http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081030/world-news/vatican-urges-psychological-tests-on-future-priests
Thursday, 30th October 2008
Candidates for the Catholic priesthood should undergo psychological tests to screen out heterosexuals unable to control their sexual urges and those with strong homosexual tendencies, the Vatican said today.
A new document was the second in three years to deal with the effects of a sexual abuse scandal that rocked the Church six years ago.
It said the early detection of "sometimes pathological" psychological defects of men before they become priests would help avoid tragic experiences.
Seminary rectors and other officials should use outside experts if they cannot handle the screening themselves, it said.
"The Church...has a duty of discerning a vocation and the suitability of candidates for the priestly ministry," said the document from the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education.
"The priestly ministry...requires certain abilities as well as moral and theological virtures, which are supported by a human and psychic -- and particularly affective -- equilibrium, so as to allow the subject to be adequately predisposed for giving of himself in the celibate life," it said.
Vatican officials told a news conference the tests would not be obligatory but decided on a case-by-case basis when seminary rectors wanted to be sure a man was qualfied for the priesthood.
The testing by a psychologist or psychotherapist should aim to detect "grave immaturity" and imbalances in the candidates' personality.
"Such areas of immaturity would include strong affective dependencies; notable lack of freedom in relations; excessive rigidity of character; lack of loyalty; uncertain sexual identity; deep-seated homosexual tendencies, etc. If this should be the case, the path of formation will have to be interrupted," it said.
A sexual abuse scandal that was first uncovered in the United States in 2002 and then spread throughout the world involved mostly abuse of teenage boys by priests.
The document said it was "not enough to be sure that (a candidate) is capable of abstaining from sexual activity" but also to "evaluate his sexual orientation".
Gay groups have accused the Church of using homosexuals as scapegoats for the abuse scandals.
The document said men with strong homosexual tendencies should not be admitted to the priesthood but it also made references to control of heterosexual urges.
Men should be barred from entering the priesthood if psychological testing makes it "evident that the candidate has difficulty living chastity in celibacy: that is, if celibacy, for him is lived as a burden so heavy that it compromises his affective and relational equilibrium".
Rectors could not force candidates to undergo psychological testing, but the main purpose of the document seemed to be to encourage its use to avoid future scandals.
Friday, 31 October 2008
Thursday, 30 October 2008
It-Torca: Jiena omosesswali u Alla huwa hajtu
26 ta´ Ottubru, 2008
Fr. Colin iwieġeb:
Alla Huwa Mħabba u għax Huwa Mħabba jaqsam mal-bniedem il-ħajja tiegħu fil-milja kollha tagħha. Hija r-rieda t’Alla li l-bnedmin jgħixu ħajjithom b’mod sħiħ skont iċ-ċirkostanzi u r-realtajiet li jkunu fihom. Mhux kulħadd jitwieled l-istess, jew bl-istess kundizzjonijiet ta’ ħajja. Lanqas nitwieldu bl-istess DNA li hija l-ktieb li fih mitub id-‘destin’ tagħna.
Alla ħalaq dak kollu li hu ħolqien, inkluż id-DNA individwali ta’ kull persuna. Kull persuna ġiet maħluqa minnu UNIKA. Ma kienx hawn, m’hawnx u ma jkunx hawn persuna oħra bħalek! Għax int uniku, xbieha t’Alla, għandek storja unika, passat, preżent u futur uniku. Alla ħalaq il-liġijiet tan-natura u ħalla l-bniedem ħieles li jagħmel l-għażliet tiegħu fi ħdan dawn il-liġijiet tan-natura. U f’dan il-kuntest uman insibu li n-natura toħloq persentaġġi ta’ nies b’orjentamenti sesswali differenti. F’kull popolazzjoni, matul is-sekli kollha, kullimkien, hemm għadd ta’ nies li huma eterosesswali, omosesswali, bisesswali eċċ. Mhumiex l-orjentamenti sesswali li nitwieldu bihom u li ħadd minna ma kien ikkonsultat minn ħadd jekk irriduhomx jew le, li jagħmlu ħajjitna “tajba” jew “ħażina”. Huma l-għażliet liberi li nagħmlu f’dawn l-orjentamenti – li ħafna drabi ma nistgħu nagħmlu xejn biex inbiddluhom – li juru xi tfisser konkretament l-imħabba lejH fl-oħrajn.
Kull bniedem huwa bniedem sesswali.
Kif ngħixu l-għażliet ta’ ħajjitna fl-espressjoni sesswali tagħna hija l-mera ta’ kemm qiegħdin nippruvaw ngħixu ħajjitna fil-milja kollha tagħha. M’hemm ebda aspett ta’ ħajjitna li nistgħu ninjorawh għax kollox, inkluż is-sesswalita’ tagħna, huwa rigal tal-imħabba Tiegħu.
Is-sesswalita’ tagħna, irrispettivament mill-orjentament li nitwieldu bih, hija fattur ieħor li rrid.u nitgħallmu nsibu l-bilanċ fiha. Mhu faċli għal ħadd. Imma ħadd mhu se jitlef ruħu għax is-sesswalita tiegħu hija attiva iktar jew inqas minn ħaddieħor. Kulħadd huwa responsabbli tiegħu nnifsu daqskemm huwa ħieles f’dak li jagħmel jew ma jagħmilx.
Kattoliku veru huwa kattoliku prattikanti. Kull imgħammed huwa msejjaħ biex jipprattika dak li jemmen. It-twemmin f’Alla huwa t-twemmin fil-bniedem.
Il-ħidma biex intejbu d-dinja madwarna hija l-prova li t-twemmin tagħna f’Alla mhuwiex xi ħaġa intelletwali ‘l bogħod mill-ħajja ta’ kuljum, imma l-mod konkret kif inħobbu lill-proxxmu tagħna li huwa l-espressjoni umana tal-Alla li ngħidu li nemmnu fih. ‘L Alla li nemmen fiH iħobb il-bniedem kif inhu, irrispettivament jekk hux omosesswali jew le!
Alla li nemmen fiH jgħid lill-bniedem:
“Jiena sejjaħtlek b’ismek, inti tiegħi… Inti prezzjuż f’għajnejja u jiena nonorak” (Isaija 43: 1, 4)
“Jiena d-dielja, intom il-friegħi…” (Ġw 15: 5)
“Ara, għandi ismek minqux fuq il-pala ta’ idejja!” (Is 49, 16)
L-ikbar skoperta li għamilt f’ħajti mhix tant li jiena nħobb lil Alla, imma li Alla jħobbni qabel ma jiena stess twelidt!!
Fr. Colin Apap
frcolin@global.net.mt
Għażiż Fr. Colin – Torca 26.10.08
Jiena omosesswali u Alla huwa l-ħajja tiegħi. Jiena ġuvni omosesswali ta’ 28 sena u ilni f’relazzjoni għal dawn l-aħħar għaxar snin u ninsab kuntent ħafna. Jien kattoliku imma m’iniex prattikanti. Nemmen li kull ħaġa li tiġri f’ħajti jkun bagħatihieli Alla.
Kemm hemm żmien meta kont inħossni ‘l bogħod ħafna minn Alla, minħabba ċirkustanzi li naħseb kull wieħed u waħda minna ngħaddu minnhom. Kien hemm żmien li kont f’dipressjoni, imma sibt lil Kristu, li b’attenzjoni sema’ l-problemi li kont għaddej minnhom dak iż-żmien, u bis-saħħa tal-fiduċja li nibtet f’Alla rnexxieli negħleb il-problemi li kelli. Illum nitkellem kuljum ma’ Alla qisni qed nitkellem mal-akbar ħabib tiegħi u nħoss li jkun jismgħani kull ħin u kull moment.
Ma nistax nimmaġina kif jista’ jkollok paċi f’qalbek u paċi ma’ ta madwarek meta ma taħsibx ftit f’Alla li tant iħobbok.
Nixtieq ngħid lil kull ġuvni li bħali huwa omosesswali u jew ikun imwarrab mill-Knisja f’Malta jew sħabu fuq ix-xogħol jagħtuh 'hard time'.
Huwa Alla li tak il-ħajja, Alla li tak is-saħħa biex tkun tista’ taħdem biex tgħix ħajja komda. Alla li tak lill-familja tiegħek biex jisimgħuk u biex jipproteġuk minn kull ostaklu li jista’ jkollok f’ħajtek. Alla li tak il-moħħ biex tagħżel bejn it-tajjeb u l-ħażin u titgħallem tagħraf x’inhu tajjeb għalik. Alla li tak il-qalb biex tagħraf tħobb lil ta’ madwarek. Alla li tak is-sesswalita tiegħek biex tkun tista’ tesprimi imħabbtek lejn dik il-persuna li għad trid tħobb. Huwa Alla li ġabna omosesswali imma xorta nistgħu nħobbu lil xulxin u ħadd ma jista’ jiġġudikana għax magħmulin minnu b’reqqa kbira bħal kull speċi oħra li ħalaq huwa stess. Huwa Alla li tak il-ħajja tant sabiħa u prezzjuża u għalhekk għandek tgħixha bl-aħjar mod possibli. Imma huwa x-xitan li tefgħek f’dan il-labirint, li issa qed tħossok ma tistax toħroġ minnu u għamlek ilsir tiegħu, u dan kollu għax Alla ipprovdielek il-liberta’.
Imma tibżax għax Alla qed jistenniek biex tersaq lejh u lejn l-imħabba tiegħu, biex jurik it-triq u joħorġok minn dak il-labirint li dħalt fih. Huwa Alla li meta titbiegħed minnu u terġa’ tirrikorri għalih, issibu b’idejh it-tnejn miftuħin biex jerġa jilqgħek fi ħdanu. Għalhekk tibżax tersaq lejn Alla għax huwa qatt mhu se jwarrbek, ikunu x’ikunu l-iżbalji u n-nuqqasijiet li inti tkun wettaqt. Dak il-ġuvni qal: ‘irrid inkompli t-tgawdija li d-dinja toffrilek’. U jien ngħidlu t-tgawdija mhux id-dinja toffrihielek, imma Alla, joffrilek dik it-tgawdija li int tant mixtieq minnha.
Iltqajt ma Kristu
_______________________________________________
Jiena omosesswali u Alla huwa l-ħajja tiegħi. Jiena ġuvni omosesswali ta’ 28 sena u ilni f’relazzjoni għal dawn l-aħħar għaxar snin u ninsab kuntent ħafna. Jien kattoliku imma m’iniex prattikanti. Nemmen li kull ħaġa li tiġri f’ħajti jkun bagħatihieli Alla.
Kemm hemm żmien meta kont inħossni ‘l bogħod ħafna minn Alla, minħabba ċirkustanzi li naħseb kull wieħed u waħda minna ngħaddu minnhom. Kien hemm żmien li kont f’dipressjoni, imma sibt lil Kristu, li b’attenzjoni sema’ l-problemi li kont għaddej minnhom dak iż-żmien, u bis-saħħa tal-fiduċja li nibtet f’Alla rnexxieli negħleb il-problemi li kelli. Illum nitkellem kuljum ma’ Alla qisni qed nitkellem mal-akbar ħabib tiegħi u nħoss li jkun jismgħani kull ħin u kull moment.
Ma nistax nimmaġina kif jista’ jkollok paċi f’qalbek u paċi ma’ ta madwarek meta ma taħsibx ftit f’Alla li tant iħobbok.
Nixtieq ngħid lil kull ġuvni li bħali huwa omosesswali u jew ikun imwarrab mill-Knisja f’Malta jew sħabu fuq ix-xogħol jagħtuh 'hard time'.
Huwa Alla li tak il-ħajja, Alla li tak is-saħħa biex tkun tista’ taħdem biex tgħix ħajja komda. Alla li tak lill-familja tiegħek biex jisimgħuk u biex jipproteġuk minn kull ostaklu li jista’ jkollok f’ħajtek. Alla li tak il-moħħ biex tagħżel bejn it-tajjeb u l-ħażin u titgħallem tagħraf x’inhu tajjeb għalik. Alla li tak il-qalb biex tagħraf tħobb lil ta’ madwarek. Alla li tak is-sesswalita tiegħek biex tkun tista’ tesprimi imħabbtek lejn dik il-persuna li għad trid tħobb. Huwa Alla li ġabna omosesswali imma xorta nistgħu nħobbu lil xulxin u ħadd ma jista’ jiġġudikana għax magħmulin minnu b’reqqa kbira bħal kull speċi oħra li ħalaq huwa stess. Huwa Alla li tak il-ħajja tant sabiħa u prezzjuża u għalhekk għandek tgħixha bl-aħjar mod possibli. Imma huwa x-xitan li tefgħek f’dan il-labirint, li issa qed tħossok ma tistax toħroġ minnu u għamlek ilsir tiegħu, u dan kollu għax Alla ipprovdielek il-liberta’.
Imma tibżax għax Alla qed jistenniek biex tersaq lejh u lejn l-imħabba tiegħu, biex jurik it-triq u joħorġok minn dak il-labirint li dħalt fih. Huwa Alla li meta titbiegħed minnu u terġa’ tirrikorri għalih, issibu b’idejh it-tnejn miftuħin biex jerġa jilqgħek fi ħdanu. Għalhekk tibżax tersaq lejn Alla għax huwa qatt mhu se jwarrbek, ikunu x’ikunu l-iżbalji u n-nuqqasijiet li inti tkun wettaqt. Dak il-ġuvni qal: ‘irrid inkompli t-tgawdija li d-dinja toffrilek’. U jien ngħidlu t-tgawdija mhux id-dinja toffrihielek, imma Alla, joffrilek dik it-tgawdija li int tant mixtieq minnha.
Iltqajt ma Kristu
__________________________
Fr. Colin iwieġeb:
Alla Huwa Mħabba u għax Huwa Mħabba jaqsam mal-bniedem il-ħajja tiegħu fil-milja kollha tagħha. Hija r-rieda t’Alla li l-bnedmin jgħixu ħajjithom b’mod sħiħ skont iċ-ċirkostanzi u r-realtajiet li jkunu fihom. Mhux kulħadd jitwieled l-istess, jew bl-istess kundizzjonijiet ta’ ħajja. Lanqas nitwieldu bl-istess DNA li hija l-ktieb li fih mitub id-‘destin’ tagħna.
Alla ħalaq dak kollu li hu ħolqien, inkluż id-DNA individwali ta’ kull persuna. Kull persuna ġiet maħluqa minnu UNIKA. Ma kienx hawn, m’hawnx u ma jkunx hawn persuna oħra bħalek! Għax int uniku, xbieha t’Alla, għandek storja unika, passat, preżent u futur uniku. Alla ħalaq il-liġijiet tan-natura u ħalla l-bniedem ħieles li jagħmel l-għażliet tiegħu fi ħdan dawn il-liġijiet tan-natura. U f’dan il-kuntest uman insibu li n-natura toħloq persentaġġi ta’ nies b’orjentamenti sesswali differenti. F’kull popolazzjoni, matul is-sekli kollha, kullimkien, hemm għadd ta’ nies li huma eterosesswali, omosesswali, bisesswali eċċ. Mhumiex l-orjentamenti sesswali li nitwieldu bihom u li ħadd minna ma kien ikkonsultat minn ħadd jekk irriduhomx jew le, li jagħmlu ħajjitna “tajba” jew “ħażina”. Huma l-għażliet liberi li nagħmlu f’dawn l-orjentamenti – li ħafna drabi ma nistgħu nagħmlu xejn biex inbiddluhom – li juru xi tfisser konkretament l-imħabba lejH fl-oħrajn.
