda li għandha tingħata spinta l-promozzjoni ta’ kwistjonijiet marbuta ma’ l-omosesswalità u identitajiet oħrajn. Ir-rapport jitlob ukoll li l-omofobija tiġi dikjarata bħala reat kriminali permezz ta’ leġislazzjoni.

Ir-rapport inkiteb minn grupp imsejjaħ ‘FRALEX’. Il-Parlament Ewropew talab lill-Aġenzija tad-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem (FRA) biex tħejji opinjoni għal liġi ġdida Ewropea, biex finalment tkun projbita d-diskriminazzjoni bbażata fuq l-orjentazzjoni sesswali fl-impjiegi, l-edukazzjoni, sigurtà soċjali, saħħa, u aċċess għal servizzi.

Bħalissa l-liġijiet Ewropej jestendu protezzjoni fuq orjentazzjoni sesswali fil-qasam tal-impjiegi, waqt li tħalli l-oqsma l-oħrajn suġġetti għal-leġislazzjoni nazzjonali.

Ir-rapport li fih 165 paġna imur lil hinn mid-direttiva proposta. Tant li fih analiżi tal-possibilitajiet tal-liġijiet Ewropej u tal-pajjiżi ta’ l-Unjoni Ewropea li qegħdin jew jistgħu jkunu qegħdin jiddiskriminaw kontra l-omosesswali. Dawn jinkludu liġijiet fil-qasam tal-impjiegi, fil-moviment ħieles tal-persuni, fil-qasam tar-refuġjati, riunifikazzjoni tal-familji u fil-liġi kriminali.

Ir-rapport mill-Aġenzija tad-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem (FRA), jargumenta li l-liġijiet Ewropej għandhom jisfurzaw lill-istati membri, li fihom m’hemm ebda leġislazzjoni li tippermetti żwieġ bejn koppji omosesswali, biex titratta lil dawn il-persuni li jkunu f’arranġament simili bħala koppji miżżewġin.

L-estensjoni ta’ privileġġi għall-koppji omosesswali hu ġustifikat fir-rapport minħabba l-prinċipju fundamenti tal-UE fosthom dak ta’ trattament ugwali. Koppji omosesswali f’Malta f’kummenti lil l-orizzont qalu li “la koppja omosesswali ma tistax tiżżewweġ, tispiċċa li jekk wieħed ikun f’relazzjoni u jmut, is-sieħeb l-ieħor mhux intitolat għall-leave li koppji tradizzjonali huma intitolati għalih. Anke fejn jidħol il-wirt ta’ dik il-koppja omosesswali, is-sieħeb li jibqa’ ħaj ma jiritx l-assi jew id-dar jekk ma jkunx hemm testment. Fejn jidħol id-dejn, il-fatt li m’għandniex dritt legali li niżżewġu, iwassal biex ikun baqa’ ħaj ma jkollux responsabbiltà tad-dejn li tkun għamlet il-koppja. Fejn jidħol il-leave mediku biex nieħdu ħsieb membru tal-familja li jkun marid serjament, naraw li dan ukoll m’aħniex intitolati għalih”.

L-istess persuni qalulna li “fejn jidħol il-qasam tad-djar, skemi miftuħin għall-persuni miżżewġin jew inċentivi għalihom, għalina ma jgħoddux. Nistgħu napplikaw għal ċertu skemi, imma hemm ħafna każi fejn diversi allegaw li twarrbu sempliċiment għax huma omosesswali. Fuq l-immigrazzjoni hawn sitwazzjoni kerha ħafna. Is-sieħeb ta’ persuna omosesswali ma jitħalliex jingħaqad mas-sieħeb tiegħu ma jitħalliex jgħix f’Malta sempliċiment għax għandu sieħeb Malti. Dan meta fil-każ ta’ koppji tradizzjonali, dawn għandhom id-dritt li dak li jkun ġej minn pajjiż ieħor jingħata l-permess li jgħix f’pajjiżna u jrabbi l-familja”.

Jenfasizzaw li “koppji omosesswali ma jistax ikollhom assigurazzjoni konġunta fuq id-dar jew fuq il-karozza. Fuq il-postijiet tax-xogħol, is-sidien ġieli jispiċċaw jagħmlu assigurazzjoni lill-ħaddiema u l-familja tiegħu kollha f’każ ta’ familja tradizzjonali. Hemm ukoll il-każ tat-taxxi, fejn ma nistgħux ingawdu minn benefiċċji soċjali diretti għall-familji”.

IL-VERA LIBERTÀ minn Mons. Mario Grech Isqof ta' Għawdex

L-E.T. Mons. Mario Grech; Isqof ta' Għawdex

Il-bieraħ filgħaxija [20.8.8], fl-okkażżjoni tas-Sena Pawlina, id-djoċesi t'Għawdex organizzat pellegrinaġġ djoċesan quddiem il-gżejjer ta San Pawl. L-Isqof Grech mexxa quddiesa u għamel din l-omelija:

"F'epoka meta huma ħafna dawk li qed jissiltu biex jiddefendu diversi libertajiet, huwa interessanti li l-Knisja matul din is-sena Pawlina qed tagħmel stedina biex nixtarru t-tagħlim ta' Missierna San Pawl li huwa msejjaħ "l-appostlu tal-liberta". Jekk l-istorja ta pajjiżna ġustament tagħraf diversi ġrajjiet li permezz tagħhom ġensna rnexxilu jikseb libertà politika u ċivili, in-nawfraġju ta San Pawl f'Malta ukoll huwa ġrajja mportanti għax permezz ta' Pawlu ksibna liberta' esistenzjali.

"San Pawl jgħallem li "Kristu ħelisna biex ngħixu ta' nies ħielsa" u li "Kristu fdiena mil-jasar". Kristu mhux biss ħelisna mid-dnub, fis-sens li ħelisna mill-gidba, mid-dlam ta l-injoranza u minn kull forma ta' ħażen; imma ħelisna biex ngħixu ħajja ħielsa biex il-bniedem ikun jista' jgħix ħajja dinjituża billi l-atteġġjamenti u l-imġieba tiegħu jkunu tassew ħielsa.

"Pawlu kien qed jitkellem f'kultura fejn b'libertà kienu jifhmu li wieħed jista' jagħmel dak kollu li jrid mingħajr indħil u restrizzjoni ta' ħadd. Il-kultura ta żmieniietna mhix tant differenti. Kontra dan il-kunċett ta' libertà individualista u egoċentrika, Pawlu jipproponi kunċett differenti ta' llibertà. Billi l-bniedem li huwa dak li hu għax jinsab f'relazzjoni ma' l-oħrajn, Pawlu jisħaq li l-bniedem huwa ħieles meta jagħraf iħobb lil dawk ta' madwaru – "ħobb li għajrek bħalek innifsek".

"Huwa liberu min jaċċetta li jkun skjav għax iħobb u jiddedika lilu nnifsu għall-oħrajn. Fl-istess waqt, jekk fis-soċjetà l-membri jħobbu lil xulxin b'dan il-mod u jkunu disponibli għal xuxlin, fil-gruppi soċjali jkun hemm parita u ħadd ma jaħkem fuq ħadd.

"Dan kollu japplika fil-kuntest tal-ħajja miżżewġa u tal-familja fejn il-bniedem ifittex li jagħmel esperjenza ta' l-imħabba. F'kuntrast ma' min isostni li l-libertà fiż-żwieġ tfisser li tnejn jistgħu jħallu lil xulxin x'ħin ifettlilhom, iż-żwieġ li huwa esperjenza ta' l-imħabba li twassal lil miżżewġin biex jingħataw għal xulxin, huwa ġinesium tal-libertà vera.

"Meta jitkellem dwar il-limitazzjonijiet tal-libertà umana, Pawlu ta' Tarsu jagħti xi eżempji li huma ħafna attwali għalina. Fil-qasam tas-sesswalita, jindika ż-żinà, l-adulterju u l-omossesswalita; fil-qasam reliġjuż isemmi l-idolatrija u s-seħer u f'dak li għandu x'jaqsam mal-ħajja komunitarja, Pawlu jiġbed l-attenzjoni dwar l-ħsara li tagħmlu l-ambizzjoni, il-firda u l-partiti.

"Nawgura li fid-dawl tat-tagħlmi ta' Pawlu, ġensna li jiftaħar li tant b'San Pawl, jagħraf liema huma l-vera libertrajiet u jassigurahom anke b'liġijiet proprji."


Nota minn P. Attard:
Il-kelma żinà, fornication b'Ingliż sa fejn naf jien, tfisser meta nies li mhumiex miżżewġin jagħmlu sess. Naħseb li l-koabitazzjoni u l-masturbazzjoni jaqaw taħt dan id-dnub. (ikoreġuni jekk żbaljat).
Hu interessanti kif l-Isqof, fil-messaġġ tiegħu ma jsemmix atti omosesswali imma l-omosesswalità in ġenerali. Ma naħsibx li dan hu kliem addattat biex il-Knisja tibni pontijiet ma' persuni gay. Anzi l-Isqof għandu jinżamm 'accountable' tal-messaġġ li qed iwassal u tad-dbatijiet fil-familji Għawdxin fejn hemm persuni gay.

---

Tista' taqra wkoll:

It-Torċa: Omelija ta’ l-Isqof t’Għawdex tqajjem kontroversja - Omosesswali u separati jħossuhom offiżi

Independent UK: A revolution in the boardroom: Why it pays to be gay - Homosexuals are being courted by employers – from spooks to the city

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/a-revolution-in-the-boardroom-why-it-pays-to-be-gay-901851.html
Homosexuals are being courted by employers – from spooks to the city

By Jerome Taylor
Tuesday, 19 August 2008

David Sandison

Sir Michael Bishop turned BMI into the UK's second largest airline after BA

When Angela Mason began her 10-year directorship of the Stonewall gay lobby group in 1992, she had a friend in the corporate world who had two phones in his house. One he used to take personal calls for him and his partner. The other was for the office. When it came to being out and proud in the workplace, few and far between was the employee who would happily step out of the closet and declare: "I'm gay, let's do business."

"People used to genuinely fear that they would lose their jobs if they were outed, and many did," Mason remembers. "If you were found out it was absolutely the end."

It was with some sense of satisfaction, therefore, that Ms Mason read the news this week that MI5 was finally going to step out of the closet itself and begin openly recruiting people from within the gay community.

One of the last bastions of the British establishment, a place that, until the early 1990s, had actually banned hiring gays because of fears that outed spies could be blackmailed, had finally capitulated and realised that if you want to hire the best talent, you have to look at all sections of society. The days of the Oxbridge don giving white, male graduates a tap on the shoulder and a nod towards Thames House were truly over.

The domestic intelligence service is now not only going to start actively employing openly gay recruits, it is also hiring Stonewall (a group once associated with, and run by, former radicals such as Ms Mason) to advise the security services on how to encourage its spies to be more open about their sexuality and how to persuade more gay applicants to apply for jobs there.

But as dramatic as MI5's announcement seems, it is part of a much wider silent revolution that Stonewall has been pursuing for much of the past decade – persuading the corporate world to love gays. And in the past few years it finally seems to be working.

In the late 1970s, Ms Mason, a young member of the anarchist Angry Brigades group, was tried and acquitted for planting bombs on the doorsteps of Conservative politicians. She divorced in the 1980s to live with her lesbian lover and, by 1992, had been appointed director of Stonewall.

With such an anti-establishment figure heading Britain's foremost gay lobby group, Stonewall might have been expected to continue with the sort of tactics that had made its new director so notorious. Instead, Ms Mason, and Ben Summerskill, her successor as chief executive, did something far more radical – they took Stonewall mainstream and began charming, rather than confronting, the corporate world.

The outcome of that tactic is that MI5 has now joined more than 430 companies, representing more than four million employees, who have signed up to Stonewall's list of "gay-friendly employers". Those on the list actively recruit gay people and monitor the sexual orientation of their staff to ensure against silent discrimination.

Many encourage their gay and lesbian staff to take part in Pride events as well as supporting the events financially. They are also expected to have clear and publicised policies for dealing with cases of sexual discrimination and encourage the promotion of openly gay staff on to the board or senior management team.

With 15,000 gay students leaving university every year and an estimated 1.7 million gay men and women of working age, Stonewall began persuading companies that discriminating against gay employees was simply bad for business.

The corporate world began to see sense. Where once people were fired for their sexual orientation, major corporations now jostle with each other to prove their equalitarian credentials.

To provide an incentive, Stonewall began producing an annual list of "top gay employers". Local authorities, charities and the voluntary sector all scored well but, every year, more and more mainstream corporations began appearing on the list.

By 2007, IBM, LloydsTSB, KPMG and Goldman and Sachs all came in the top 10 and the pro-pink feeling is spreading. This year, Pinsent Mason became the first law firm to be included in the Top 100 gay employers and next year Stonewall expects to have at least 16 more.

"The trick is to present the business case to corporate employers," says David Shields, director of workplace programmes at Stonewall and the man who has spearheaded their campaigning in the corporate world.

"It simply doesn't make good business sense to have a reputation for being a workplace that is not open to gay and lesbian employers. Graduates who were out and proud at university are simply not willing to hide away once they get into the workforce. They'll simply take their skills to another company."

For Mr Summerskill, persuading MI5 to become a gay-friendly employer was proof that even those organisations not historically thought to be friendly towards the gay rights movement are, in fact, coming in from the cold.

"I think what's really interesting about our corporate approach in the past three years is the sheer variety of companies we have attracted," he says. "Many of them are not the usual suspects you would have signing up, and I think what we did with MI5 is an example of that. These are very counter-intuitive organisations. Even though the ban on recruiting gay spies was lifted more than a decade ago, the message had trouble sinking in.

"But MI5 is so focused on recruiting the very best talent that they realised it was critically important to hire staff from all walks of life."

Ashley Steel is the only known lesbian on the board of a Square Mile company. She came out five years ago after spending some time working for KPMG's offices in San Francisco.

"I think once I'd fully come out I knew I couldn't go back in," she says. "I've been at KPMG for more than 23 years now and it is a completely different place to what it used to be."

She says major corporations are so keen to harness the best talent that former prejudices have had to be dropped.

"If there is a war of talent going on, then why on earth would you want to put people off who are gay or black or female? It simply doesn't make business sense. And I think clients want to see a diverse workforce."

She believes there is still some way to go – after all, there is no openly gay person on the board of a FTSE 100 company. "Groups like Stonewall were originally set up to change the law and they did. We have thing like the equalities bill and civil partnerships. But changing a law doesn't change a person's behaviour, and that is what they are trying to do with the corporate sector."

Angela Eagle, the first lesbian MP to come out while still in the House of Commons, agrees. "What we have is legal equality in theory, but that does not necessarily eliminate the discrimination that continues to exist," she says.

But for Ms Mason, who now works at the heart of government advising local authorities on equalities and cohesion with the Improvement and Development Agency, the corporate change of heart could hardly be more stark.

"Those companies that have positive employment practices do it precisely because it signifies modernity," she says. "It's cutting edge and glamorous. There's still lots to do but when I look back, we have come miles and miles."