Kull bniedem huwa bniedem sesswali.
Kif ngħixu l-għażliet ta’ ħajjitna fl-espressjoni sesswali tagħna hija l-mera ta’ kemm qiegħdin nippruvaw ngħixu ħajjitna fil-milja kollha tagħha. M’hemm ebda aspett ta’ ħajjitna li nistgħu ninjorawh għax kollox, inkluż is-sesswalita’ tagħna, huwa rigal tal-imħabba Tiegħu.
Is-sesswalita’ tagħna, irrispettivament mill-orjentament li nitwieldu bih, hija fattur ieħor li rrid.u nitgħallmu nsibu l-bilanċ fiha. Mhu faċli għal ħadd. Imma ħadd mhu se jitlef ruħu għax is-sesswalita tiegħu hija attiva iktar jew inqas minn ħaddieħor. Kulħadd huwa responsabbli tiegħu nnifsu daqskemm huwa ħieles f’dak li jagħmel jew ma jagħmilx.
Kattoliku veru huwa kattoliku prattikanti. Kull imgħammed huwa msejjaħ biex jipprattika dak li jemmen. It-twemmin f’Alla huwa t-twemmin fil-bniedem.
Il-ħidma biex intejbu d-dinja madwarna hija l-prova li t-twemmin tagħna f’Alla mhuwiex xi ħaġa intelletwali ‘l bogħod mill-ħajja ta’ kuljum, imma l-mod konkret kif inħobbu lill-proxxmu tagħna li huwa l-espressjoni umana tal-Alla li ngħidu li nemmnu fih. ‘L Alla li nemmen fiH iħobb il-bniedem kif inhu, irrispettivament jekk hux omosesswali jew le!
Alla li nemmen fiH jgħid lill-bniedem:
“Jiena sejjaħtlek b’ismek, inti tiegħi… Inti prezzjuż f’għajnejja u jiena nonorak” (Isaija 43: 1, 4)
“Jiena d-dielja, intom il-friegħi…” (Ġw 15: 5)
“Ara, għandi ismek minqux fuq il-pala ta’ idejja!” (Is 49, 16)
L-ikbar skoperta li għamilt f’ħajti mhix tant li jiena nħobb lil Alla, imma li Alla jħobbni qabel ma jiena stess twelidt!!
Fr. Colin Apap
frcolin@global.net.mt
Illum: Joanne saret mara. Għandha dritt tiżżewweġ?
http://www.illum.com.mt/2008/10/26/toniupeppi.html
26 ta’ Ottubru 2008 Nr 104 minn Toni u Peppi
TONI
Skont Kanun 1055 tal-Kodiċi Kanoniku ż-żwieg hu kuntratt bejn raġel u mara li jwaqqfu bejniethom soċjetà minn ħajjithom kollha u li fih innifsu hu fin-natura tiegħu maħsub li jwassal lill-miżżewġin għall-ħajja konjugali b’saħħitha u għall-prokreazzjoni u t-trobbija tat-tfal.
Nammettu li hi definizzjoni wisq Kristjana u li fiż-żminijiet tal-lum, fost il-ħafna forom ta’ familji li tippermetti s-soċjetà post moderna, f’moħħ minoranzi li dejjem qed jikbru ma tirriflettix ir-realtà soċjali.
Iżda tajjeb jew ħażin din hi d-definizzjoni ta’ żwieġ li jaddottaw il-Qrati tagħna. Fl-Att taż-Żwieġ tal-1975 kif emendat fl-1995, m’għandniex definizzjoni ta’ x’inhu żwieġ ċivili. Allura fin-nuqqas l-Imħallfin tagħna jaqgħu fuq parti mid-definizzjoni tal-Liġi Kanonika.
X’inhu żwieġ fil-Liġi Ċivili hu biss implikat, bħal pereżempju li jista’ jinħall f’każ ta’ impotenza ta’ xi ħadd mill-partijiet għaż-żwieġ. L-implikazzjoni hi li żwieġ irid ikun bejn mara u raġel għax l-impotenza li tirreferi għaliha l-Liġi hi dik anatomika li tiġġenera t-tfal.
Bħal meta l-Liġi tirreferi għal żwieġ putattiv fir-rigward tat-tfal f’każ li żwieġ jiġi annullat. Għalhekk għandna din l-anomalija li filwaqt li l-Liġi ma titkellimx b’mod ċar x’tifhem bi żwieġ fl-istess ħin hu ċar li dak li nemmnu fih hu żwieġ Kristjan.
Din l-introduzzjoni pedantika kemm hi pedantika kienet meħtieġa biex nifhmu x’tibdiliet diġà ġabet u kemm se ġġib aktar Joanne Cassar.
F’soċjetà fejn id-drittijiet fundamentali tal-bniedem qed isiru aktar raffinati u spjegati, u fejn ix-xjenza ta’ kuljum qed tiftaħ bibien b’argumenti legali-etiċi li qatt ma ltqajna magħhom qabel, il-każ ta’ Joanne Cassar hu wieħed li jista’ jibdel soċjetà żgħira u magħluqa bħal tagħna mil-lejl għan-nhar.
Il-Qrati m’għadhomx f’bozza tal-fenek. Illum id-deċiżjonijiet tagħhom jistgħu jiġu eżaminati u mibdula minn tribunali li jidher li huma ħafna aktar liberali minn dawk tagħna. Għalija, f’Malta diġà saret froġa legali.
Meta fl-2006 Joanne Cassar ingħatat id-dritt li kemm fiċ-ċertifikat tat-twelid tagħha u f’dokumenti oħra jitniżżel li hi ta’ sess femminili b’konsegwenza tat-tibdil fis-sess tagħha wara operazzjoni, l-istorja messha waqfet hemm.
Jekk l-Istat kien lest li jirrikonoxxi li kienet mara f’kull dokument uffiċjali ma setax wara jċaħħadha mid-dritt li tiżżewweġ.
Kellu raġun l-Imħallef Gino Camilleri meta ordna lir-Reġistratur taż-Żwiġijiet joħroġ it-tnidijiet biex Joanne Cassar tkun tista’ tiżżewweġ. Ma jistax l-Istat jagħtik rikonoxximent ta’ mara u wara jċaħħdek mid-dritt li kull mara ħafna drabi tant tistenna b’ħerqa: iż-żwieġ.
Hemm prinċipju legali importanti li japplika kemm għaċ-ċittadini u anki għall-Istat, li ġaladarba tkun għażilt triq ma tistax wara tibdilha għax ma jaqbillekx bi preġudizzju għad-drittijiet ta’ ħaddieħor. Fi ftit kliem ma tistax iċċaqlaq il-lasti biex tiskorja bilfors. Fil-fehma tiegħi meta r-Reġistratur taż-Żwieġ rebaħ l-appell, li Joanne Cassar ma kelliex id-dritt li tiżżewweġ, iċċaqilqu l-lasti.
Hu veru wkoll li skont l-Att taż-Żwieġ tal-1975 hu implikat li waħda mill-karatteristiċi ta’ żwieġ ċivili hi dik li l-partijiet ikunu f’sitwazzjoni li jġibu t-tfal fid-dinja. Dan joħroġ minn dak li semmejt fejn il-Liġi titkellem dwar impotenza ta’ xi parti u r-referenza li ssir għat-tfal fi bnadi oħra tal-istess Liġi. Minbarra dan hemm diversi sentenzi ta’ annullament fejn żwiġijiet ġew annullati mhux wisq għax xi parti għaż-żwieġ kienet impotenti iżda għaliex minkejja li seta’ jkun hemm tfal xi parti tkun daħlet għaż-żwieġ bil-patt li ma jkunx hemm tfal.
Għalhekk jista’ jiġi argumentat li jekk Joanne Cassar saret mara fiżikament u forsi anki tħossha psikoloġikament mara, minn ġewwa l-organi tagħha għadhom ta’ raġel u tfal ma jista’ jkollha qatt.
Iżda fil-fehma tiegħi dan l-argument m’għandux ikun kontra li Joanne tingħata d-dritt li tiżżewweġ.
L-argument għandu jkun li hemm bżonn tibdiliet radikali fil-Liġi taż-Żwieg tagħna b’mod li tkun tirrifletti t-tibdil mgħaġġel li qed iseħħ f’soċjetà moderna. Il-Liġi hi hemm biex taqdi lill-bniedem u mhux bil-kuntrarju.
Hu veru li aħna lsiera tal-Liġi biex inkunu aktar ħielsa iżda l-Liġi mhix hemm biex minnha tagħmel ilsiera ta’ istituzzjonijiet li għamlu żmienhom.
Minbarra dan aħna ma nistgħux, u naħseb lanqas se nitħallew ngħixu barra mir-realtà l-ġdida li kultant qed insibuna diffiċli naddattaw għaliha: dik Ewropea.
Tajjeb jew ħażin, fuq il-kontinent hemm moviment qawwi favur drittijiet fundamentali tal-bniedem aktar raffinati u sofistikati minn kif konna nafuhom sa ftit ilu. Fuq il-kontinent u anki l-filosofija ta’ ħafna fl-Unjoni Ewropea, qed jinfatmu mid-definizzjonijiet marbuta ma’ kriterji reliġjużi, inkluża dik Kristjana.
Dan hu rifless anki fid-deċiżjonijiet tal-Qorti Ewropea għall-Ħarsien tad-Drittijiet Fundamentali tal-Bniedem.
Joanne Cassar determinata li tibqa’ tiġġieled għad-dritt tagħha li tiżżewweġ. Diġà għamlitha ċara li jekk titlef il-kawża Kostituzzjonali għandha l-ħsieb li tibqa’ tiela’ sa Strasburgu.
Miniex konvint li l-Qorti Kostituzzjonali f’Malta mhux se taħsibha bħall-Imħallef Gino Camilleri. Iżda jekk il-każ jerġa’ jintilef f’Malta jien żgur li l-Qorti fi Strasburgu se tapplika l-istess prinċipju ta’ Christine Goodwin.
Christine Goodwin, bħal Joanne Cassar, għamlet operazzjoni fejn biddlet is-sess tagħha. Christine, bħal Joanne, sabet partner u riedet tiżżewweġ. L-awtoritajiet Ingliżi ċaħħduha minn dan id-dritt. Christine marret quddiem il-Qorti Ewropea fi Strasburgu u ngħatat raġun.
Dik il-Qorti qalet li fi żminijiet fejn fis-soċjetà qed jinbtu forom ġodda ta’ familji u fejn l-istess Christine diġà kienet kisbet ir-rikonoxximent ċivili li hi ta’ sess femminil, ikun bi ksur tad-dritt tagħha taħt Artiklu 12 tal-Konvenzjoni Ewropea li ma titħallhiex tiżżewweġ u tifforma familja.
Joanne wkoll għandha dan id-dritt u jekk ma jkollhiex suċċess f’pajjiżna ma tistax tfalli fuq il-kontinent.
Sentenza bħal din se jkollha konsegwenzi soċjali aktar profondi f’pajjiżna. Jekk transesswali se tikseb id-dritt li tiżżewweġ, allura kemm aktar għandu jkollhom id-dritt dawk li huma eterosesswali li jerġgħu jiżżewġu u jiffurmaw familja?
Kemm aktar qed jinkiser id-dritt ta’ dawk li għalkemm eterosesswali u għandhom relazzjoni barra ż-żwieġ, li l-pożizzjoni tagħhom tiġi regolarizzata taħt il-Liġi?
Jekk Joanne Cassar tirbaħ il-kawża tagħha hemm kategoriji oħra ta’ nies li sal-lum għexu fil-kantina tas-soċjetà li se jitħajru jieħdu d-drittijiet tagħhom.
idħol: toniabela.blogspot.com
PEPPI
Kważi nasal biex ngħid li hu skandlu kif xi ħadd jistaqsi jekk Joanne, li hi persuna li għamlet l-operazzjoni biex ma tibqax tbati f’ġisem li mhux tagħha, għandhiex dritt tiżżewweġ.
Skandlu għax Joanne llum hi tfajla, tgħix ta’ tfajla, il-karta tal-identità tagħha hi ta’ tfajla u allura assolutament ma nifhimx għala hawn min qed jagħmel minn kollox biex iċaħħad lil Joanne milli tiżżewweġ. Kieku tafu kif insir żibel meta nintebaħ li hawn uħud li għandhom il-hobby morbuż li jridu jindaħlu f’dak kollu li nagħmlu u kieku jistgħu jikontrollawna anki fil-kamra tas-sodda fl-iktar mumenti intimi ta’ ħajjitna.
Xi dwejjaq ta’ pajjiż! Rieqed quddiem inġustizzja bħal din li fottiet il-ħajja ta’ din il-koppja li kellha kollox lest biex tiżżewweġ.
Jekk qed taħseb li qed nagħmilha bi kbira wisq nixtieqek timmaġina li int wasalt biex tiżżewweġ. Għandek id-data, ħriġt l-inviti, ommok, missierek, il-kunjati kuntenti bik u bil-partner tiegħek. Isimkom jitla’ fuq in-notice board nazzjonali li int se tiżżewweġ biex jekk xi ħadd ikollu xi oġġezzjoni jitkellem. Immaġina ssib lil xi ħadd li jmur jipprotesta għax jgħid li int m’intiex mara imma raġel anki jekk int tħossok li kont twelidt f’ġisem mhux tiegħek u għaddejt minn ħafna tbatija u sagrifiċċji biex ġismek issa sar komdu għalik.
Mhux sirt mara imma minn dejjem kont mara ħlief li kellek tagħmel bidliet f’ġismek biex issir konformi miegħek innifsek, kif twelidt. Immaġina li jkollok terġa’ twaqqqaf kollox, iċċempel lil mistednin u tgħidilhom; “Isma mhux se niżżewweġ għax l-Istat li ngħixu fih lili ma jirrikonoxxinix bħala mara.”
Id-deċiżjoni li Joanne ma titħallhiex tiżżewweġ kienet kattiva u turi l-insensittività ta’ dan in-nazzjon ipokrita li jrid jiddetta l-valuri li m’għandux fuq dawk li jemmnu fiż-żwieġ.
Nammira lil Joanne li mhux se ċċedi. Qed terġa’ tagħmel kawża u m’għandix dubju li tibqa’ għaddejja sal-ogħla istituzzjonijiet fl-Ewropa.
Joanne hi mara ta’ prinċipju. Kulma xtaqet kienet li tgħix ħajja mal-persuna li tħobb għal dejjem fi żwieġ. Joanne tista’ tagħmel dan mingħajr ma tiżżewweġ iżda Joanne trid titkellem f’isem dawk kollha li qed ikunu mċaħħda mid-dritt tagħhom li jiżżewġu.