Six pioneers in the corporate world

Ashley Steel, KPMG

A vocal and openly gay director at KPMG, Ashley Steel is the only known lesbian on the board of a Square Mile company. She has regularly spoken out about how the corporate world needs to do more to promote gay people in the workplace. She came out only after working for KPMG in San Francisco. In 2005, she became KPMG's first board champion on sexual orientation.

Paul Tanner, 90TEN

The owner of the PR agency 90TEN, Paul Tanner specialises in public relations for the gay and lesbian communities. He has launched numerous health initiatives to encourage gay men to vaccinate themselves against hepatitis A and hepatitis B as well as being hired by a number of prominent NHS trusts to improve their sexual health services.

Sir Michael Bishop, BMI

A former baggage handler at Manchester airport, Sir Michael, above, turned BMI into the UK's second largest airline after BA. Not known for speaking out about gay rights, his presence at the head of BMI proves being out and gay shouldn't stop you getting ahead in business.

Robert Taylor, Kleinwort Benson Private Bank

One of the City's best known openly gay movers and shakers, he earnt his stripes at Coutts & Co where he was head of private banking. Is now chief executive of Kleinwort Benson Private Bank.

Angela Mason, activist

Radical campaigner turned government insider, Angela Mason began her political career as an anarchist with the Angry Brigades in the 1970s before coming out in the 1980s and taking up the gay rights cause. Served as director of Stonewall throughout the 1990s, making it more mainstream, charming corporations and leading the fight for the repeal of Section 28. She now chairs the Fawcett Society, a women's rights campaigning organisation

Charles Allen, Global Radio

A former chief executive of ITV, the openly gay Charles Allen is now one of the most powerful figures in the world of radio. His company, Global Radio, is the UK's largest radio provider and includes the popular Heart, LBC and Galaxy radio stations.

Interesting? Click here to explore further

CNN: Argentina grants gay couples partner pensions

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/08/19/argentina.gay/

19.8.8

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- In a nationwide measure, Argentina has granted gay couples the right to collect the pensions of their dead partners.

The Axel Hotels, aimed at the gay community, is shown in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The National Social Security Administration's director is to sign the resolution on Tuesday, and it will become law upon publication the following Wednesday. It requires that same-sex couples show they have lived together for at least five years.

Maria Rachid, president of the Buenos Aires-based Argentine Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Trans, said she has been fighting for this change for a decade. She credited the government of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner for creating the environment in which such a change could take place.

"Now we have a government that's more open, that's disposed to listening to our demands, and that's beginning to generate some changes," she said in a telephone interview from Buenos Aires.

But Hector Timerman, Argentina's ambassador to the United States, told CNN in Atlanta that it was not so much the influence of the current president as it is the changes that have occurred since Argentina emerged from the dictatorship years of 1976-1983.

"For a Latin American country, it's an amazing story," he said, noting that things have become much more open in the past quarter century.

Argentina has been reaping benefits from its stance, including serving as a popular destination for international gay and lesbian visitors, he said. "Nobody bothers them," he said. "Not even the church."

Still, the Catholic Church has long been the main opponent of granting partner rights to gays and lesbians.

But church officials had muted their opposition to divorce after the former president, Raul Alfonsin, suggested holding a plebiscite on the matter in the 1980s, and realized they had little chance of winning this battle either, Timerman said.

Rachid agreed. "We pay little attention to the Catholic Church," she said, citing a poll that found most residents of the capital city of Buenos Aires favored allowing gays and lesbians to marry, despite the church's opposition.

But plenty of work remains, Rachid said, citing her desire for gays and lesbians to be allowed to marry and the fact that civil unions for gays and lesbians are allowed in only a few cities in the country.

Andres Duque, director of New York-based Mano a Mano and a blogger on Latino gay issues, credited Argentina with being "the first one to jump to the gate in Latin America in terms of providing rights to same-sex couples." He cited the civil unions bill of 2002 in Buenos Aires -- the first Latin American city to pass one. But he criticized the effort as incomplete, citing the fact that the law does not allow for gays to adopt.

As a number of Latin American countries have elected socialist leaders, the political landscape has become more favorable on a continent often associated with machismo and Catholicism, Duque said.

For example, Ecuador is considering a change in its constitution that would grant rights to same-sex couples, including pension rights, health benefits and social security, he said. And leftist President Evo Morales is pushing for a prohibition against discrimination based on sexual orientation.

In some districts of Mexico, including the capital, civil unions are allowed.

"The nascent movement of LGBT rights in Latin America is just flowering right now," he said.

Even Colombia, still among the most conservative countries in Latin America, is considering a same-sex civil-unions bill, he said.

Spiegel Online: Germany: Berlin Mayor Condemns Attack on Gay Memorial

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,572829,00.html
19.8.8

Berlin's memorial to the thousands of homosexuals persecuted and killed by the Nazis was damaged over the weekend, less than three months after its unveiling. Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit condemned the attack and joined a demonstration at the site on Monday.

The mayor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit, condemned an attack that damaged the city's monument to homosexuals persecuted by the Nazis and joined a demonstration at the scene on Monday afternoon.

"An attack against this memorial is clearly directed against homosexuals -- that can be said without waiting for further police investigations. We must show our condemnation of this act of intolerance and homophobia," said Wowereit, who is himself openly gay.

A viewing window in the concrete monument through which a video of two men kissing can be seen was smashed in the attack. The damage was reported by a passerby on Saturday, police said, adding that they had launched an investigation.

Germany's Association of Lesbians and Gays said in a statement: "Everything suggests that this attack was motivated by a hatred of homosexuals."

"The attack shows in a drastic way how necessary this monument is. Hostility to homosexuals remains virulent. The kissing scene shown in the monument evidently hit the mark. Even in a democratic society there are people who can't stand the sight of men kissing in public."

The monument was unveiled at a ceremony on May 27 and commemorates the thousands of homosexual men who died in concentration camps because of Nazi laws persecuting them for their sexual persuasion.

There were more than 50,000 convictions of homosexuals in the Nazi era, and authorities in some cases ordered men to be castrated.

Rudolf Brazda, a homosexual survivor of Buchenwald concentration camp, said in a statement: "I had feared something like this would happen. People don't learn, they're much too stupid unfortunately. Because they don't want to understand that there is such a thing as homosexuality. Because they don't want to accept that there are people who are naturally different from them."

Brazda spent three years in Buchenwald, from 1942 until the camp was liberated in April 1945, and had to wear a pink badge during that time under Nazi rules identifying him as homosexual.

Malta Today: Government presses Greens’ secretary general to relinquish teaching job - Victor Galea accuses government of political discrimination

Even though this article is not on gay issues it talks on a very serious issue regarding the bullying our Green Party General Secretary (a teacher by profession) faces from the government.
(See below for related articles)

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/2008/08/17/t1.html
Sunday, 17 August 2008; James Debono

In an unprecedented move, Alternattiva Demokratika’s secretary-general Victor Galea has been informed by the government that he cannot continue exercising his teaching profession as teachers in public employment are precluded from any political post.
Yet MaltaToday can reveal that over the past years, various public officials in the same rank as Galea have been tolerated to hold on to their posts in the PN or the MLP.
Victor Galea has served as AD’s unpaid secretary-general since 2006.
A letter sent from the Office of the Prime Minister instructed the permanent secretary in the Gozo Ministry to inform Galea that as a “teacher”, he “may not hold the post of Secretary General of AD.”
Acting upon the OPM’s instructions, the Gozo Ministry duly informed Galea that he had until last Friday – the Santa Marija holiday – to decide on whether he intends to continue serving as AD’s secretary-general.