Joanne mhux biss qed tkun imċaħħda mid-dritt li tiżżewweġ lill-ġuvni li tħobb iżda qed tkun imċaħħda wkoll milli tiżżewweġ. Jekk l-Istat ma jirrikonoxxix li hi mara għall-fini taż-żwieġ allura jekk mhux mara hi raġel. Allura min qed jagħmel din il-ġinnastika kollha biex ma jħallix lil Joanne tiżżewweġ ikun lest li jħalliha tiżżewweġ mara?
Għax jekk l-Istat iqis lil Joanne bħala raġel allura Joanne tista’ tiżżewweġ mara.
Il-probabbiltà hi li min iqażżeż lil kulħadd billi jindaħal fil-ħajja tan-nies joġġezzjona wkoll li Joanne tiżżewweġ mara. Ovvja, mhux se jaċċettaw li jista’ jkun hemm żwieġ bejn żewġ nisa jew żewġ irġiel. Ma tarax!
Allura lil Joanne qed inċaħħdulha d-dritt sagrosant li tiżżewweġ kemm lir-raġel li tħobb kif għandha d-dritt u kemm lil mara oħra jekk inqisuha raġel li qatt ma kienet.
F’dan il-pajjiż li għadu jiddiskuti jekk hemmx bżonn diskussjoni dwar id-divorzju, li għandu Isqof li jgħid li anki d-diskussjoni dwar id-divorzju hi ħażina, ma tista’ tieħu xejn bi kbir. Għalxejn toqgħod tinħaraq.
Fejn f’pajjiżi oħra qed jiddiskutu, u ħafna minnhom iddeċidew, li anki żewġ irġiel u żewġ nisa jistgħu jiżżewġu flimkien, hawn Malta għadna qed inċaħħdu mara li tiżżewweġ ir-raġel li tħobb.
Ħasra li mentalment pajjiżna għadu qisu se japplika biex jidħol fl-Unjoni Ewropea. L-aqwa li ma nitilfux il-valuri. X’valuri?
Li naduraw l-istatwi? Li nittrattaw lill-mara qisha l-kċina tad-dar? Li lesti nagħmlu kollox biex naqilgħu lira għall-familja? Li lesti niddefendu lil min jispara fuq kull ħlejqa li ttir? Li fil-fond ta’ qalbna nixtiequ li l-Gvern ikollu l-bajd li jħalli lill-klandestini jegħrqu biex ma jmorrux jitħalltu magħna? Li nċaħħdu persuna milli tiżżewweġ lis-sieħeb li tħobb?
Mhux li kien nitilfu l-valuri jaħasra…
26 ta’ Ottubru 2008 Nr 104 minn Toni u Peppi
TONI
Skont Kanun 1055 tal-Kodiċi Kanoniku ż-żwieg hu kuntratt bejn raġel u mara li jwaqqfu bejniethom soċjetà minn ħajjithom kollha u li fih innifsu hu fin-natura tiegħu maħsub li jwassal lill-miżżewġin għall-ħajja konjugali b’saħħitha u għall-prokreazzjoni u t-trobbija tat-tfal.
Nammettu li hi definizzjoni wisq Kristjana u li fiż-żminijiet tal-lum, fost il-ħafna forom ta’ familji li tippermetti s-soċjetà post moderna, f’moħħ minoranzi li dejjem qed jikbru ma tirriflettix ir-realtà soċjali.
Iżda tajjeb jew ħażin din hi d-definizzjoni ta’ żwieġ li jaddottaw il-Qrati tagħna. Fl-Att taż-Żwieġ tal-1975 kif emendat fl-1995, m’għandniex definizzjoni ta’ x’inhu żwieġ ċivili. Allura fin-nuqqas l-Imħallfin tagħna jaqgħu fuq parti mid-definizzjoni tal-Liġi Kanonika.
X’inhu żwieġ fil-Liġi Ċivili hu biss implikat, bħal pereżempju li jista’ jinħall f’każ ta’ impotenza ta’ xi ħadd mill-partijiet għaż-żwieġ. L-implikazzjoni hi li żwieġ irid ikun bejn mara u raġel għax l-impotenza li tirreferi għaliha l-Liġi hi dik anatomika li tiġġenera t-tfal.
Bħal meta l-Liġi tirreferi għal żwieġ putattiv fir-rigward tat-tfal f’każ li żwieġ jiġi annullat. Għalhekk għandna din l-anomalija li filwaqt li l-Liġi ma titkellimx b’mod ċar x’tifhem bi żwieġ fl-istess ħin hu ċar li dak li nemmnu fih hu żwieġ Kristjan.
Din l-introduzzjoni pedantika kemm hi pedantika kienet meħtieġa biex nifhmu x’tibdiliet diġà ġabet u kemm se ġġib aktar Joanne Cassar.
F’soċjetà fejn id-drittijiet fundamentali tal-bniedem qed isiru aktar raffinati u spjegati, u fejn ix-xjenza ta’ kuljum qed tiftaħ bibien b’argumenti legali-etiċi li qatt ma ltqajna magħhom qabel, il-każ ta’ Joanne Cassar hu wieħed li jista’ jibdel soċjetà żgħira u magħluqa bħal tagħna mil-lejl għan-nhar.
Il-Qrati m’għadhomx f’bozza tal-fenek. Illum id-deċiżjonijiet tagħhom jistgħu jiġu eżaminati u mibdula minn tribunali li jidher li huma ħafna aktar liberali minn dawk tagħna. Għalija, f’Malta diġà saret froġa legali.
Meta fl-2006 Joanne Cassar ingħatat id-dritt li kemm fiċ-ċertifikat tat-twelid tagħha u f’dokumenti oħra jitniżżel li hi ta’ sess femminili b’konsegwenza tat-tibdil fis-sess tagħha wara operazzjoni, l-istorja messha waqfet hemm.
Jekk l-Istat kien lest li jirrikonoxxi li kienet mara f’kull dokument uffiċjali ma setax wara jċaħħadha mid-dritt li tiżżewweġ.
Kellu raġun l-Imħallef Gino Camilleri meta ordna lir-Reġistratur taż-Żwiġijiet joħroġ it-tnidijiet biex Joanne Cassar tkun tista’ tiżżewweġ. Ma jistax l-Istat jagħtik rikonoxximent ta’ mara u wara jċaħħdek mid-dritt li kull mara ħafna drabi tant tistenna b’ħerqa: iż-żwieġ.
Hemm prinċipju legali importanti li japplika kemm għaċ-ċittadini u anki għall-Istat, li ġaladarba tkun għażilt triq ma tistax wara tibdilha għax ma jaqbillekx bi preġudizzju għad-drittijiet ta’ ħaddieħor. Fi ftit kliem ma tistax iċċaqlaq il-lasti biex tiskorja bilfors. Fil-fehma tiegħi meta r-Reġistratur taż-Żwieġ rebaħ l-appell, li Joanne Cassar ma kelliex id-dritt li tiżżewweġ, iċċaqilqu l-lasti.
Hu veru wkoll li skont l-Att taż-Żwieġ tal-1975 hu implikat li waħda mill-karatteristiċi ta’ żwieġ ċivili hi dik li l-partijiet ikunu f’sitwazzjoni li jġibu t-tfal fid-dinja. Dan joħroġ minn dak li semmejt fejn il-Liġi titkellem dwar impotenza ta’ xi parti u r-referenza li ssir għat-tfal fi bnadi oħra tal-istess Liġi. Minbarra dan hemm diversi sentenzi ta’ annullament fejn żwiġijiet ġew annullati mhux wisq għax xi parti għaż-żwieġ kienet impotenti iżda għaliex minkejja li seta’ jkun hemm tfal xi parti tkun daħlet għaż-żwieġ bil-patt li ma jkunx hemm tfal.
Għalhekk jista’ jiġi argumentat li jekk Joanne Cassar saret mara fiżikament u forsi anki tħossha psikoloġikament mara, minn ġewwa l-organi tagħha għadhom ta’ raġel u tfal ma jista’ jkollha qatt.
Iżda fil-fehma tiegħi dan l-argument m’għandux ikun kontra li Joanne tingħata d-dritt li tiżżewweġ.
L-argument għandu jkun li hemm bżonn tibdiliet radikali fil-Liġi taż-Żwieg tagħna b’mod li tkun tirrifletti t-tibdil mgħaġġel li qed iseħħ f’soċjetà moderna. Il-Liġi hi hemm biex taqdi lill-bniedem u mhux bil-kuntrarju.
Hu veru li aħna lsiera tal-Liġi biex inkunu aktar ħielsa iżda l-Liġi mhix hemm biex minnha tagħmel ilsiera ta’ istituzzjonijiet li għamlu żmienhom.
Minbarra dan aħna ma nistgħux, u naħseb lanqas se nitħallew ngħixu barra mir-realtà l-ġdida li kultant qed insibuna diffiċli naddattaw għaliha: dik Ewropea.
Tajjeb jew ħażin, fuq il-kontinent hemm moviment qawwi favur drittijiet fundamentali tal-bniedem aktar raffinati u sofistikati minn kif konna nafuhom sa ftit ilu. Fuq il-kontinent u anki l-filosofija ta’ ħafna fl-Unjoni Ewropea, qed jinfatmu mid-definizzjonijiet marbuta ma’ kriterji reliġjużi, inkluża dik Kristjana.
Dan hu rifless anki fid-deċiżjonijiet tal-Qorti Ewropea għall-Ħarsien tad-Drittijiet Fundamentali tal-Bniedem.
Joanne Cassar determinata li tibqa’ tiġġieled għad-dritt tagħha li tiżżewweġ. Diġà għamlitha ċara li jekk titlef il-kawża Kostituzzjonali għandha l-ħsieb li tibqa’ tiela’ sa Strasburgu.
Miniex konvint li l-Qorti Kostituzzjonali f’Malta mhux se taħsibha bħall-Imħallef Gino Camilleri. Iżda jekk il-każ jerġa’ jintilef f’Malta jien żgur li l-Qorti fi Strasburgu se tapplika l-istess prinċipju ta’ Christine Goodwin.
Christine Goodwin, bħal Joanne Cassar, għamlet operazzjoni fejn biddlet is-sess tagħha. Christine, bħal Joanne, sabet partner u riedet tiżżewweġ. L-awtoritajiet Ingliżi ċaħħduha minn dan id-dritt. Christine marret quddiem il-Qorti Ewropea fi Strasburgu u ngħatat raġun.
Dik il-Qorti qalet li fi żminijiet fejn fis-soċjetà qed jinbtu forom ġodda ta’ familji u fejn l-istess Christine diġà kienet kisbet ir-rikonoxximent ċivili li hi ta’ sess femminil, ikun bi ksur tad-dritt tagħha taħt Artiklu 12 tal-Konvenzjoni Ewropea li ma titħallhiex tiżżewweġ u tifforma familja.
Joanne wkoll għandha dan id-dritt u jekk ma jkollhiex suċċess f’pajjiżna ma tistax tfalli fuq il-kontinent.
Sentenza bħal din se jkollha konsegwenzi soċjali aktar profondi f’pajjiżna. Jekk transesswali se tikseb id-dritt li tiżżewweġ, allura kemm aktar għandu jkollhom id-dritt dawk li huma eterosesswali li jerġgħu jiżżewġu u jiffurmaw familja?
Kemm aktar qed jinkiser id-dritt ta’ dawk li għalkemm eterosesswali u għandhom relazzjoni barra ż-żwieġ, li l-pożizzjoni tagħhom tiġi regolarizzata taħt il-Liġi?
Jekk Joanne Cassar tirbaħ il-kawża tagħha hemm kategoriji oħra ta’ nies li sal-lum għexu fil-kantina tas-soċjetà li se jitħajru jieħdu d-drittijiet tagħhom.
idħol: toniabela.blogspot.com
PEPPI
Kważi nasal biex ngħid li hu skandlu kif xi ħadd jistaqsi jekk Joanne, li hi persuna li għamlet l-operazzjoni biex ma tibqax tbati f’ġisem li mhux tagħha, għandhiex dritt tiżżewweġ.
Skandlu għax Joanne llum hi tfajla, tgħix ta’ tfajla, il-karta tal-identità tagħha hi ta’ tfajla u allura assolutament ma nifhimx għala hawn min qed jagħmel minn kollox biex iċaħħad lil Joanne milli tiżżewweġ. Kieku tafu kif insir żibel meta nintebaħ li hawn uħud li għandhom il-hobby morbuż li jridu jindaħlu f’dak kollu li nagħmlu u kieku jistgħu jikontrollawna anki fil-kamra tas-sodda fl-iktar mumenti intimi ta’ ħajjitna.
Xi dwejjaq ta’ pajjiż! Rieqed quddiem inġustizzja bħal din li fottiet il-ħajja ta’ din il-koppja li kellha kollox lest biex tiżżewweġ.
Jekk qed taħseb li qed nagħmilha bi kbira wisq nixtieqek timmaġina li int wasalt biex tiżżewweġ. Għandek id-data, ħriġt l-inviti, ommok, missierek, il-kunjati kuntenti bik u bil-partner tiegħek. Isimkom jitla’ fuq in-notice board nazzjonali li int se tiżżewweġ biex jekk xi ħadd ikollu xi oġġezzjoni jitkellem. Immaġina ssib lil xi ħadd li jmur jipprotesta għax jgħid li int m’intiex mara imma raġel anki jekk int tħossok li kont twelidt f’ġisem mhux tiegħek u għaddejt minn ħafna tbatija u sagrifiċċji biex ġismek issa sar komdu għalik.
Mhux sirt mara imma minn dejjem kont mara ħlief li kellek tagħmel bidliet f’ġismek biex issir konformi miegħek innifsek, kif twelidt. Immaġina li jkollok terġa’ twaqqqaf kollox, iċċempel lil mistednin u tgħidilhom; “Isma mhux se niżżewweġ għax l-Istat li ngħixu fih lili ma jirrikonoxxinix bħala mara.”
Id-deċiżjoni li Joanne ma titħallhiex tiżżewweġ kienet kattiva u turi l-insensittività ta’ dan in-nazzjon ipokrita li jrid jiddetta l-valuri li m’għandux fuq dawk li jemmnu fiż-żwieġ.
Nammira lil Joanne li mhux se ċċedi. Qed terġa’ tagħmel kawża u m’għandix dubju li tibqa’ għaddejja sal-ogħla istituzzjonijiet fl-Ewropa.
Joanne hi mara ta’ prinċipju. Kulma xtaqet kienet li tgħix ħajja mal-persuna li tħobb għal dejjem fi żwieġ. Joanne tista’ tagħmel dan mingħajr ma tiżżewweġ iżda Joanne trid titkellem f’isem dawk kollha li qed ikunu mċaħħda mid-dritt tagħhom li jiżżewġu.
Joanne mhux biss qed tkun imċaħħda mid-dritt li tiżżewweġ lill-ġuvni li tħobb iżda qed tkun imċaħħda wkoll milli tiżżewweġ. Jekk l-Istat ma jirrikonoxxix li hi mara għall-fini taż-żwieġ allura jekk mhux mara hi raġel. Allura min qed jagħmel din il-ġinnastika kollha biex ma jħallix lil Joanne tiżżewweġ ikun lest li jħalliha tiżżewweġ mara?
Għax jekk l-Istat iqis lil Joanne bħala raġel allura Joanne tista’ tiżżewweġ mara.
Il-probabbiltà hi li min iqażżeż lil kulħadd billi jindaħal fil-ħajja tan-nies joġġezzjona wkoll li Joanne tiżżewweġ mara. Ovvja, mhux se jaċċettaw li jista’ jkun hemm żwieġ bejn żewġ nisa jew żewġ irġiel. Ma tarax!
Allura lil Joanne qed inċaħħdulha d-dritt sagrosant li tiżżewweġ kemm lir-raġel li tħobb kif għandha d-dritt u kemm lil mara oħra jekk inqisuha raġel li qatt ma kienet.
F’dan il-pajjiż li għadu jiddiskuti jekk hemmx bżonn diskussjoni dwar id-divorzju, li għandu Isqof li jgħid li anki d-diskussjoni dwar id-divorzju hi ħażina, ma tista’ tieħu xejn bi kbir. Għalxejn toqgħod tinħaraq.
Fejn f’pajjiżi oħra qed jiddiskutu, u ħafna minnhom iddeċidew, li anki żewġ irġiel u żewġ nisa jistgħu jiżżewġu flimkien, hawn Malta għadna qed inċaħħdu mara li tiżżewweġ ir-raġel li tħobb.
Ħasra li mentalment pajjiżna għadu qisu se japplika biex jidħol fl-Unjoni Ewropea. L-aqwa li ma nitilfux il-valuri. X’valuri?
Li naduraw l-istatwi? Li nittrattaw lill-mara qisha l-kċina tad-dar? Li lesti nagħmlu kollox biex naqilgħu lira għall-familja? Li lesti niddefendu lil min jispara fuq kull ħlejqa li ttir? Li fil-fond ta’ qalbna nixtiequ li l-Gvern ikollu l-bajd li jħalli lill-klandestini jegħrqu biex ma jmorrux jitħalltu magħna? Li nċaħħdu persuna milli tiżżewweġ lis-sieħeb li tħobb?
Mhux li kien nitilfu l-valuri jaħasra…
Sunday, 26 October 2008
Malta Today: Joanne to go all the way in her fight to get married
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/2008/10/22/t11.html
Wednesday, 22 October 2008; by Raphael Vassallo
Joanne Cassar will today present a Constitutional Court case against the government of Malta, after the Civil Court last May prevented her from marrying her male partner on the grounds that she was “still a man”, despite having undergone gender reassignment therapy.
Describing today’s proceedings as “the last stage before the European Court of Human Rights”, the Malta Gay Rights Movement has announced it will be collecting signatures outside the law courts in Valletta this morning in solidarity with Cassar.
“It takes a lot of courage to stand up for your rights, like Joanne is doing,” MGRM co-ordinator Gaby Calleja told MaltaToday. “Our initiative is more a show of support than anything else; we want her to know that she is not alone.”
The case goes back to 2006, when Cassar – who underwent a complex and expensive procedure to change her sex from male to female, and whose birth certificate has since been amended accordingly – was refused permission to marry on the basis that the Marriage Act prohibited unions between persons of the same gender.
Cassar took the Marriage Registrar to court, and on February 12 2007, after noting that the proposed union did not contravene any provision of the Marriage Act, Mr Justice Gino Camilleri upheld her request and ordered the director of Public Registry to issue the marriage banns.
But the marriage registrar appealed, and in his decision to overturn the ruling last May, Mr Justice Joseph R. Micallef observed that while the Marriage Act defined marriage as a union “between a man and a woman”, Maltese law offered no legal definition of either gender.
The court therefore took into account various definitions, including an affidavit signed by the former chairman of the parliamentary bio-ethics committee, Dr Michael Axiak, who wrote: “after gender reassignment therapy, a person will have remained of the same sex as before the operation.”
Mr Justice Micallef also noted that Cassar’s birth certificate, allowing a change of name and gender, was only intended to protect the right to privacy and to avoid embarrassment. He therefore upheld the marriage registrar’s request, and annulled the marriage banns.
Afterwards, Ms Cassar expressed bitter disappointment at the ruling. “One court allowed me to get married but another took it away from me,” she said.
The ruling nay have been a disappointment, but it came as no surprise to the MGRM’s Gabi Calleja, who confirmed that persons in Joanne Cassar’s predicament – commonly referred to as “transsexuals”, although the term is sometimes considered derogatory – generally face harsher discrimination than other sexual orientation minorities.
“Research shows that persons who underwent gender reassignment encounter more violence, including extreme violence, than gays,” she said. “They also have a harder time finding employment. There is unfortunately still a lot of ignorance on the subject.”
According to Calleja, society as a whole tends to use the traditional gender binary of male/female, and persons like Joanne challenge these concepts in a way that makes some people uncomfortable.
“People like to think of sexual orientation as simply a case of black or white, but the reality is more complex than that,” she said. “There are over 6 billion people in the world, and yet we assume there are only two genders. But contrary to popular perception, gender is a social construct; it is not fixed at conception as many people believe. There could be other genders apart from simply male and female.”
MGRM firther believes that Mr Justice Micallef’s ruling is itself illegal.
“In delivering this judgement, the Court goes against the case law of the European Court of Human Rights (Christine Goodwin vs. UK),” the organisation declares on its website.
“Furthermore, it expressly states that a post-op transsexual cannot get married to anyone, and in doing so clear violates Article 12 of the European Convention on Human Rights on the right to marry, to which Malta is signatory.”
Joanne Cassar has already indicated that for these and other reasons, she is willing to take her legal battle all the way to the highest court in Europe.
Wednesday, 22 October 2008; by Raphael Vassallo
Joanne Cassar will today present a Constitutional Court case against the government of Malta, after the Civil Court last May prevented her from marrying her male partner on the grounds that she was “still a man”, despite having undergone gender reassignment therapy.
Describing today’s proceedings as “the last stage before the European Court of Human Rights”, the Malta Gay Rights Movement has announced it will be collecting signatures outside the law courts in Valletta this morning in solidarity with Cassar.
“It takes a lot of courage to stand up for your rights, like Joanne is doing,” MGRM co-ordinator Gaby Calleja told MaltaToday. “Our initiative is more a show of support than anything else; we want her to know that she is not alone.”
The case goes back to 2006, when Cassar – who underwent a complex and expensive procedure to change her sex from male to female, and whose birth certificate has since been amended accordingly – was refused permission to marry on the basis that the Marriage Act prohibited unions between persons of the same gender.
Cassar took the Marriage Registrar to court, and on February 12 2007, after noting that the proposed union did not contravene any provision of the Marriage Act, Mr Justice Gino Camilleri upheld her request and ordered the director of Public Registry to issue the marriage banns.
But the marriage registrar appealed, and in his decision to overturn the ruling last May, Mr Justice Joseph R. Micallef observed that while the Marriage Act defined marriage as a union “between a man and a woman”, Maltese law offered no legal definition of either gender.
The court therefore took into account various definitions, including an affidavit signed by the former chairman of the parliamentary bio-ethics committee, Dr Michael Axiak, who wrote: “after gender reassignment therapy, a person will have remained of the same sex as before the operation.”
Mr Justice Micallef also noted that Cassar’s birth certificate, allowing a change of name and gender, was only intended to protect the right to privacy and to avoid embarrassment. He therefore upheld the marriage registrar’s request, and annulled the marriage banns.
Afterwards, Ms Cassar expressed bitter disappointment at the ruling. “One court allowed me to get married but another took it away from me,” she said.
The ruling nay have been a disappointment, but it came as no surprise to the MGRM’s Gabi Calleja, who confirmed that persons in Joanne Cassar’s predicament – commonly referred to as “transsexuals”, although the term is sometimes considered derogatory – generally face harsher discrimination than other sexual orientation minorities.
“Research shows that persons who underwent gender reassignment encounter more violence, including extreme violence, than gays,” she said. “They also have a harder time finding employment. There is unfortunately still a lot of ignorance on the subject.”
According to Calleja, society as a whole tends to use the traditional gender binary of male/female, and persons like Joanne challenge these concepts in a way that makes some people uncomfortable.
“People like to think of sexual orientation as simply a case of black or white, but the reality is more complex than that,” she said. “There are over 6 billion people in the world, and yet we assume there are only two genders. But contrary to popular perception, gender is a social construct; it is not fixed at conception as many people believe. There could be other genders apart from simply male and female.”
MGRM firther believes that Mr Justice Micallef’s ruling is itself illegal.
“In delivering this judgement, the Court goes against the case law of the European Court of Human Rights (Christine Goodwin vs. UK),” the organisation declares on its website.
“Furthermore, it expressly states that a post-op transsexual cannot get married to anyone, and in doing so clear violates Article 12 of the European Convention on Human Rights on the right to marry, to which Malta is signatory.”
Joanne Cassar has already indicated that for these and other reasons, she is willing to take her legal battle all the way to the highest court in Europe.
Thursday, 23 October 2008
Times: Dalli attacked over cautious approach to EU anti-discrimination law
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081023/local/dalli-attacked-over-cautious-approach-to-eu-anti-discrimination-law
Thursday, 23rd October 2008
The Malta Gay Rights Movement has criticised Social Policy Minister John Dalli for calling a proposed EU anti-discrimination directive "premature".
Mr Dalli said the directive should not prejudice national practices in areas such as marriage, the family, sexual and reproductive rights.
"How on earth can we ever discount an anti-discrimination directive as being ahead of its time? Are we finally admitting that our national practices in these areas are discriminatory?" the movement asked.
"Are we admitting that we are not prepared to do what it takes to ensure that people are not treated differently just because they have different religious beliefs, have a disability, are old or gay?"
The movement was reacting to Mr Dalli's speech earlier this month, at a meeting of the EU's Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council where he explained Malta's official position on the directive against discrimination in the provision of goods and services.
The directive aims at eradicating discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, disability, age and sexual orientation.
MGRM added that during a meeting with the Nationalist Party before the last election, the party had supported this directive "in principle", and this stand meant it was now going back on its word. The proposal gives member states two years to implement the necessary measures but in his speech Mr Dalli called for more time to be allotted and for a more detailed study to analyse the implications of such a proposal.
"Mr Dalli called for a long period of cultural adaptation, implying that discrimination is culturally engrained in our society and our government is not willing to do much to speed up the process of eradicating it," MGRM said.
The spokesman argues that there are thousands of Maltese who were either not Catholic, disabled, over 65, gay or a combination of these. "These are people who are vulnerable to unjustified discriminatory treatment, which the proposed directive is intended to address. The government does not have the political will to protect all these people from unfair discrimination, with at least the same sense of urgency and zeal as it is willing to safeguard the national coffers in the wake of rising energy prices," it concluded.
When contacted, a spokesman for Mr Dalli said that there was nothing the minister wanted to add to his speech.
Thursday, 23rd October 2008
The Malta Gay Rights Movement has criticised Social Policy Minister John Dalli for calling a proposed EU anti-discrimination directive "premature".
Mr Dalli said the directive should not prejudice national practices in areas such as marriage, the family, sexual and reproductive rights.
"How on earth can we ever discount an anti-discrimination directive as being ahead of its time? Are we finally admitting that our national practices in these areas are discriminatory?" the movement asked.
"Are we admitting that we are not prepared to do what it takes to ensure that people are not treated differently just because they have different religious beliefs, have a disability, are old or gay?"
The movement was reacting to Mr Dalli's speech earlier this month, at a meeting of the EU's Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council where he explained Malta's official position on the directive against discrimination in the provision of goods and services.
The directive aims at eradicating discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, disability, age and sexual orientation.
MGRM added that during a meeting with the Nationalist Party before the last election, the party had supported this directive "in principle", and this stand meant it was now going back on its word. The proposal gives member states two years to implement the necessary measures but in his speech Mr Dalli called for more time to be allotted and for a more detailed study to analyse the implications of such a proposal.
"Mr Dalli called for a long period of cultural adaptation, implying that discrimination is culturally engrained in our society and our government is not willing to do much to speed up the process of eradicating it," MGRM said.
The spokesman argues that there are thousands of Maltese who were either not Catholic, disabled, over 65, gay or a combination of these. "These are people who are vulnerable to unjustified discriminatory treatment, which the proposed directive is intended to address. The government does not have the political will to protect all these people from unfair discrimination, with at least the same sense of urgency and zeal as it is willing to safeguard the national coffers in the wake of rising energy prices," it concluded.
When contacted, a spokesman for Mr Dalli said that there was nothing the minister wanted to add to his speech.
Times: Transsexual insists on her right to marry
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081023/local/transsexual-insists-on-her-right-to-marry
Thursday, 23rd October 2008
A man who had undergone gender realignment surgery to become a woman yesterday filed a constitutional application in the First Hall of the Civil Court claiming that the refusal by the Director of Public Registry to allow her to marry a man was in violation of her fundamental human rights.
Joanne Cassar filed her application against the Director of Public Registry and the Attorney General.
She said that after undergoing surgery she had requested the courts to declare that she was a woman and to effect the necessary changes to her birth certificate.
In June 2006, the First Hall of the Civil Court upheld her request and her birth certificate was amended to show that she was now a woman.
Ms Cassar had applied for banns to marry a man but her application was denied by the Director of Public Registry. She had asked the courts to overturn the decision and her case was decided in her favour by the Court of Voluntary Jurisdiction.
However, the director contested the ruling and, last May, the First Hall of the Civil Court overturned the first court's ruling and held that the annotation that had taken place to Ms Cassar's birth certificate following the June 2006 judgment was only there to protect her privacy. The annotation did not entitle her to be considered as a woman for the purposes of marriage.
In her constitutional application, Ms Cassar said that the judgment was in violation of her fundamental human rights. Case law of the European Court of Human Rights had established that one could not, for biological reasons, not recognise the legal effects of a sex change. Maltese law did not recognise the new sex acquired by transsexuals and this was in violation of her fundamental human rights, Ms Cassar argued.
She concluded by calling upon the First Hall of the Civil Court, in its constitutional jurisdiction, to declare that her rights had been violated and to declare that the director could not refuse to publish the banns for her to marry a man.
Lawyers Josè Herrera and David Camilleri appeared for Ms Cassar.
Thursday, 23rd October 2008
A man who had undergone gender realignment surgery to become a woman yesterday filed a constitutional application in the First Hall of the Civil Court claiming that the refusal by the Director of Public Registry to allow her to marry a man was in violation of her fundamental human rights.
Joanne Cassar filed her application against the Director of Public Registry and the Attorney General.
She said that after undergoing surgery she had requested the courts to declare that she was a woman and to effect the necessary changes to her birth certificate.
In June 2006, the First Hall of the Civil Court upheld her request and her birth certificate was amended to show that she was now a woman.
Ms Cassar had applied for banns to marry a man but her application was denied by the Director of Public Registry. She had asked the courts to overturn the decision and her case was decided in her favour by the Court of Voluntary Jurisdiction.
However, the director contested the ruling and, last May, the First Hall of the Civil Court overturned the first court's ruling and held that the annotation that had taken place to Ms Cassar's birth certificate following the June 2006 judgment was only there to protect her privacy. The annotation did not entitle her to be considered as a woman for the purposes of marriage.