To justify Galea’s effective dismissal from the civil service, the OPM is citing the anachronistic Public Service Management Code (PSMC) – a legacy of colonial times which bans anyone from scale 1 to scale 13 positions from any sort of political involvement.
But in reply to questions by MaltaToday, a spokesman for the prime minister yesterday said the government was “analysing whether these regulations are to be revised”. The spokesman added that OPM was “looking into the mentioned case”, while stressing that the PSMC was “under the responsibility of the office of the Principal Permanent Secretary”.
Government sources insist that in this case the Prime Minister was not aware of the actions of the higher echelons of the civil service.
MaltaToday is also informed that after receiving a similar notice two Azzjoni Nazzjonali officials accepted to renounce their political posts to keep their jobs in the civil service.
The OPM’s letter to Galea claims that it was acting following “reports carried out in the local press… that Victor Galea has been elected as Secretary General of Alternattiva Demokratika.”
The OPM is leaving Galea the option of taking “unpaid leave to occupy a statutory post in the central executive of a political party” – according to another provision in the same management code.
In fact the article quoted by the OPM does not only preclude most civil servants from occupying a post in a political party, but also precludes them from speaking in public on matters of political controversy, expressing views on public matters on letters to the press and from canvassing on behalf of parliamentary candidates.
Effectively the management code even bans nurses, pharmacists, engineers, paramedics and foreman in government employment from expressing their political views in public.
MaltaToday can reveal that various PN and MLP officials are allowed to keep their jobs in the civil service.
These include Janice Chetcuti, a PN executive committee member employed as an animal awareness organiser and a peripatetic teacher in the Education Department.
Caroline Galea, another PN executive member, occupies the post of principle in the maternity department at Mater Dei Hospital.
Kevin Sciberras, another PN executive member, holds the post of cultural officer in the Gozo Ministry.
In the Labour camp, Alfred Grixti – consultant editor of Maltastar who recently contested for the post of party secretary-general – works as a head teacher in a government school.
Newly elected party education secretary Aaron Farrugia works as an economist in the Ministry for Social Policy.

Discriminatory treatment
In his reply Galea claims that he was “singled out for the implementation of these provisions of the Public Service Code” insisting that “various other public officers have been permitted to hold office within the party structures of the Malta Labour Political Party and the Nationalist Political Party.”
Describing the treatment reserved to him as “discriminatory” in his regard, he requested “that in view of your having permitted for years on end public officers to be active in the MLP and the PN” he is not treated any differently.
“I have always carried out my duties within the civil service in a professional, unbiased and apolitical manner and I consider that my political contribution is a free service to the democratic development of our nation,” said Galea in his reply.

See also related articles listed as the story unfolds:
- Times: Reversing Summer Follies; by Lino Spiteri; Monday 18.8.8
- Political Discrimination in the Civil Service by Carmel Cacopardo; 18.8.8
- Political Discrimination by Arnold Cassola; 18.8.8
- Solidarity with Victor by Michael Briguglio; 18.8.8
- Times: OPM stops request for AD official to choose between political and teaching roles
Letter issued without PM's knowledge; 19.8.8
- The left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing by Victor Galea; 20.8.8 [article in Maltese]

Illum: Il-kawża ta’ Giovanni Bonello [Imħallef tal Qorti Ewropea għad-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem fi Strasburgu]

http://www.illum.com.mt/2008/08/17/interview.html
17 ta’ Awwissu 2008 Nr 94; Julia Farrugia tintervista lill-Imħallef Giovanni Bonello

(Siltiet mill-Intervista)

...Fil-mument f’Malta hawn temi oħra jaħarqu fosthom id-divorzju. Nistaqsieh kif iħares lejn każijiet ta’ Maltin li jħossuhom qed isofru minn inġustizzja minħabba l-kwistjoni tad-divorzju meta għandek sitwazzjoni fejn jekk għandek il-flus iġġib divorzju minn barra u l-Istat jirrikonoxxieh, jekk le tibqa’ ssofri waħdek.

“Se nirrispondik b’mistoqsija oħra. Kien hemm xi Malti li ġab xi kawża quddiem il-Qorti ta’ Malta jew il-Qorti Ewropea għaliex Malta m’għandhiex liġi tad-divorzju? Għadu ħadd m’għamel xejn ħlief tgergir fil-gazzetti. Però s-soluzzjoni li hi l-aktar waħda sempliċi li ssir kawża Malta li fiha targumenta li n-nuqqas ta’ divorzju huwa ksur tal-Konvenzjoni Ewropea ħadd m’għamilha. Jien ma nafx x’kien ikun ir-riżultat. Però seta’ sar tentattiv quddiem il-Qorti li għandha prestiġju kbir,” jgħid l-Imħallef Bonello waqt li jieqaf għal ftit sekondi biss.

“Kieku kien hawn koppja li staqsiet jekk in-nuqqas ta’ divorzju hux konformi mal-Konvenzjoni u jirbħu l-kawża Malta l-problema tagħhom solvuta. Jekk jitilfuha jippruvaw l-aħħar pedina li hi l-Qorti Ewropea. Tal-inqas kien ikollhom riżultat. Din hi bħal tal-liġi tal-kera.”

Hawn jispjega li l-liġijiet tal-kera ilhom jeżistu 80 sena u kulħadd igerger kemm huma antiki mingħajr ma jieħu azzjoni. Sena u nofs ilu fi Strasburgu marru tliet kawżi Maltin fuq il-liġijiet tal-kera.

“Rebħuhom kważi hands down. Hemm l-għodda li mhix qed tintuża. Jien m’għandi l-ebda idea x’kien ikun ir-riżultat kieku saret kawża fuq id-divorzju imma almenu kien hemm il-possibiltà li jkollok ġudizzju li l-Gvern Malti kien ikun marbut bih fejn il-Qorti kienet tgħid li n-nuqqas tal-liġi tad-divorzju hu konformi mal-Konvenzjoni jew mhux konformi magħha. Kien ikun hemm risposta għal din id-domanda.”

Sakemm naħseb fil-mistoqsija li jmiss nistħajjel li wara li l-Ħadd tinqara din l-intervista jkun hemm min jitħajjar jagħmel dan il-pass.

Imma hemm sitwazzjonijiet oħra li tista’ tapplika għalihom l-istess ħsieb? Japplika pereżempju għal żwiġijiet bejn koppji gay?
“L-istess. Hawn qiegħdin fil-periferija l-aktar avvanzata tad-drittijiet tal-bniedem. Int tifhem li dawn problemi li m’hemmx konsensus Ewropew. Fosthom dwar l-istatus ta’ żwieġ ta’ koppji omosesswali. U ma nafx li kieku kellha tiġi kwistjoni quddiem il-Qorti Ewropea liema attitudni tieħu. Il-Qorti ta’ Strasburgu hi pjuttost progressiva. Hi pjuttost liberali. Imma mhux rivoluzzjonarja.
“Id-drittijiet tat-transesswali ġew rikonoxxuti. Kemm id-dritt li l-istat jirrikonoxxi l-identità ġdida tiegħek kif ukoll id-dritt li transesswali jiżżewġu,”
Infakkru li f’Malta riċentement kien hemm il-każ fejn transesswali ma tħallietx tiżżewweġ. Giovanni Bonello segwa dan il-każ u bla tidwir ta’ kliem iwieġeb:
“Naf, naf. Imma ma nafx kinux jafu bis-sentenzi ta’ Strasburgu. Ma nafx. Jew forsi kienu jafu bihom u ma qablux magħhom. Għandhom kull dritt.”

...

Deutsche Welle: German Memorial for Gay Nazi Victims Vandalized

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3569232,00.html
16.08.2008

Berlin's memorial to gays and lesbians persecuted during the Nazi era has been vandalized less than three months after it was inaugurated, police in the German capital said Saturday, Aug. 16.