In her constitutional application, Ms Cassar said that the judgment was in violation of her fundamental human rights. Case law of the European Court of Human Rights had established that one could not, for biological reasons, not recognise the legal effects of a sex change. Maltese law did not recognise the new sex acquired by transsexuals and this was in violation of her fundamental human rights, Ms Cassar argued.
She concluded by calling upon the First Hall of the Civil Court, in its constitutional jurisdiction, to declare that her rights had been violated and to declare that the director could not refuse to publish the banns for her to marry a man.
Lawyers Josè Herrera and David Camilleri appeared for Ms Cassar.
Kullħadd: [L-Arċisqof] Għażel li jgħix ħajtu f’komunità
http://www.kullhadd.com/?task=2§id=&articleid=12107
10/18/2008 8:35:40 PM
Nistqarr li qatt ma kont iltqajt daqshekk mill-vicin ma’ l-Arcisqof ta’ Malta, hlief ghal zewg okkazjonijiet ohra li fihom inzertajt prezenti. Izda, jkolli nghid li minn din l-intervista sirt nafu b’mod aktar personali u informali ghall-ahhar.
Irnexxieli naghmel appuntament mieghu permezz ta’ kuntatti tieghi mal-Kurja ghal Sibt filghodu. B’mod helu u ferriehi ghall-ahhar laqaghni f’wiehed mill-ufficini li hemm fil-Kurja, fil-Furjana. Hemmhekk mal-ewwel bdejna nithaddtu fuq diversi suggetti li kont hejjejt biex niddiskuti mieghu.
Mistoqsi kif normalment iqatta’ l-granet ta’ kuljum tieghu, l-Arcisqof Pawl Cremona wegibni, “Impenjat il-hin kollu. Normalment inqum kmieni ghall-habta tal-hamsa nieqes kwart ta’ filghodu. Dan il-hin ikun il-hin tieghi personali. Jekk ma jkollix xi quddiesa, ghas-7.30am ikolli xi appuntamenti ma’ persuni li jkunu talbuni appuntamenti personali mieghi. Ghat-8.30am nigi hawn il-Kurja ghal xi appuntamenti ohra. Ghal xi 1pm normalment nitlaq mill-Kurja u ninghaqad ma’ l-erba’ qassisin l-ohra li nghix flimkien maghhom gewwa H’Attard. Ghas-1.30pm nippruvaw nieklu flimkien, meta l-hin jippermettili. Wara nistrieh ftit qabel ma jkolli xi appuntamenti ohra wara nofsinhar stess. Imbaghad il-gurnata ta’ kuljum tieghi tintemm normalment ghal xi 11pm meta nipprova nidhol norqod”, wegibni l-Arcisqof Pawl Cremona.
Bdejt nitkellem mieghu dwar tfulitu. Fil-fatt l-Arcisqof Pawl Cremona twieled il-Belt Valletta nhar il-25 ta’ Jannar 1946. Meta kien tifel kien ihobb il-futbol u anke l-waterpolo u l-qari. Illum il-gurnata l-qari wkoll ghadu wiehed mill-passatempi tieghu. Flimkien maz-zewg hutu l-ohra kien jiehu pjacir jilghab flimkien ma’ tfal ohra li kien iqishom daqs hutu. Trabba n-naha ta’ San Gakbu. Ta’ tfal li kienu, kienu jiehdu gost jorganizzaw fancy dress parties tal-Karnival fid-dar tal-familja. Fil-fatt, il-parties tal-familja fi zmien il-Karnival u l-Milied huma zewg okkazjonijiet ghal qalb hafna ta’ l-Arcisqof.
Kien jattendi l-Iskola Primarja tal-Montessori fil-Belt Valletta stess, imbaghad wara kien jattendi l-Iskola Sekondarja fil-Liceo tal-Hamrun. “Wara kont dhalt fl-Ordni Dumnikana u ghamilt il-professjoni fl-istess Ordni. Studjajt il-Filosofija u t-Teologija fil-Kullegg ta’ San Tumas ta’ Akwinu fil-Kunvent tad-Dumnikani tar-Rabat u gejt ordnat sacerdot nhar it-22 ta’ Marzu 1969”, beda jirrakkuntali l-Arcisqof Pawl Cremona.
Misteru
Mistoqsi kif kien thajjar jidhol Dumnikan, wiegeb, “Misteru!! Però qalbi kienet thoss li din hi l-linja tieghi. Dejjem xtaqt inkun f’komunità u fil-fatt kont hassejt li din hija t-triq tieghi. Illum nikkonferma li kienet il-vera triq ghalija, ghax ninsab kuntent hafna”.
Ezattament fis-26 ta’ Jannar 2007 kien ha l-Ordinazzjoni Episkopali u nhatar bhala l-Arcisqof il-Gdid ta’ Malta. Sal-lum ghaddew minn fuqu ftit aktar minn sena u nofs bit-tmexxija tieghu tal-Knisja Kattolika Maltija. Mistoqsi jekk qatt kien jobsor li xi darba se jinhatar Arcisqof, wiegeb, “L-anqas qatt u ghal diversi ragunijiet qatt ma bsart, fosthom li normalment jintghazel xi hadd Djocesan u mhux religjuz.”
Qlibt l-intervista tieghi mieghu u bdejt niddiskuti mieghu punti u diversi suggetti tal-prezent fit-tmexxija tal-Knisja Kattolika tal-lum. Fil-fatt staqsejtu dwar il-partecipazzjoni prezenti taz-zghazagh Maltin fil-quddies tal-Hdud.
“F’diversi parrocci hawn hafna quddies immirati u animati miz-zghazagh stess. Fost ohrajn hemm il-quddies ta’ nhar ta’ Hadd li ssir fil-Knisja ta’ Nazzarenu f’Tas-Sliema, fil-Millennium Chapel u fil-Knisja ta’ San Girgor, iz-Zejtun. Sfortunatament jezistu certu zghazagh li jgibu kull skuza biex ma jattendux ghall-quddies tal-Hadd. Veru l-hajja tal-lum saret mimlija. Imma mhux sew li wiehed jirritorna lejn Alla biss biex jimla xi vojt tieghu jew meta jsib dahru mal-hajt. Bil-ghajnuna tal-Kummissjoni Djocesana Zghazagh saret card zghira b’taghrif dwar quddies li jkun hawn madwar Malta immirat ghaz-zghazagh. B’hekk kull zaghzugh jista’ jkollu gwida ta’ fejn jista’ jattendi ghal xi quddiesa vicin il-parrocca li jkun jghix fiha. Kull weekend zghazagh minn akkwati ‘l boghod minn Paceville jattendu f’xi diskoteka. Bl-istess mod iz-zghazagh m’ghandhom qatt jaqtghu qalbhom isuqu ghal xi parrocca vicin biex jattendu siegha quddiesa!!”, kienu l-kummenti li tani l-Arcisqof Cremona.
Zwieg iehor
Qlibt l-intervista rigward id-divorzju. Fil-fatt staqsejtu x’jahseb dwar il-fatt jekk ghandux jidhol id-divorzju f’pajjizna llum qabel ghada. Dlonk it-twegiba tieghu kienet, “Il-Knisja Kattolika hija favur zwieg b’sahhtu u familja b’sahhitha. Jekk jidhol id-divorzju jispicca jbati kulhadd”. Ghal din it-twegiba, gibtlu ezempju b’persuna li tkun esperjenzat vjolenza domestika. Mistoqsi allura jekk persuna bhal din ghandhiex ikollha dritt terga’ tizzewweg, l-Arcisqof Pawl Cremona, wiegeb: “Jekk ikun il-kaz, il-Knisja u l-Qrati Civili jistghu jiddikjaraw zwieg bhala null. Bid-divorzju ma nkunu qed insewwu xejn, ghajr li naghtu kuragg lil dak li jkun li jista’ jizzewweg u jitlaq lil partner tieghu ghal zwieg iehor meta jrid”.
Mid-divorzju qlibt l-intervista tieghi dwar persuni omosesswali quddiem il-Knisja Kattolika. “Quddiem Alla la hemm gay, la lesbjani u l-anqas eterosesswali. Huma l-ghemejjel li jigu ggudikati quddiem Alla u dan jghodd ghal persuni gay u eterosesswali. Din hija l-pozizzjoni tal-Knisja Kattolika”, wegibni l-Arcisqof Pawl Cremona. Fuq l-istess suggett, staqsejtu jekk fil-prezent iz-zwieg ghandux jibqa’ biss bejn mara u ragel. Ir-risposta spontarja li hadt ghal din id-domanda kienet, “Mhux fil-prezent biss. Id-definizzjoni ta’ zwieg hija dik ta’ bejn mara u ragel u li flimkien jistghu jgibu u jrabbu t-tfal fid-dinja!!”
L-intervista tieghi mieghu kompliet tespandi b’aktar suggetti attwali.
Fil-fatt qajjimt il-punt dwar nuqqas ta’ vokazzjonijiet ta’ qassisin u sorijiet fil-prezent. Infatti sirt naf li propjament hawn aktar nuqqas ta’ vokazzjonijiet femminili jigifieri sorijiet milli vokazzjonijiet maskili jew inkella f’kelma wahda ta’ qassisin jew patrijiet.
“Bin-nuqqas ta’ vokazzjonijiet femminili nibza’ dwar it-tmexxija futura ta’ l-istituti, fosthom tat-tfal f’pajjizna”, zied jghidli l-Arcisqof Pawl Cremona.
Rigward il-lajci li jqarbnu f’diversi parrocci madwar il-gzejjer taghna, ridt inkun naf dwar l-importanza taghhom. Fil-fatt sirt naf li bil-prezenza ta’ nuqqas ta’ vokazzjonijiet dawn ghandhom importanza kbira fil-parrocci taghna.
“Lajk jista’ jqarben persuni ohra; hemmhekk tohrog id-dinjità ta’ kull mghammed. Fil-fatt dan huwa mument sabih ghal lajci specjalment f’nuqqas ta’ vokazzjonijiet.”
Il-Parrini
Fl-ahharnett, waqt li kont qed nintervista lill-Arcisqof Pawl Cremona, gietni domanda spontanja li zidtha awtomatikament mad-domandi l-ohra li kont hejjejt ghall-intervista tieghi. Id-domanda tieghi kienet dwar ghaliex bniedem isseparat minn mar-ragel/mara u dahal/dahlet f’relazzjoni gdida, l-Knisja ma taccettahx ikun parrinu fil-maghmudija ghat-tfal ta’ hutu stess.
“Hafna ghadhom jahsbu li tkun parrinu ghal xi hadd f’maghmudija huwa sempliciment unur. Dan mhux unur izda l-parrinu ghandu jkun ta’ ezempju tajjeb Kristjanament ghat-tarbija fil-hajja futura taghha. Kull forma ta’ hajja fit-twemmin jew fil-kwalità li ma taqbilx mal-hajja nisranija, tfixkel lill-persuna milli taqdi din ir-responsabbiltà b’mod totali.”, kienet l-ahhar twegiba li hadt minghand l-Arcisqof Pawl Cremona.
---
Ittra minn għand P. Attard lill-Kullħadd. Ma jidhirx li din ġiet ippublikata:
23.10.8
Sur Editur
b´referenza ghall-artiklu dwar L-arcisqof l-E.T. Pawl Cremona li"Ghazel li jghix hajtu f'komunità" li deher fit-18 ta´Ottubru,il-kummenti ta´l-Arcisqof dwar ir-rikonoxximent ta´relazzjonijiet gayhuma interessanti hafna. Forsi nistghu nistaqsuh jekk isibx oggezzjonijekk ragel gay ghandux dritt jara li-sieheb tieghu marid fl-isptar, ujinghata l-urgent family leave (li hu dritt tan-nies mizzewwgin f´kazta´mard jew incidenti serji) ghandux jinghata lil koppji gay.
Hu interessanti li f´pajjizi bhal Italja, Germanja, Argentina, Cuba,Bolivia, Colombia u Spanja il-knisja Kattolika b´l-influenza lighandha fuq il-politikanti hi l-akbar ostaklu ghal-avvanzamenttad-drittijiet tal-koppji gay.
Ikun ukoll interessanti jekk l-arcisqof jispjega kif fil-"FamilyUpdate 13" li ntbahgat mill-Moviment ta´Kana ftit xhur ilu lil membri,jispjegaw li z-zwigijiet bejn nies eterosesswaliu qed jitfarkuminhabba r-rikonoxxoment taz-zwieg gay f´pajjizi bhal l-Isvezja.
Grazzi u Prosit ta´l-artikli li tiktbu
Dr. Patrick Attard
10/18/2008 8:35:40 PM
Nistqarr li qatt ma kont iltqajt daqshekk mill-vicin ma’ l-Arcisqof ta’ Malta, hlief ghal zewg okkazjonijiet ohra li fihom inzertajt prezenti. Izda, jkolli nghid li minn din l-intervista sirt nafu b’mod aktar personali u informali ghall-ahhar.
Irnexxieli naghmel appuntament mieghu permezz ta’ kuntatti tieghi mal-Kurja ghal Sibt filghodu. B’mod helu u ferriehi ghall-ahhar laqaghni f’wiehed mill-ufficini li hemm fil-Kurja, fil-Furjana. Hemmhekk mal-ewwel bdejna nithaddtu fuq diversi suggetti li kont hejjejt biex niddiskuti mieghu.
Mistoqsi kif normalment iqatta’ l-granet ta’ kuljum tieghu, l-Arcisqof Pawl Cremona wegibni, “Impenjat il-hin kollu. Normalment inqum kmieni ghall-habta tal-hamsa nieqes kwart ta’ filghodu. Dan il-hin ikun il-hin tieghi personali. Jekk ma jkollix xi quddiesa, ghas-7.30am ikolli xi appuntamenti ma’ persuni li jkunu talbuni appuntamenti personali mieghi. Ghat-8.30am nigi hawn il-Kurja ghal xi appuntamenti ohra. Ghal xi 1pm normalment nitlaq mill-Kurja u ninghaqad ma’ l-erba’ qassisin l-ohra li nghix flimkien maghhom gewwa H’Attard. Ghas-1.30pm nippruvaw nieklu flimkien, meta l-hin jippermettili. Wara nistrieh ftit qabel ma jkolli xi appuntamenti ohra wara nofsinhar stess. Imbaghad il-gurnata ta’ kuljum tieghi tintemm normalment ghal xi 11pm meta nipprova nidhol norqod”, wegibni l-Arcisqof Pawl Cremona.
Bdejt nitkellem mieghu dwar tfulitu. Fil-fatt l-Arcisqof Pawl Cremona twieled il-Belt Valletta nhar il-25 ta’ Jannar 1946. Meta kien tifel kien ihobb il-futbol u anke l-waterpolo u l-qari. Illum il-gurnata l-qari wkoll ghadu wiehed mill-passatempi tieghu. Flimkien maz-zewg hutu l-ohra kien jiehu pjacir jilghab flimkien ma’ tfal ohra li kien iqishom daqs hutu. Trabba n-naha ta’ San Gakbu. Ta’ tfal li kienu, kienu jiehdu gost jorganizzaw fancy dress parties tal-Karnival fid-dar tal-familja. Fil-fatt, il-parties tal-familja fi zmien il-Karnival u l-Milied huma zewg okkazjonijiet ghal qalb hafna ta’ l-Arcisqof.