The vandals broke a viewing window and pushed over a fence, in the first time the memorial has been damaged. The damage was seen by a passer-by on Saturday.

The simple grey rectangular stone across the street from Germany's national memorial to Jewish victims of the Holocaust was inaugurated on May 27 after years of controversy.

More than 50,000 homosexuals are thought to have been convicted under the Nazis "because of their sexual orientation," with thousands of them sent to concentration camps and murdered.

Current research suggests 54,000 men and women were convicted of homosexual acts and about 7,000 killed in the camps.

The monument, designed by Danish-Norwegian artists Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset, contains a window that invites the visitor to look inside and see a film of a homosexual couple kissing. The image is to be alternate between two men and two women every two years.

NPR: [US Election] Candidates Mum On Gay Marriage Debate

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93269018&ft=1&f=1001
Election 2008: Candidates on the Issues
6.8.8; by Tovia Smith

McCain and Obama

Comparing The Candidates

McCain: McCain supports a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in California, but he opposes a federal ban. On a daytime TV talk show hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, who is openly gay, McCain said: "I just believe in the unique status of marriage as between a man and woman, and I know that we have a respectful disagreement on that issue."

Obama: Obama offers congratulations to newlywed same-sex couples in California and says that they deserve full equality, but he opposes gay marriage. He told a forum on gay rights issues: "I would continue to support a civil union that provides all the benefits to a legally sanctioned marriage."

Rodney Maccarate (left) and James Winstead kiss after exchanging vows in San Francisco on June 17. AFP/Getty Images

All Things Considered, August 4, 2008 · For all of the countless times the presidential candidates have laid out their positions on the war, the economy and health care, there is one issue that they haven't talked about much: gay marriage.

For both Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain, it is risky territory, where they have as much to lose as they have to gain.

Even when the Supreme Court of California legalized gay marriage earlier this year, all that came from the campaigns were short, very carefully worded, written statements.

University of Washington professor David Domke, who writes about politics and religion, says that the candidates want nothing to do with gay marriage as a political issue. He argues that is because neither has a clear position on it.

McCain, for instance, supports a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in California, but he opposes a federal ban. And while Obama offers congratulations to newlywed same-sex couples in California and says that they deserve full equality, he opposes gay marriage. Domke calls their positions "muddled."

"Both have this nuanced 'On the one hand and on the other hand' need-to-explain position, and I think that makes it difficult for either to take a stand," Domke says.

Why The Candidates Are Mum On Gay Marriage

Both candidates also have the difficult task of trying to appease their bases, while also reaching out to the center.

Obama, for example, is trying to make a play for some evangelical Christians who traditionally vote Republican. At the same time, he needs to avoid alienating liberals. That presents a challenge, such as when Obama participated in a forum on gay issues in 2007.

If elected president, Obama told the panel, "I would continue to support a civil union that provides all the benefits to a legally sanctioned marriage." Panelist Joe Solmonese, a gay rights advocate, challenged Obama's answer, suggesting it was a policy of separate but equal.

McCain skates a similarly fine line in that he needs to reassure the conservative "value voters" who have publicly doubted his commitment on social issues. At the same time, he cannot afford to scare away moderates and independents.

When McCain did confront the issue of gay marriage on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the tension seemed palpable.

"I just believe in the unique status of marriage as between a man and woman, and I know that we have a respectful disagreement on that issue," he told host DeGeneres, who is openly gay.

The 'Enthusiasm Gap'

Political consultant Doug Hattaway has advised many Democratic candidates on gay issues. He says candidates ought to steer clear of same sex marriage this year simply because it's relatively unimportant to voters.

"Bottom line is, I think that both candidates feel squeezed. So the best approach is to talk about the economy," Hattaway said.

On the campaign trail that's exactly what the candidates have been doing.

And Domke says gay marriage will not have the kind of impact this year as it did in 2004. That year, the issue energized social conservatives, helping to boost President George W. Bush at the polls in key battleground states such as Ohio.

Tom McClusky of the Family Research Council says that if McCain will not bring up gay marriage, conservatives will. "The senator, so far, has not been a candidate who motivates the grassroots," he said. "But these issues motivate the grassroots and will get the people in churches and people who care about these issues not only out to vote, but hopefully, bringing their friends along."

The question is whether gay marriage as an issue could ever be enough to close what analysts are calling the "enthusiasm gap."

Polls show Democrats and progressives are far more energized and excited to vote for Obama than Republicans and conservatives are to vote for McCain.

And that passion may drive more voters to the polls this November than the issue of gay marriage ever could.

Malta Today: Playing Safe? Not quite: Contraception is still taboo for many university students, study reveals

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/2008/08/03/t6.html
Sunday, 03 August 2008; James Debono

In 1968, rebellious French students decreed that "it is forbidden to forbid". But 40 years later Maltese university students are still contemplating whether a condom vending machine should be installed in their toilets.

A study conducted by sociology student Charlene Said reveals that contraception is still considered a taboo by almost half the students attending the university, and that 44% of male theology students think that contraceptives should not be permitted.

While only 5.4% of university students believe that artificial contraceptives should not be available in university, 10% would like them to be available for free.

While 37.4% believe that contraceptives should be available in shops at the university, only 26.7% would like a condom vending machine in the gents' toilet and a mere 17.6% would like the same service in the ladies toilet.

These results emerge from a survey carried out among 200 University students, equally divided between males and females, from five different faculties, namely: Theology, Education, Fema, Arts and Medicine, by sociology student Charlene Said for her BA. Honours dissertation.

The results come in the wake of a petition to introduce a condom vending machine had only managed to attract a trifling 200 signatures: one-fortieth of the university's 8,000 plus population.

Although former Health Minister Louis Deguara has declared his agreement with the university students' petition to introduce a condom vending machine on the Tal-Qroqq campus, the university remains up to this day a condom-free zone.

The picture emerging from Said's study is that university students – 92% of whom claim to profess the Catholic faith – are neither too liberal nor too conservative in their attitude towards artificial contraception.

More about three quarters of respondents (75.9%) believe that the individual should be the one to decide on contraceptive use, and the Catholic Church should not interfere.

Yet a large segment of students remain wary of an active policy to promote the use of contraceptives in educational institutions.
In fact, 41.3% do not believe there should be free contraceptives either in secondary or in tertiary, while 28.6% said that there should only be free contraceptives in tertiary school. 8.47% believe in free contraceptives for secondary schools only, while 21.7% agree with free contraceptives to both secondary and tertiary institutions.

Only 31.5% of respondents believe that the word contraception does not carry with it a negative connotation while almost half (49.5%) believe it does.

The perception that the church has an overbearing influence on public policy is also confirmed by Said's study. 65.8% of respondents believe that the Catholic Church in Malta influences Governmental policies on contraception.

Taboo in the family

Only 6% of respondents said that most families openly discuss the issue and encourage their children to use contraceptives.

Yet Said's study shows that younger families could be more open to this topic. 62.09% say that if they were parents they would discuss the use of artificial contraception to their children at the age of 11 to 14.

Yet significantly, 26.37% said that they would only discuss contraception with children aged 15 or over – an age when teens could already have been exposed to unprotected sex.

Only 5.49% would be willing to bring up the subject with children aged between seven and 10 years before their children are exposed to sexual activity. And alarmingly, 6.04% of university students said that they never speak on this topic to their children.

Only 11.04% received their first learning experience on contraception from a parent. Almost half the respondents (40.49%) said that they first got to know through a teacher. Following respondents said to first learn about these uses from a friend (32.51%). A further 14.11% claimed that they became aware of contraception through the media, and 1.84% claimed that they first got to know from a relative.
62.24% of respondents said that the first person to speak them on this subject portrayed the use of contraceptives as a responsible act.