Kien jattendi l-Iskola Primarja tal-Montessori fil-Belt Valletta stess, imbaghad wara kien jattendi l-Iskola Sekondarja fil-Liceo tal-Hamrun. “Wara kont dhalt fl-Ordni Dumnikana u ghamilt il-professjoni fl-istess Ordni. Studjajt il-Filosofija u t-Teologija fil-Kullegg ta’ San Tumas ta’ Akwinu fil-Kunvent tad-Dumnikani tar-Rabat u gejt ordnat sacerdot nhar it-22 ta’ Marzu 1969”, beda jirrakkuntali l-Arcisqof Pawl Cremona.
Misteru
Mistoqsi kif kien thajjar jidhol Dumnikan, wiegeb, “Misteru!! Però qalbi kienet thoss li din hi l-linja tieghi. Dejjem xtaqt inkun f’komunità u fil-fatt kont hassejt li din hija t-triq tieghi. Illum nikkonferma li kienet il-vera triq ghalija, ghax ninsab kuntent hafna”.
Ezattament fis-26 ta’ Jannar 2007 kien ha l-Ordinazzjoni Episkopali u nhatar bhala l-Arcisqof il-Gdid ta’ Malta. Sal-lum ghaddew minn fuqu ftit aktar minn sena u nofs bit-tmexxija tieghu tal-Knisja Kattolika Maltija. Mistoqsi jekk qatt kien jobsor li xi darba se jinhatar Arcisqof, wiegeb, “L-anqas qatt u ghal diversi ragunijiet qatt ma bsart, fosthom li normalment jintghazel xi hadd Djocesan u mhux religjuz.”
Qlibt l-intervista tieghi mieghu u bdejt niddiskuti mieghu punti u diversi suggetti tal-prezent fit-tmexxija tal-Knisja Kattolika tal-lum. Fil-fatt staqsejtu dwar il-partecipazzjoni prezenti taz-zghazagh Maltin fil-quddies tal-Hdud.
“F’diversi parrocci hawn hafna quddies immirati u animati miz-zghazagh stess. Fost ohrajn hemm il-quddies ta’ nhar ta’ Hadd li ssir fil-Knisja ta’ Nazzarenu f’Tas-Sliema, fil-Millennium Chapel u fil-Knisja ta’ San Girgor, iz-Zejtun. Sfortunatament jezistu certu zghazagh li jgibu kull skuza biex ma jattendux ghall-quddies tal-Hadd. Veru l-hajja tal-lum saret mimlija. Imma mhux sew li wiehed jirritorna lejn Alla biss biex jimla xi vojt tieghu jew meta jsib dahru mal-hajt. Bil-ghajnuna tal-Kummissjoni Djocesana Zghazagh saret card zghira b’taghrif dwar quddies li jkun hawn madwar Malta immirat ghaz-zghazagh. B’hekk kull zaghzugh jista’ jkollu gwida ta’ fejn jista’ jattendi ghal xi quddiesa vicin il-parrocca li jkun jghix fiha. Kull weekend zghazagh minn akkwati ‘l boghod minn Paceville jattendu f’xi diskoteka. Bl-istess mod iz-zghazagh m’ghandhom qatt jaqtghu qalbhom isuqu ghal xi parrocca vicin biex jattendu siegha quddiesa!!”, kienu l-kummenti li tani l-Arcisqof Cremona.
Zwieg iehor
Qlibt l-intervista rigward id-divorzju. Fil-fatt staqsejtu x’jahseb dwar il-fatt jekk ghandux jidhol id-divorzju f’pajjizna llum qabel ghada. Dlonk it-twegiba tieghu kienet, “Il-Knisja Kattolika hija favur zwieg b’sahhtu u familja b’sahhitha. Jekk jidhol id-divorzju jispicca jbati kulhadd”. Ghal din it-twegiba, gibtlu ezempju b’persuna li tkun esperjenzat vjolenza domestika. Mistoqsi allura jekk persuna bhal din ghandhiex ikollha dritt terga’ tizzewweg, l-Arcisqof Pawl Cremona, wiegeb: “Jekk ikun il-kaz, il-Knisja u l-Qrati Civili jistghu jiddikjaraw zwieg bhala null. Bid-divorzju ma nkunu qed insewwu xejn, ghajr li naghtu kuragg lil dak li jkun li jista’ jizzewweg u jitlaq lil partner tieghu ghal zwieg iehor meta jrid”.
Mid-divorzju qlibt l-intervista tieghi dwar persuni omosesswali quddiem il-Knisja Kattolika. “Quddiem Alla la hemm gay, la lesbjani u l-anqas eterosesswali. Huma l-ghemejjel li jigu ggudikati quddiem Alla u dan jghodd ghal persuni gay u eterosesswali. Din hija l-pozizzjoni tal-Knisja Kattolika”, wegibni l-Arcisqof Pawl Cremona. Fuq l-istess suggett, staqsejtu jekk fil-prezent iz-zwieg ghandux jibqa’ biss bejn mara u ragel. Ir-risposta spontarja li hadt ghal din id-domanda kienet, “Mhux fil-prezent biss. Id-definizzjoni ta’ zwieg hija dik ta’ bejn mara u ragel u li flimkien jistghu jgibu u jrabbu t-tfal fid-dinja!!”
L-intervista tieghi mieghu kompliet tespandi b’aktar suggetti attwali.
Fil-fatt qajjimt il-punt dwar nuqqas ta’ vokazzjonijiet ta’ qassisin u sorijiet fil-prezent. Infatti sirt naf li propjament hawn aktar nuqqas ta’ vokazzjonijiet femminili jigifieri sorijiet milli vokazzjonijiet maskili jew inkella f’kelma wahda ta’ qassisin jew patrijiet.
“Bin-nuqqas ta’ vokazzjonijiet femminili nibza’ dwar it-tmexxija futura ta’ l-istituti, fosthom tat-tfal f’pajjizna”, zied jghidli l-Arcisqof Pawl Cremona.
Rigward il-lajci li jqarbnu f’diversi parrocci madwar il-gzejjer taghna, ridt inkun naf dwar l-importanza taghhom. Fil-fatt sirt naf li bil-prezenza ta’ nuqqas ta’ vokazzjonijiet dawn ghandhom importanza kbira fil-parrocci taghna.
“Lajk jista’ jqarben persuni ohra; hemmhekk tohrog id-dinjità ta’ kull mghammed. Fil-fatt dan huwa mument sabih ghal lajci specjalment f’nuqqas ta’ vokazzjonijiet.”
Il-Parrini
Fl-ahharnett, waqt li kont qed nintervista lill-Arcisqof Pawl Cremona, gietni domanda spontanja li zidtha awtomatikament mad-domandi l-ohra li kont hejjejt ghall-intervista tieghi. Id-domanda tieghi kienet dwar ghaliex bniedem isseparat minn mar-ragel/mara u dahal/dahlet f’relazzjoni gdida, l-Knisja ma taccettahx ikun parrinu fil-maghmudija ghat-tfal ta’ hutu stess.
“Hafna ghadhom jahsbu li tkun parrinu ghal xi hadd f’maghmudija huwa sempliciment unur. Dan mhux unur izda l-parrinu ghandu jkun ta’ ezempju tajjeb Kristjanament ghat-tarbija fil-hajja futura taghha. Kull forma ta’ hajja fit-twemmin jew fil-kwalità li ma taqbilx mal-hajja nisranija, tfixkel lill-persuna milli taqdi din ir-responsabbiltà b’mod totali.”, kienet l-ahhar twegiba li hadt minghand l-Arcisqof Pawl Cremona.
---
Ittra minn għand P. Attard lill-Kullħadd. Ma jidhirx li din ġiet ippublikata:
23.10.8
Sur Editur
b´referenza ghall-artiklu dwar L-arcisqof l-E.T. Pawl Cremona li"Ghazel li jghix hajtu f'komunità" li deher fit-18 ta´Ottubru,il-kummenti ta´l-Arcisqof dwar ir-rikonoxximent ta´relazzjonijiet gayhuma interessanti hafna. Forsi nistghu nistaqsuh jekk isibx oggezzjonijekk ragel gay ghandux dritt jara li-sieheb tieghu marid fl-isptar, ujinghata l-urgent family leave (li hu dritt tan-nies mizzewwgin f´kazta´mard jew incidenti serji) ghandux jinghata lil koppji gay.
Hu interessanti li f´pajjizi bhal Italja, Germanja, Argentina, Cuba,Bolivia, Colombia u Spanja il-knisja Kattolika b´l-influenza lighandha fuq il-politikanti hi l-akbar ostaklu ghal-avvanzamenttad-drittijiet tal-koppji gay.
Ikun ukoll interessanti jekk l-arcisqof jispjega kif fil-"FamilyUpdate 13" li ntbahgat mill-Moviment ta´Kana ftit xhur ilu lil membri,jispjegaw li z-zwigijiet bejn nies eterosesswaliu qed jitfarkuminhabba r-rikonoxxoment taz-zwieg gay f´pajjizi bhal l-Isvezja.
Grazzi u Prosit ta´l-artikli li tiktbu
Dr. Patrick Attard
Tuesday, 21 October 2008
MGRM ADŻ FŻL: The Right of Post-Operative Trans-sexuals to marry
21.10.8
Malta Gay Rights Movement (MGRM), Forum Żgħażagħ Laburisti (FŻL) and Alternattiva Demokratika Żgħażagħ (ADŻ-Green Youth) would like to express their support to Joanne Cassar in the case that is being brought forward today in order to determine her right to marry in accordance with the European Convention of Human Rights (Article 12) of which Malta is a signatory.
The European Court of Human Rights, particularly with respect to the case of Goodwin and I vs the UK (2002) clearly found in favour of the rights of Transsexuals to marry stating that "the Court finds no justification for barring the transsexual from enjoying the right to marry under any circumstances".
In fact the deliberations of the European Court make it clear that the margin of appreciation enjoyed by contracting states is not unlimited and does not extend to denying transsexuals the right to marry under any circumstances as has been alleged by the Director of Public Registry and upheld by the Maltese Civil Court earlier this year.
We urge the Maltese Courts to be guided by the deliberations of the European Court of Human Rights in deciding on the matter. We also urge the Maltese Government to implement the required policies that would make such legal action unnecessary in respect of human dignity and the right to privacy which all of us are entitled to.
Monday, 20 October 2008
Times: The theocracy of Malta
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081020/letters/the-theocracy-of-malta
Monday, 20th October 2008
by John Guillaumier, St Julians
In a sermon at the cathedral, Archbishop Paul Cremona declared that "a democratic society would be missing out if only one belief or ideology were heard". He is absolutely right! A democratic society would be missing out if only Catholic belief or ideology were heard - as is the actual case in Malta!
The pressure on Malta's MPs to conform to "one belief or ideology" is very much evident when they gather at the cathedral on Malta's supposedly secular state holidays to be lectured every year by Malta's bishops on Catholic belief and ideology. The bishops' subtle pressure on Malta's MPs makes sure that there is no separation of Church and state in Malta. To make it worse, there is no separation of Church and press either! Sermons by Malta's bishops, supposedly addressed to a congregation but actually serving to put pressure on Malta's MPs, are given prominent coverage in The Times - as if The Times were a Church newspaper. Malta's power-hungry bishops have got it made! With Nationalist MPs and The Times on their side, the bishops can rest assured that Malta will remain a Catholic theocracy for some time to come - until a Maltese "Zapatero" comes along!
Comments
William P Flynn (10 hours, 32 minutes ago)
Nowhere is the selfishness and unassuageable hunger for power of the catholic church more evident than in the divorce debate. Divorce doesn't affect the clergy, for they don't marry; it doesn't affect catholics, for it is forbidden for them to divorce. Yet, it wants to tell everyone how to live and bully Maltese parliamentarians. Clergy bend the arms of individual elected representatives and try to choke the passage of laws through parliament.
If Maltese catholic parliamentarians want a precedent they should look at the New South Wales parliament last year passing legislation legalizing therapeutic cloning. The then premier and his deputy (both catholic) openly chastised and defied cardinal Pell for his muscling in on catholic mp's and threatening them with refusal of communion. Even catholic parliamentarians who voted against on conscience were critical of him.
Parliamentarians are sworn to act for the benefit of all their constituents not just the catholics, and certainly not the catholic church. (JN Ebejer this is what "in service of all" means.)
The church trying to stop divorce is like the government forcing the church to change canon law to allow it. The government would have no business doing that and vice versa.
j n ebejer (13 hours, 17 minutes ago)
could someone be barking up at the wrong tree?
Is it not the politicians from both parties, for the matter, who choose to attend religious ceremonies? (some of them preferably in the front row to be positively identified!)
is it not up to them to play fair on their constituents and be honest on their beliefs, convictions or ideas?
And, after all, have they not all right to conduct their life - be it, public, private ,official according to what they belief to be the right for themselves and in service of all?
What do you expect of a representative like the Bishop, preach other than his beliefs?
Could it be that some sort of critics are vehemently anti clerical, anti religion, anti belief that they cannot see otherwise?
Monday, 20th October 2008
by John Guillaumier, St Julians
In a sermon at the cathedral, Archbishop Paul Cremona declared that "a democratic society would be missing out if only one belief or ideology were heard". He is absolutely right! A democratic society would be missing out if only Catholic belief or ideology were heard - as is the actual case in Malta!
The pressure on Malta's MPs to conform to "one belief or ideology" is very much evident when they gather at the cathedral on Malta's supposedly secular state holidays to be lectured every year by Malta's bishops on Catholic belief and ideology. The bishops' subtle pressure on Malta's MPs makes sure that there is no separation of Church and state in Malta. To make it worse, there is no separation of Church and press either! Sermons by Malta's bishops, supposedly addressed to a congregation but actually serving to put pressure on Malta's MPs, are given prominent coverage in The Times - as if The Times were a Church newspaper. Malta's power-hungry bishops have got it made! With Nationalist MPs and The Times on their side, the bishops can rest assured that Malta will remain a Catholic theocracy for some time to come - until a Maltese "Zapatero" comes along!
Comments
William P Flynn (10 hours, 32 minutes ago)
Nowhere is the selfishness and unassuageable hunger for power of the catholic church more evident than in the divorce debate. Divorce doesn't affect the clergy, for they don't marry; it doesn't affect catholics, for it is forbidden for them to divorce. Yet, it wants to tell everyone how to live and bully Maltese parliamentarians. Clergy bend the arms of individual elected representatives and try to choke the passage of laws through parliament.
If Maltese catholic parliamentarians want a precedent they should look at the New South Wales parliament last year passing legislation legalizing therapeutic cloning. The then premier and his deputy (both catholic) openly chastised and defied cardinal Pell for his muscling in on catholic mp's and threatening them with refusal of communion. Even catholic parliamentarians who voted against on conscience were critical of him.
Parliamentarians are sworn to act for the benefit of all their constituents not just the catholics, and certainly not the catholic church. (JN Ebejer this is what "in service of all" means.)
The church trying to stop divorce is like the government forcing the church to change canon law to allow it. The government would have no business doing that and vice versa.
j n ebejer (13 hours, 17 minutes ago)
could someone be barking up at the wrong tree?
Is it not the politicians from both parties, for the matter, who choose to attend religious ceremonies? (some of them preferably in the front row to be positively identified!)
is it not up to them to play fair on their constituents and be honest on their beliefs, convictions or ideas?
And, after all, have they not all right to conduct their life - be it, public, private ,official according to what they belief to be the right for themselves and in service of all?
What do you expect of a representative like the Bishop, preach other than his beliefs?
Could it be that some sort of critics are vehemently anti clerical, anti religion, anti belief that they cannot see otherwise?
MGRM: Public Gathering in solidarity with Joanne Cassar, a transsexual woman.....
Dear Friends,
Invitation to a public gathering in solidarity with Joanne Cassar, a transsexual woman, who is fighting for her fundamental right to marry. This shall take place on Wednesday 22nd October in front of the Courts of Malta, Republic Street, Valletta at 9:00am. We encourage you to join us.
Stedina ghall-demostrazzjoni ta’ solidarjeta’ ma Joanne Cassar, mara transesswali, li qed tissielet ghad-dritt fundamentali taghha ghaz-zwieg. Din ser issir nhar l-Erbgha 22 ta’ Ottubru quddiem il-Qorti ta’ Malta, Triq ir-Repubblika, il-Belt Valletta fid-9am. Nheggukom tinghaqdu maghna.
Thank you
Colette Farrugia Bennett
on behalf of the
Malta Gay Rights Movement
Invitation to a public gathering in solidarity with Joanne Cassar, a transsexual woman, who is fighting for her fundamental right to marry. This shall take place on Wednesday 22nd October in front of the Courts of Malta, Republic Street, Valletta at 9:00am. We encourage you to join us.
Stedina ghall-demostrazzjoni ta’ solidarjeta’ ma Joanne Cassar, mara transesswali, li qed tissielet ghad-dritt fundamentali taghha ghaz-zwieg. Din ser issir nhar l-Erbgha 22 ta’ Ottubru quddiem il-Qorti ta’ Malta, Triq ir-Repubblika, il-Belt Valletta fid-9am. Nheggukom tinghaqdu maghna.
Thank you
Colette Farrugia Bennett
on behalf of the
Malta Gay Rights Movement
Kullhadd: Mara f’kollox minbarra fiz-zwieg
http://www.kullhadd.com/?task=2§id=&articleid=12095
Randolph De Battista
10/18/2008 6:59:24 PM
Fil-hanut tax-xaghar taghha fil-Fgura, Joanne laqghetni mill-ewwel, lesta biex tiftah qalbha fuq dak li ghaddiet minnu sa issa f’din il-battalja legali, u fuq dak li kontinwament ghaddiet minnu minn wara l-operazzjoni li setghet hallietha mejta jew fuq siggu tar-roti.
Bdejna billi tlabtha tispjegali x’hasset dak inhar li rebhet il-kawza inizjali s-sena l-ohra, qabel ma din giet revokata f’Mejju li ghadda.
Joanne sostniet li qatt ma setghet tkun ferhana u kuntenta iktar minn dak iz-zmien.
“Dak iz-zmien kont gharusa bid-dar lesta u bit-tieg imhallas, izda kien fadlilna l-ahhar pass. Imbaghad infetah ir-rikors mid-Direttur tar-Registru Pubbliku u l-Qorti regghet dawwret kollox.”
Meta staqsejtha kif thossha ghall-fatt li hi mara f’ghajnejn il-ligi, izda ghall-finijiet ta’ zwieg mhix ikkunsidrata mara, qaltli li rajna hafna koppji li jkollhom disorders li jithallew jizzewgu, u l-kaz taghha mhu xejn hlief disorder ukoll.
“Hawn hafna li jharsu lejja bhala transesswali, izda jien mhux hekk. Jien twelidt b’dizordni fl-identità. Jekk tfittex fuq din id-dizordni, u tqabbilha ma’ l-istorja ta’ hajti, tara li huma l-istess” tishaq Joanne.
Hija thoss li l-Istat m’ghandux ghalfejn icahhadha minn dritt li hu taghha meta hi mhi se tiehu xejn lura minn fuq l-istat. B’wicc serju hafna staqsietni, “jekk jien ghandi sieheb u nhobbu u hu jhobb lili, u ghandna d-dar flimkien, inhallsu t-taxxa flimkien, naghzlu l-ghamara flimkien, allura ghalfejn ahna m’ghandniex inkunu koppja maghquda bhall-ohrajn?”
Spjegajtilha li hawn numru ta’ persuni li jsostnu li l-operazzjoni ta’ gender reassignment hija biss kosmetika, u hawn kienet pronta targumenta kontra din l-idea. Harset lejja u staqsietni:
“Int kif qieghed tarani lili? Ma nahsibx li qieghed tara ragel quddiemek!”
Spjegat li meta persuna taghmel operazzjoni kosmetika, bhal meta jitkabbar is-sider, il-process kollu jista’ jerga’ jmur lura b’operazzjoni ohra. Izda l-operazzjoni li ghaddiet minnha Joanne hija irriversibbli.
“L-operazzjoni li ghamilt jiena tista’ twasslek ghall-mewt jew li tispicca l-kumplament ta’ hajtek fuq siggu tar-roti, u jekk din tirnexxielek, ma tista’ qatt tmur lura. Allura kif isejhulha operazzjoni kosmetika?”
Semmiet ukoll kif certi persuni jahsbu li din l-operazzjoni ssir ghall-popolarità, izda qalet li fil-kaz taghha, hi ghamlitha biex thossha mentalment komda biha nnifisa, u li wahda mix-xewqat li dejjem kellha minn meta kienet zghira, kienet proprju li jkollha l-flus biex taghmel l-operazzjoni.
“Hafna nies, inkluza ommi, kienu jghiduli x’se naghmel ghax hija operazzjoni kerha hafna u li biha nista’ mmut, imma t-twegiba tieghi dejjem kienet li jien kuntenta mejta u fuq l-irhama tiktbuli Joanne Cassar milli tghajjtuli bl-isem li kelli.”
Hawnhekk hija sostniet li hadd ma jista’ jifhem din is-sitwazzjoni jekk ma jghaddix minnha personalment. Temmen li lanqas jekk ikun hemm xi hadd fil-familja tieghek ma jifhimha, ghax trid tesperjenza kollox biex tifhem dak li jghaddu minnu.
“Mohhi jirraguna ta’ mara. Jekk nara ragel se joghgobni; nitkellem bhan-nisa; nirraguna ta’ mara. Il-burdata tieghi hija ta’ mara, kif jghiduli li jien m’inix mara? Dan mhux ghax irrid jien, jew ghax irrid immur nimmudella fit-toroq, jew biex insir famuza, izda ghax jien mara bhall-ohrajn.”
Staqsejtha jekk tahsibx li dan kollu jirriflettix is-sahha li ghandha l-Knisja f’pajjizna, u t-twegiba taghha kienet li tifhem u tirrispetta l-punt li l-Knisja ma tippermettix nies bhalha jizzewwgu, ghax din hija xi haga li l-Knisja ilha temmen snin, u mhux qeghdin jaghmlu hekk ghax ma jridux specifikament lilha tizzewweg. Kompliet tghid li hija persuna Kattolika li titqarben u tqerr bhall-Kattolici kollha.
Single u tibqa’ tiggieled
Joanne thoss li minkejja li issa regghet single, m’ghandhiex ghalfejn tieqaf milli tiggieled ghal dak li hu taghha.
“Jien kont ftaht il-kawza ghax kont gharusa u kelli relazzjoni b’sahhitha ta’ hames snin. Irbahtha u l-Qorti qatghetha li nista’ nizzewweg. Imbaghad inqala’ dak li nqala’ u ergajt spiccajt single. Meta nqatghet kontrija m’ghidtx li issa li haduli d-dritt, ghandi nieqaf.”
Sostniet li ta’ 27 sena thoss li ghandha hajja shiha quddiemha u tista’ tiltaqa’ ma’ xi hadd iktar ‘il quddiem u jiddeciedu li jizzewgu ghax ikunu jinhabbu.
“Ghaliex jien single se nieqaf milli niggieled ghal dak li huwa tieghi? Jien ma nixtieqx inkun f’koabitazzjoni, izda nixtieq li jkolli ragel u nkunu maghqudin bhall-koppji normali,” sostniet minn qalbha Joanne.
Meta semmietli li hija determinata tiehu l-kaz taghha quddiem il-Qorti Ewropea tad-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem gewwa Strasburgu, ikkummentajt li mhix xi haga facli, izda kienet pronta hatfitni fil-kelma.
“La wasalt s’hawn, xejn mhu difficli. La ghamilt l-operazzjoni u ma bzajtx immut, hadd u xejn ma jaqtaghli qalbi. Lanqas jekk il-Gvern jghidli li ma nistax nizzewweg, ghax xorta nibqa’ sa l-ahhar biex niehu d-dritt li qed icahhduni minnu.”
Hija emfasizzat il-punt li d-drittijiet fundamentali tal-bniedem kulhadd jafhom u la ahna membri ta’ l-Unjoni Ewropea, hemm istituzzjoni oghla mill-awtoritajiet Maltin biex tizgura li dawn id-drittijiet jitharsu.
Joanne sahqet li jekk f’pajjizna noqghodu lura ghax konservattivi, l-Unjoni Ewropea jinteressaha li c-cittadini Ewropej ikunu mharsa u allura mhix se tkun skuza ghall-Malta li noqghodu lura milli niehdu d-decizjonijiet.
“Jekk il-Qorti ta’ Strasburgu taqta’ l-kaz favurija, l-Gvern Malti jrid jimxi mad-decizjoni taghha.”
Hija ziedet tghid li jekk ikollha titla’ quddiem il-Qorti Ewropea, minkejja li se tkun esperjenza gdida ghaliha, hi ghandha l-kuragg li se ssib appogg ghax hafna persuni bhalha nghataw dan id-dritt, u ma tarax li l-kaz taghha huwa differenti.
Ma stajtx hawnhekk ma nistaqsihiex jekk tikkunsidrax issiefer barra minn Malta biex tizzewweg. Izda hi wiegbet li jekk se tizzewweg, tixtieq li tkun rikonoxxuta li mizzewga kull fejn tmur, minghajr problemi.
“Ma rridx nizzewweg barra minn Malta, sempliciment biex inkun izzewwigt ghax iz-zwieg ifisser hafna iktar minn hekk,” sahqet Joanne.
Tlabtha ssemmili issa dak li kienet thoss qabel ma ghamlet l-operazzjoni u sahansitra qabel ma sarulha t-tibdiliet fil-karta ta’ l-identità. Hawn qaltli li kienet thossa skomda hafna u imbarazzata ghax dak li kien hemm imnizzel fuq il-karta ta’ l-identità, kien tad-dahk ghax ma jixhidx il-verità.
“Immagina lil xi hadd li jismu Joseph, nghajjatlu b’isem ta’ mara quddiem kotra nies. Nahseb jimbarazza ruhu hux? Daqstant iehor kont inkun jien.”
Izda punt ta’ min wiehed jammira f’Joanne hu li dawn l-esperjenzi gharfet tghelibhom. Sahqet li ma kinitx thalli dawn l-esperjenzi jwaqqghuha hazin, izda giegheluha tikber u timmatura biex issir iktar edukata u tolleranti lejn in-nies ta’ madwarha.
Rigward is-socjetà Maltija, hija sahqet li fortunatament ma sabitx xi problemi kbar min-nies ta’ madwarha.
“Illum il-gurnata ghandi hanut tax-xaghar li jlaqqani ma’ kull tip ta’ nies, gieli anke nkun fuq programmi tat-televixin naghmel ix-xaghar u l-make up. Jien m’inix persuna li noqghod lura, anzi pjuttost inhoss li persuni bhali ghandhom johorgu u ma jibzghux mis-socjetà.”
Appogg sabet ukoll tul dawn l-ahhar xhur. Joanne tirringrazzja lill-ghaqdiet u l-individwi li wrew l-appogg taghhom lejha biex tkompli miexja ‘l quddiem.
“Meta nisma’ lil xi hadd jghid li jien kont ragel inhossni kburija, ghax dak ghalija kumpliment ghax ifisser li issa m’humhiex qeghdin jemmnu kif inbdilt hekk.”
Izda fuq persuni li jipprovaw jiddiehku b’dak li jkun, Joanne tishaq li fil-hajja trid taccetta lil kulhadd “ghax illum jien, ghada int u mbaghad ulied uliedek. Fil-hajja ma trid tiehu xejn bi kbir.”
Zball tan-natura, mutazzjoni
Staqsejtha mbaghad x’tifhem b’persuna transesswali. Qaltli li skont hi, dan huwa persuna gay li jilbes ta’ mara, u mhux mara.
“Ma nahsibx li ahna ha noqghodu nilbsu l-parrokki u r-rix biex immorru ghax-xoghol. Jien inhoss li jien mara normali. Fil-karta ta’ l-identità ghandi miktub li jien mara, mela kif tghajjatli transesswali?”
Spjegat kif jekk xi hadd ikun ilu hajjtu kollha jixtieq li jirranga zball li jkollu go fih, meta jsib ir-rimedju ghall-izball, jiehu l-opportunità u jbiddlu. Dan huwa proprju dak li ghamlet Joanne bl-operazzjoni taghha. Nehhiet zball li kellha fin-natura taghha.
Il-mistoqsija harget awtomatika. Jigifieri qed tghid li gejt bi zball tan-natura? Irrispondietni hekk.
“Daz-zgur li zball tan-natura. Jien m’inix qieghda nwahhal fil-genituri, jew fil-Mulej, izda qieghda nghid li dan kien zball ta’ meta kont fil-guf t’ommi, mutazzjoni. Issa llum il-gurnata hawn rimedju biex tirranga dak l-izball u n-nies tad-dinja minflok jippruvaw jghinuk biex tirrangah, jippruvaw jergghu jitfghuk gol-guf t’ommok.”
Wasalna fl-ahhar u tlabtha tghidli dak li qieghed jghaddi minn mohhha qabel nhar l-Erbgha, meta se tkun qieghda tibda l-ahhar tama lokali. Qaltli li qieghda thares ‘il quddiem hafna ghax hija esperjenza li se taghtiha c-cans li dejjem xtaqet.
“Jien inhalli f’idejn il-Mulej. J’Alla s-sentenza tkun tajba ghalija u ghal min hu bhali, u nispera li din il-kwistjoni tkun rizolta fil-qrati ta’ Malta biex ma jkollix ghalfejn niftah kawza kontra l-pajjiz li tant inhobb”
Joanne tahseb ukoll fuq kif ikun iz-zwieg taghha jekk tasal biex taghmel dan il-pass. Issostni li kieku jkun tieg minghajr cerimonji zejda, izda tixtieq li tibqa’ maghquda mal-persuna li tkun thobb biex tkun il-mera ghal kulhadd.
L-ahhar kliem imbaghad kienu dawn.
“Illum il-gurnata kulhadd jghajjat fuq l-ghaqda fil-familja u jien ghax irrid proprju dan kollu, l-istat qed jghidli le. X’iriduni naghmel mela?!”