Another 23.47% said it was shown in a scientific and descriptive way.

Yet significantly, nearly 15% claim that contraception was introduced to them as a negative thing.
Nearly one tenth - 9.69% - claim that the first person to talk to them on contraceptives had described their use as something immoral and going against their religious values. 4.59% said that they were told that contraceptives should not be used.

When asked whether they covered the use of artificial contraceptive uses in their secondary school, 24.6% said that the topic was never covered.

And significantly, when the topic was covered in school, 44.7% claimed that they were encouraged to make use of contraceptives, while 39.6% said that they were encouraged not to do so.

Those attending mixed secondary schools tended to be much more encouraged to use contraceptives. According to Said, this may indicate a more liberal outlook in private non-church schools than in church schools, which are segregated.

The study shows that most students deem the use of non-abortive contraceptives as acceptable.

But significantly, 29.5% also said that they agreed with the use of the morning after pill, even if only 5.3% expressed agreement with abortion. This suggests that some students do not consider the morning after pill as abortive.
Although the dissertation suggests most that students hailing from the Arts and the Medicine departments, and to a lesser extent those in the Faculty of Education, are more liberal in their outlook towards contraception, this is not the case for students in the Theology and FEMA departments.

Almost half the male respondents in the theology department (44.4%) do not agree that artificial contraceptives should be permissible. While students from most faculties think that natural family planning is effective, half the male respondents in the medicine departments think otherwise.

While 60% of male theology students agree that sex should only be practised for procreation, only 12.02% of the overall respondents agreed with such statement, while 87.9% opposed such views. According to Charlene Said, students seem to be in a state of transition, between more liberal values and the belief of free will and freedom of choice.

While noting that most students consider themselves as Catholics and favour certain Catholics teachings such as natural family planning techniques, they also believe that the use of artificial contraception should be left in the hands of the individual, not by the Church.

It-Torċa: Titubar kontra l-Mibgħeda

(Dan l-artiklu mhux fuq is-sit http://www.it-torca.com s'issa)
3.8.8; Minn SAMMY SAMMUT

Il-mibgħeda hija xi ħaġa mill-aktar kerha u ta' min jistmerraha għax twassal lill-bniedem uman li jaġixxi agħar minn annimal. Il-mibgħeda hija terminu li jmur aktar 'il hemm milli wieħed jikkawża offiża jew juri ċertu ostilità. Reat ta' mibgħeda huwa kull offiża kriminali mwettqa kontra persuna jew proprjetà u li tkun immotivata mill-mibgħeda li jkollu dak li jwettaqha kontra xi ħadd minħabba r-razza, il-kulur tal-ġilda, l-oriġini etnika, in-nazzjonalità, ir-reliġjon jew twemmin, ix-xorta tas-sess, l-orjentament sesswali tiegħu jew id-diżabilità li jkun ibati minnha.

Ir-reati ta' mibgħeda jistgħu jieħdu forom diversi: attakki fiżiċi – bħal assalt fiżiku, ħsara lill-proprjetà, graffitti offensivi u ħruq mqabbad apposta; theddid ta' xi attakk – inkluż ittri offensivi, telefonati abbużivi jew oxxeni, tlajjar fi gruppi biex jintimidaw u ilmenti nfondati jew malizzjużi; abbużi jew insulti verbali – li jistgħu jinkludu fuljetti jew posters offensivi, ġesti abbużivi, twaddib ta' skart quddiem djar, kif ukoll bullying fl-iskola jew iffittar fuq il-post tax-xogħol. Però, definizzjoni komuni ta' reat ta' mibgħeda hija: kull inċident, li jikkostitwixxi offiża kriminali, li l-vittma jew kull persuna oħra tħoss li huwa mmotivat mill-preġudizzju jew mibgħeda.

F'dawn l-aħħar snin, it-tħassib dwar reati ta' mibgħeda sar dejjem aktar prominenti fost dawk li jfasslu l-politika f'ħafna pajjiżi u fil-livelli kollha tal-gvern, iżda dan il-fenomenu m'huwiex xi wieħed ġdid. Eżempji mill-passat jinkludu l-persekuzzjoni Rumana kontra l-Insara, il-ġenoċidju Ottoman ta' l-Armeni, is-'soluzzjoni finali' tan-Nażżisti għal-Lhud, u aktar riċenti, it-tindif etniku fil-Bosnija u l-ġenoċidju fir-Rwanda. F'ħafna każi, ir-reati ta' mibgħeda fasslu u ġieli wkoll iddefinew l-istorja dinjija.

Dan wassal għal żvilupp leġislattiv li mhux biss iqies kull offiża mmotivata mill-mibgħeda bħala reat kriminali distint, iżda wkoll bħala aggravju għal pieni eħrex u bħala raġuni distinta għal azzjoni ċivili.

Huma diversi r-raġunijiet li wasslu għal dan, fosthom għax reati simili kapaċi jipprovokaw reati ta' ritaljazzjoni, jikkawżaw ħsara emozzjonali distinta fil-vittmi, u jinċitaw aġitazzjoni fil-komunità.

Hija ħaġa raġunata li minn fost id-diversi tipi ta' reati kriminali li l-aktar li għandhom iġorru pieni ħorox huma dawk li kapaċi jeqirdu s-sigurtà u l-paċi pubblika. Aktar minn hekk, jingħad li meta l-għeruq ta' l-identità ta' persuna tkun attakkata, il-vittma tiġi degradata severament u mneżża' mill-umanità tagħha, b'possibiltà kbira li jirriżultaw aktar problemi emozzjonali u psikoloġiċi.

Ir-reati ta' mibgħeda kapaċi jagħmlu ħafna aktar ħsara minn hekk, għax mhux biss jikkaġunaw ħsara fiżika u emozzjonali li ma tistax tkun ikkalkulata, iżda wkoll iċarrtu l-fibra vera tas-soċjetà ħielsa. Reati mmotivati mill-mibgħeda ta' għira lejn gruppi partikulari mhux biss jikkaġunaw ħsara individwali fil-vittmi tagħhom iżda wkoll jibgħatu messaġġ qawwi ta' intolleranza u diskriminazzjoni lejn il-membri kollha tal-grupp li lejh tkun tappartjeni l-vittma.

Reati ta' mibgħeda jistgħu u fil-fatt jintimidaw u jħarbtu l-ħajja normali ta' komunitajiet sħaħ u jgħarrqu l-ċiviltà li hija essenzjali għal proċessi demokratikament b'saħħithom. F'soċjetà demokratika, ċittadini ma jistgħux ikunu meħtieġa japprovaw it-twemmin jew il-prattiċi ta' oħrajn, iżda min-naħa l-oħra m'għandhom qatt jikkommettu atti kriminali minħabba fihom.

Minkejja kollox, però, reati ta' mibgħeda huma realtà li naraw u nassistu għaliha tista' tgħid f'kull rokna tal-kontinent Ewropew.

Rapporti riċenti u ta' min joqgħod fuqhom juru li għad hawn ħafna persuni li jsofru vjolenza minħabba li huma suwed, Lhud, żingari jew Musulmani, jew minħabba l-orjentament sesswali jew x-xorta tas-sess tagħhom. Dawn jagħtu eżempji ta' kif individwi ġew fiżikament attakkati fit-triq, kellhom it-twieqi mkissrin jew d-djar tagħhom mogħtijin in-nar. Jagħtu wkoll prova tal-periklu li jeżisti jekk il-preġudzzji kontra oħrajn jitħallew jaqbdu l-għeruq u jinfirxu. Għax sfortunatament, il-pass mid-diskors mimli mibgħeda għat-twettiq ta' reati ta' mibgħeda huwa wieħed faċli ħafna li jsir.

Dan kollu saħansitra wassal lill-Kummissarju tal-Kunsill ta' l-Ewropa għad-Drittijiet Umani, Thomas Hammarber, biex fil-jiem li għaddew iddeskriva r-reati ta' mibgħeda bħala li huma "l-wiċċ ikraħ tar-razziżmu, anti-Semitiżmu, anti-Żingariżmu, Iżlamofobija u l-omofobija", waqt li sostna li l-awtoritajiet governattivi għandhom responsabbiltà kbira li jieħdu azzjoni u jwaqqfu dawn ir-reati serji u tal-mistħija, kif saħqet ukoll il-Qorti Ewropea għad-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem.

Meta wieħed ikun jaf bl-għadd dejjem jikber ta' reati ta' mibgħeda li qegħdin iseħħu fis-56 pajjiż membru ta' l-Organizzazzjoni għas-Sigurtà u l-Koperazzjoni fl-Ewropa (OSCE) jagħraf l-importanza u l-ħtieġa ta' appelli simili. L-inċidenza ta' attakki antisemitiċi f'diversi pajjiżi Ewropej, bħal fl-Amerika ta' Fuq, qatt fl-istorja riċenti ma kienet daqstant għolja. L-istess jista' jingħad għall-attakki razzisti u vjolenti kontra ż-żingari u membri oħrajn ta' minoritajiet etniċi jew reliġjużi. Min-naħa l-oħra, il-vjolenza kontra l-Musulmani hija fattur ġdid u potenti fil-mewġa ġdida li dejjem qiegħda titqawwa b'imġiba razzista u turija ta' mibgħeda kontra l-immigranti u wliedhom.

Bħal fil-każ ta' forom oħrajn ta' reati ta' mibgħeda, il-vjolenza omofobika sfortunatament għadha ftit jew xejn tiġi rrapportata. Minkejja dan, f'pajjiżi fejn persuni lesbjani, gay, bisesswali jew transesswali (LGBT) qegħdin isiru dejjem aktar viżibli, iż-żieda fil-preżenza pubblika tagħhom f'ċerti każi ġabet magħha żieda f'dik li hija retorika omofobika u l-użu tal-vjolenza kontrihom.

L-orjentazzjoni sesswali għadha waħda mir-raġunijiet li qegħdin iwasslu biex ħafna persuni jkunu stigmatizzati u opressi, ħafna drabi bl-appoġġ miftuħ ta' xi wħud fil-poter governattiv, kif ukoll minn xi organizzazzjonijiet politiċi u reliġjużi influwenti. Illum il-ġurnata, din l-inklinazzjoni kontra dawk li jiddistingwu ruħhom bl-orjentament sesswali minoritarju tagħhom, qed tkun promossa b'mod qawwi kemm minn mexxejja politiċi estremisti u oħrajn li suppost m'humiex daqstant estremi, kif ukoll minn mexxejja reliġjużi f'diversi pajjiżi fl-Ewropa kif ukoll fl-Amerika ta' Fuq. Biżżejjed insemmu kif diversi attivitajiet, bħalma huma l-Gay Pride Parades, li ġew organizzati fil-jiem li għaddew f'diversi pajjiżi, speċjalment dawk fil-Lvant ta' l-Ewropa, tħallew jispiċċaw fil-mira tal-vjolenza minn persuni privati minħabba nuqqas ta' protezzjoni adegwata mill-pulizija.

Sfortunatament, minkejja li minħabba n-natura tagħhom ħafna mir-reati ta' mibgħeda ma jkunux irrapportati mill-vittmi li jsofruhom, u minkejja n-nuqqas ta' ħeġġa mill-awtoritajiet konċernati li jinvestigaw sew biex jikxfu l-veru mottiv tar-reati billi jistabilixxu jekk fil-fatt min wettaqhom kienx immotivat b'mibgħeda jew preġudizzju kontra l-vittmi, u minkejja wkoll li ċerti akkużi, mill-istadju tal-preżentata sas-sentenza finali, għandhom ħabta jinbidlu bħal-lejl min-nhar, f'dawn l-aħħar ftit snin f'pajjiżna assistejna għal żieda sostanzjali fl-għadd ta' reati ta' mibgħeda. Din hija l-verità tal-fatti anke jekk għadek issib ħafna, inklużi wkoll persuni fil-poter, li jipprovaw jgħattu x-xemx bl-għarbiel.

Sa ftit snin ilu, il-Liġijiet ta' Malta ma kienu jagħmlu l-ebda riferenza għal reati ta' mibgħeda. Imbagħad, fl-2002, il-Leġislatur bħal donnu ħareġ mill-koma li kien jinsab fiha u daħħal provediment fil-Kodiċi Kriminali li permezz tiegħu, "kull min juża kliem jew imġieba ta' theddid, abbużivi jew insolenti, jew jesebixxi xi materjal miktub jew stampat li jkun ta' theddid, abbużiv jew insolenti, jew xort'oħra jġib ruħu b'dak il-mod, bil-ħsieb li b'hekk iqajjem mibgħeda razzjali jew b'hekk joħloq il-probabbiltà li, meta wieħed iqis iċ-ċirkostanzi kollha, titqajjem mibgħeda razzjali, jeħel, meta jinsab ħati, l-piena ta' priġunerija minn sitt xhur sa tmintax-il xahar".

Iżda bħas-soltu, anke miżura pożittiva bħal din ma konniex kapaċi nagħmluha sew, fis-sens li erġajna ħallejniha nofs sajran. Jista' jkun li l-Leġislatur għamel hekk apposta anke jekk forsi diffiċli wieħed jifhem ir-raġuni l-għala attakka biss il-mibgħeda razzjali. Żgur li kellu xi skop biex fil-liġi daħħal nofs miżura. X'inhu dan l-iskop ma nafux kif ma nafux għaliex qed juri dan it-titubar kollu fil-ġlieda bla limitu kontra l-mibgħeda. Qegħdin ngħidu dan għax nafu li kien hemm min ġibed l-attenzjoni tal-Gvern dwar kif l-affarijiet setgħu saru aħjar u ssuġġerilu wkoll kif nistgħu niġġieldu b'mod aktar effettiv kull tip ta' reati ta' mibgħeda f'pajjiżna.

Bħala eżempju nsemmu l-proposti li l-Fondazzjoni Integra, għaqda mhux governattiva Maltija li taħdem qatigħ b'risq persuni emarġinati f'pajjiżna, kienet ressqet lill-Gvern fir-rigward tal-provedimenti fil-Liġi Maltija fejn jidħlu reati li jkunu mmotivati mill-mibgħeda.

Skond il-Kodiċi Kriminali tagħna, il-"mibgħeda razzjali" tfisser "mibgħeda kontra grupp ta' persuni f'Malta definiti b'referenza għall-kulur, razza, nazzjonalità (inkluża ċ-ċittadinanza) jew oriġini etnika jew nazzjonali". Min-naħa tagħha, l-Fondazzjoni Integra ssuġġeriet li din id-definizzjoni tiġi emendata b'mod li tkun tinkludi wkoll riferenza "għat-twemmin, ix-xorta tas-sess jew l-orjentazzjoni sesswali, l-abiltà mentali jew fiżika".

Il-proposti tal-Fondazzjoni Integra jagħmlu wkoll riferenza għall-provedimenti tal-Kodiċi Kriminali dwar offiżi kontra l-persuna, li jinkludu l-qtil volontarju kif ukoll offiżi gravi jew ħfief.

Is-suġġeriment imressaq kien fis-sens li l-każi fejn il-piena stabbilita għandha tiżdied minn grad sa żewġ gradi għandhom jinkludu dawk ir-reati mmotivati għal kollox jew b'mod parzjali, minn ostilità lejn persuna minħabba r-razza, il-post ta' oriġini, opinjonijiet politiċi, kulur, twemmin, ix-xorta tas-sess jew l-orjentament sesswali, l-abiltà mentali jew fiżika tagħha. B'dan il-mod tiġi indirizzata l-kommissjoni ta' reati kriminali diġa' kkontemplati fil-liġi tagħna iżda li l-motivazzjoni speċifika tagħhom hija l-mibgħeda.

Barra minn hekk, apparti li pproponiet l-introduzzjoni ta' provediment ieħor fil-Kodiċi Kriminali li jkun jipprovdi piena għal kull min jinstab ħati li jkun għamel diskors li bih jista' jinċità l-vjolenza, il-Fondazzjoni Integra ssuġġeriet ukoll emenda għall-Kostituzzjoni fejn din tittratta il-protezzjoni tal-libertà ta' l-espressjoni.

Skond il-Kostituzzjoni ta' Malta, "ħadd, ħlief bil-kunsens tiegħu stess jew bħala dixxiplina tal-ġenituri, ma għandu jiġi mfixkel fit-tgawdija tal-libertà tiegħu ta' espressjoni, magħduda libertà li jkollu fehmiet mingħajr indħil, libertà li jirċievi ideat u tagħrif mingħajr indħil, libertà li jikkomunika ideat u tagħrif mingħajr indħil (kemm jekk il-komunikazzjoni tkun lill-pubbliku nġenerali jew lil xi persuna jew klassi ta' persuni) u libertà dwar il-korrispondenza tiegħu".

Is-suġġeriment kien li mal-lista ta' limitazzjonijiet elenkati fil-Kostituzzjoni għat-tgawdija tad-dritt tal-libertà ta' espressjoni għandha tidħol restrizzjoni fuq diskorsi pubbliċi jew d-distribuzzjoni ta' materjal miktub jew elettroniku jew b'kull mod ieħor ta' komunikazzjoni, li jkun jikkonteni kliem li jinċitaw l-vjolenza, il-krudeltà u mibgħeda bbażati fuq ir-razza, il-post ta' oriġini, opinjonijiet politiċi, kulur, twemmin, xorta tas-sess jew orjentazzjoni sesswali, l-abiltà mentali jew fiżika.

Iżda dawn il-proposti sottomessi mill-Fondazzjoni Integra, bħal dawk imressqin minn għaqdiet oħrajn mhux governattivi, waqgħu f'widnejn torox u bħas-soltu l-Gvern daħħal rasu fir-ramel u għamel li għoġbu jew kif kien jaqbillu. Però issa l-pressjoni fuq il-Gvern biex jiċċaqlaq mhix biss ġejja minn fonti lokali għax l-istess affarijiet, u ħafna aktar, qegħdin jinsistu fuqhom għaqdiet Ewropej li leħinhom u għemilhom kapaċi jasal ħafna aktar.

Għax apparti l-insistenza li saret fil-jiem li għaddew mill-Kummissarju tal-Kunsill ta' l-Ewropa għad-Drittijiet Umani, nistgħu wkoll inżidu dak li fuqu saħqu dan l-aħħar kemm l-Uffiċċju għall-Istituzzjonijiet Demokratiċi u d-Drittijiet Umani (ODIHR) fi ħdan l-Organizzazzjoni għas-Sigurtà u l-Koperazzjoni fl-Ewropa (OSCE) kif ukoll l-għaqda mhux governattiva Human Rights First li tgawdi rispett u reputazzjoni internazzjonali.

Fost oħrajn dawn qegħdin jgħidu li l-provedimenti tal-liġi fir-rigward ta' reati ta' mibgħeda għandhom ikunu nfurzati mill-ewwel bil-għan li dawn iħallu effett akbar ta' deterrent, waqt li jagħmlu insistena li l-proċeduri għandhom ikunu ddokumentati sew u magħmulin pubbliċi.

Fl-istess waqt, ir-rispons ġuridiku fil-konfront ta' reati ta' mibgħeda għandu jkun sever. Barra minn hekk għandhom jittieħdu passi immedjata biex reati ta' mibgħeda, inkluża l-vjolenza kontra persuni minħabba l-orjentament sesswali jew id-diżabilità tagħhom, għandhom ikunu fost l-aggravji li jwasslu għal żieda fil-piena stabbilita.

Jingħad ukoll li fost il-passi konkreti li għandhom jittieħdu bħala prevenzjoni u reazzjoni għal każi ta' reati immotivati mill-mibgħeda, hemm li għandhom jitwaqqfu korpi għal kontra d-diskriminazzjoni b'mandat wiesgħa u li jkollhom l-awtorità li jindirizzaw vjolenza li tkun immotivata mill-mibgħeda, u dan permezz ta' moniteraġġ, rapportar u assistenza lill-vittmi.

Barra minn hekk, il-Gvernijiet għandhom jistabilixxu relazzjonijiet ta' koperazzjoni mal-komunitajiet minoritarji nfushom u lil dawn għandhom iħeġġuhom iressqu proposti ta' miżuri li jistgħu jittieħdu biex jipprevenu inċidenti ta' mibgħeda u f'każ li dawn iseħħu, jieħdu azzjoni immedjata dwarhom. Miżuri bħal dawn jgħinu biex tissaħħaħ il-fiduċja fi ħdan il-komunità u fl-istess waqt tassigura liċ-ċittadini li rapporti li jsiru dwar reati ta' mibgħeda jkunu segwiti bl-aktar serjetà.

Issir ukoll insistenza li għandu jitjieb l-aċċess tal-vittmi u gruppi ta' difiża għall-proċeduri li jkunu qegħdin isiru fuq l-ilmenti li jitressqu lill-awtoritajiet governattivi. Jintqal li f'dan ir-rigward għandu jsir sforz akbar billi, aktar iva milli le, għadd kbir ta' każi ta' vjolenza mmotivata mill-mibgħeda ma jkunux irrapportati minħabba l-biża u relutanza fost il-vittmi infushom.

Fuq kollox, u apparti dawn il-miżuri konkreti, jinħtieġ li tkun investita enerġija akbar f'dik li hija prevenzjoni – fosthom permezz ta' kampanji li jinfurmaw u jedukaw bil-għan li tkun indirizzata l-injoranza u l-biża' li ħafna drabi tinstab wara x-xenofobija u l-intolleranza. Hawnhekk, skond il-Qorti Ewropea tal-Ġustizzja, l-għalliema għandhom responsabbiltà kbira biex jippromwovu soċjetà ta' tolleranza. Hekk ukoll wieħed ma jridx jinsa' lill-midja li wkoll għandha responsabbiltà kbira li ma tispiċċax tintuża bħala mezz għax-xandir u t-tixrid ta' diskorsi u kitbiet ta' mibgħeda, kif ukoll għall-promozzjoni tal-vjolenza.

"Madankollu, hemm xi politiċi li jimminaw sforzi bħal dawn billi jużaw l-pjattaforma tagħhom biex ixerrdu u jisfruttaw il-preġudizzji, aktar milli jqumu favur id-drittijiet umani u r-rispett ta' dawk li huma differenti. B'hekk, huma 'jiġġitimizzaw' l-intolleranza li min-naħa tagħha tistimula diskorsi ta' mibgħeda u reati ta' mibgħeda. Dawn għandhom jinżammu responsabbli", jisħaq Thomas Hammarberg, Kummissarju tal-Kunsill ta' l-Ewropa għad-Drittijiet Umani.

Naħsbu li kull kelma oħra li nżidu ma' din id-dikjarazzjoni tkun tssew żejda…..