Randolph De Battista
10/18/2008 6:59:24 PM
Fil-hanut tax-xaghar taghha fil-Fgura, Joanne laqghetni mill-ewwel, lesta biex tiftah qalbha fuq dak li ghaddiet minnu sa issa f’din il-battalja legali, u fuq dak li kontinwament ghaddiet minnu minn wara l-operazzjoni li setghet hallietha mejta jew fuq siggu tar-roti.
Bdejna billi tlabtha tispjegali x’hasset dak inhar li rebhet il-kawza inizjali s-sena l-ohra, qabel ma din giet revokata f’Mejju li ghadda.
Joanne sostniet li qatt ma setghet tkun ferhana u kuntenta iktar minn dak iz-zmien.
“Dak iz-zmien kont gharusa bid-dar lesta u bit-tieg imhallas, izda kien fadlilna l-ahhar pass. Imbaghad infetah ir-rikors mid-Direttur tar-Registru Pubbliku u l-Qorti regghet dawwret kollox.”
Meta staqsejtha kif thossha ghall-fatt li hi mara f’ghajnejn il-ligi, izda ghall-finijiet ta’ zwieg mhix ikkunsidrata mara, qaltli li rajna hafna koppji li jkollhom disorders li jithallew jizzewgu, u l-kaz taghha mhu xejn hlief disorder ukoll.
“Hawn hafna li jharsu lejja bhala transesswali, izda jien mhux hekk. Jien twelidt b’dizordni fl-identità. Jekk tfittex fuq din id-dizordni, u tqabbilha ma’ l-istorja ta’ hajti, tara li huma l-istess” tishaq Joanne.
Hija thoss li l-Istat m’ghandux ghalfejn icahhadha minn dritt li hu taghha meta hi mhi se tiehu xejn lura minn fuq l-istat. B’wicc serju hafna staqsietni, “jekk jien ghandi sieheb u nhobbu u hu jhobb lili, u ghandna d-dar flimkien, inhallsu t-taxxa flimkien, naghzlu l-ghamara flimkien, allura ghalfejn ahna m’ghandniex inkunu koppja maghquda bhall-ohrajn?”
Spjegajtilha li hawn numru ta’ persuni li jsostnu li l-operazzjoni ta’ gender reassignment hija biss kosmetika, u hawn kienet pronta targumenta kontra din l-idea. Harset lejja u staqsietni:
“Int kif qieghed tarani lili? Ma nahsibx li qieghed tara ragel quddiemek!”
Spjegat li meta persuna taghmel operazzjoni kosmetika, bhal meta jitkabbar is-sider, il-process kollu jista’ jerga’ jmur lura b’operazzjoni ohra. Izda l-operazzjoni li ghaddiet minnha Joanne hija irriversibbli.
“L-operazzjoni li ghamilt jiena tista’ twasslek ghall-mewt jew li tispicca l-kumplament ta’ hajtek fuq siggu tar-roti, u jekk din tirnexxielek, ma tista’ qatt tmur lura. Allura kif isejhulha operazzjoni kosmetika?”
Semmiet ukoll kif certi persuni jahsbu li din l-operazzjoni ssir ghall-popolarità, izda qalet li fil-kaz taghha, hi ghamlitha biex thossha mentalment komda biha nnifisa, u li wahda mix-xewqat li dejjem kellha minn meta kienet zghira, kienet proprju li jkollha l-flus biex taghmel l-operazzjoni.
“Hafna nies, inkluza ommi, kienu jghiduli x’se naghmel ghax hija operazzjoni kerha hafna u li biha nista’ mmut, imma t-twegiba tieghi dejjem kienet li jien kuntenta mejta u fuq l-irhama tiktbuli Joanne Cassar milli tghajjtuli bl-isem li kelli.”
Hawnhekk hija sostniet li hadd ma jista’ jifhem din is-sitwazzjoni jekk ma jghaddix minnha personalment. Temmen li lanqas jekk ikun hemm xi hadd fil-familja tieghek ma jifhimha, ghax trid tesperjenza kollox biex tifhem dak li jghaddu minnu.
“Mohhi jirraguna ta’ mara. Jekk nara ragel se joghgobni; nitkellem bhan-nisa; nirraguna ta’ mara. Il-burdata tieghi hija ta’ mara, kif jghiduli li jien m’inix mara? Dan mhux ghax irrid jien, jew ghax irrid immur nimmudella fit-toroq, jew biex insir famuza, izda ghax jien mara bhall-ohrajn.”
Staqsejtha jekk tahsibx li dan kollu jirriflettix is-sahha li ghandha l-Knisja f’pajjizna, u t-twegiba taghha kienet li tifhem u tirrispetta l-punt li l-Knisja ma tippermettix nies bhalha jizzewwgu, ghax din hija xi haga li l-Knisja ilha temmen snin, u mhux qeghdin jaghmlu hekk ghax ma jridux specifikament lilha tizzewweg. Kompliet tghid li hija persuna Kattolika li titqarben u tqerr bhall-Kattolici kollha.
Single u tibqa’ tiggieled
Joanne thoss li minkejja li issa regghet single, m’ghandhiex ghalfejn tieqaf milli tiggieled ghal dak li hu taghha.
“Jien kont ftaht il-kawza ghax kont gharusa u kelli relazzjoni b’sahhitha ta’ hames snin. Irbahtha u l-Qorti qatghetha li nista’ nizzewweg. Imbaghad inqala’ dak li nqala’ u ergajt spiccajt single. Meta nqatghet kontrija m’ghidtx li issa li haduli d-dritt, ghandi nieqaf.”
Sostniet li ta’ 27 sena thoss li ghandha hajja shiha quddiemha u tista’ tiltaqa’ ma’ xi hadd iktar ‘il quddiem u jiddeciedu li jizzewgu ghax ikunu jinhabbu.
“Ghaliex jien single se nieqaf milli niggieled ghal dak li huwa tieghi? Jien ma nixtieqx inkun f’koabitazzjoni, izda nixtieq li jkolli ragel u nkunu maghqudin bhall-koppji normali,” sostniet minn qalbha Joanne.
Meta semmietli li hija determinata tiehu l-kaz taghha quddiem il-Qorti Ewropea tad-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem gewwa Strasburgu, ikkummentajt li mhix xi haga facli, izda kienet pronta hatfitni fil-kelma.
“La wasalt s’hawn, xejn mhu difficli. La ghamilt l-operazzjoni u ma bzajtx immut, hadd u xejn ma jaqtaghli qalbi. Lanqas jekk il-Gvern jghidli li ma nistax nizzewweg, ghax xorta nibqa’ sa l-ahhar biex niehu d-dritt li qed icahhduni minnu.”
Hija emfasizzat il-punt li d-drittijiet fundamentali tal-bniedem kulhadd jafhom u la ahna membri ta’ l-Unjoni Ewropea, hemm istituzzjoni oghla mill-awtoritajiet Maltin biex tizgura li dawn id-drittijiet jitharsu.
Joanne sahqet li jekk f’pajjizna noqghodu lura ghax konservattivi, l-Unjoni Ewropea jinteressaha li c-cittadini Ewropej ikunu mharsa u allura mhix se tkun skuza ghall-Malta li noqghodu lura milli niehdu d-decizjonijiet.
“Jekk il-Qorti ta’ Strasburgu taqta’ l-kaz favurija, l-Gvern Malti jrid jimxi mad-decizjoni taghha.”
Hija ziedet tghid li jekk ikollha titla’ quddiem il-Qorti Ewropea, minkejja li se tkun esperjenza gdida ghaliha, hi ghandha l-kuragg li se ssib appogg ghax hafna persuni bhalha nghataw dan id-dritt, u ma tarax li l-kaz taghha huwa differenti.
Ma stajtx hawnhekk ma nistaqsihiex jekk tikkunsidrax issiefer barra minn Malta biex tizzewweg. Izda hi wiegbet li jekk se tizzewweg, tixtieq li tkun rikonoxxuta li mizzewga kull fejn tmur, minghajr problemi.
“Ma rridx nizzewweg barra minn Malta, sempliciment biex inkun izzewwigt ghax iz-zwieg ifisser hafna iktar minn hekk,” sahqet Joanne.
Tlabtha ssemmili issa dak li kienet thoss qabel ma ghamlet l-operazzjoni u sahansitra qabel ma sarulha t-tibdiliet fil-karta ta’ l-identità. Hawn qaltli li kienet thossa skomda hafna u imbarazzata ghax dak li kien hemm imnizzel fuq il-karta ta’ l-identità, kien tad-dahk ghax ma jixhidx il-verità.
“Immagina lil xi hadd li jismu Joseph, nghajjatlu b’isem ta’ mara quddiem kotra nies. Nahseb jimbarazza ruhu hux? Daqstant iehor kont inkun jien.”
Izda punt ta’ min wiehed jammira f’Joanne hu li dawn l-esperjenzi gharfet tghelibhom. Sahqet li ma kinitx thalli dawn l-esperjenzi jwaqqghuha hazin, izda giegheluha tikber u timmatura biex issir iktar edukata u tolleranti lejn in-nies ta’ madwarha.
Rigward is-socjetà Maltija, hija sahqet li fortunatament ma sabitx xi problemi kbar min-nies ta’ madwarha.
“Illum il-gurnata ghandi hanut tax-xaghar li jlaqqani ma’ kull tip ta’ nies, gieli anke nkun fuq programmi tat-televixin naghmel ix-xaghar u l-make up. Jien m’inix persuna li noqghod lura, anzi pjuttost inhoss li persuni bhali ghandhom johorgu u ma jibzghux mis-socjetà.”
Appogg sabet ukoll tul dawn l-ahhar xhur. Joanne tirringrazzja lill-ghaqdiet u l-individwi li wrew l-appogg taghhom lejha biex tkompli miexja ‘l quddiem.
“Meta nisma’ lil xi hadd jghid li jien kont ragel inhossni kburija, ghax dak ghalija kumpliment ghax ifisser li issa m’humhiex qeghdin jemmnu kif inbdilt hekk.”
Izda fuq persuni li jipprovaw jiddiehku b’dak li jkun, Joanne tishaq li fil-hajja trid taccetta lil kulhadd “ghax illum jien, ghada int u mbaghad ulied uliedek. Fil-hajja ma trid tiehu xejn bi kbir.”
Zball tan-natura, mutazzjoni
Staqsejtha mbaghad x’tifhem b’persuna transesswali. Qaltli li skont hi, dan huwa persuna gay li jilbes ta’ mara, u mhux mara.
“Ma nahsibx li ahna ha noqghodu nilbsu l-parrokki u r-rix biex immorru ghax-xoghol. Jien inhoss li jien mara normali. Fil-karta ta’ l-identità ghandi miktub li jien mara, mela kif tghajjatli transesswali?”
Spjegat kif jekk xi hadd ikun ilu hajjtu kollha jixtieq li jirranga zball li jkollu go fih, meta jsib ir-rimedju ghall-izball, jiehu l-opportunità u jbiddlu. Dan huwa proprju dak li ghamlet Joanne bl-operazzjoni taghha. Nehhiet zball li kellha fin-natura taghha.
Il-mistoqsija harget awtomatika. Jigifieri qed tghid li gejt bi zball tan-natura? Irrispondietni hekk.
“Daz-zgur li zball tan-natura. Jien m’inix qieghda nwahhal fil-genituri, jew fil-Mulej, izda qieghda nghid li dan kien zball ta’ meta kont fil-guf t’ommi, mutazzjoni. Issa llum il-gurnata hawn rimedju biex tirranga dak l-izball u n-nies tad-dinja minflok jippruvaw jghinuk biex tirrangah, jippruvaw jergghu jitfghuk gol-guf t’ommok.”
Wasalna fl-ahhar u tlabtha tghidli dak li qieghed jghaddi minn mohhha qabel nhar l-Erbgha, meta se tkun qieghda tibda l-ahhar tama lokali. Qaltli li qieghda thares ‘il quddiem hafna ghax hija esperjenza li se taghtiha c-cans li dejjem xtaqet.
“Jien inhalli f’idejn il-Mulej. J’Alla s-sentenza tkun tajba ghalija u ghal min hu bhali, u nispera li din il-kwistjoni tkun rizolta fil-qrati ta’ Malta biex ma jkollix ghalfejn niftah kawza kontra l-pajjiz li tant inhobb”
Joanne tahseb ukoll fuq kif ikun iz-zwieg taghha jekk tasal biex taghmel dan il-pass. Issostni li kieku jkun tieg minghajr cerimonji zejda, izda tixtieq li tibqa’ maghquda mal-persuna li tkun thobb biex tkun il-mera ghal kulhadd.
L-ahhar kliem imbaghad kienu dawn.
“Illum il-gurnata kulhadd jghajjat fuq l-ghaqda fil-familja u jien ghax irrid proprju dan kollu, l-istat qed jghidli le. X’iriduni naghmel mela?!”
Friday, 17 October 2008
Times: Gay marriage fundraiser reaches for stars
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081017/world-news/gay-marriage-fundraiser-reaches-for-stars
Friday, 17th October 2008 - 10:29CET
Battling to save the right to same-sex marriage in what is expected to be a close state vote next month, California gay rights backers are turning to Hollywood celebrities for help at a major fundraiser.
Actress and singer Barbra Streisand is expected at the event on Tuesday and singers Melissa Etheridge and Mary J. Blige will perform, organisers said yesterday.
Supermarket billionaire Ron Burkle will host the event at his Beverly Hills home, with a private $25,000-a-plate dinner. Among other entertainment figures planning to attend are actor/director Rob Reiner.
In recent weeks, director Steven Spielberg and actor Brad Pitt each donated $100,000 in support of the campaign to preserve the right to gay marriage.
The fundraiser comes as backers of same-sex marriage fight to stem a tide of support for Proposition 8, a November 4 ballot measure that seeks to define marriage under the California Constitution as only between a man and a woman.
A poll released last week by Survey USA showed 47 percent of Californians supported the measure, while 42 percent opposed it.
"We're feeling very good about the surge in the campaign," said Sonja Eddings Brown, a spokesman for Protect Marriage, the group advocating for a "Yes" vote on Proposition 8.
The "Yes" campaign has raised $25.4 million, compared with $15.8 million for those who wish to maintain the right to gay marriage.
In recent weeks, advocates of same-sex marriage have chided the Hollywood community for failing to contribute cash to the campaign to defeat Proposition 8.
But Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California, said the fundraiser would show Hollywood's support for same-sex marriage rights.
"Having support from Hollywood leaders who are visible, who reach a wide audience, is critical to our success," Kors said.
"It's always really scary when you're being outspent 2 to 1 in an election, and when your rights are at stake and someone's trying to take your rights away," he added.
In recent days, opponents of same-sex marriage have stepped up their television advertising and warned voters that if Proposition 8 is defeated, children will be taught about gay marriage in elementary schools.
Gay-marriage supporters call that argument misleading.
In California, an estimated 11,000 same-sex couples have married since the state's highest court in May overturned a state ban on same-sex marriage.
Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres and actress Portia de Rossi wed in August in one the most high-profile same-sex unions. Etheridge has said she plans to marry girlfriend Tammy Lynn Michaels before November 4.
DeGeneres released an online video message this week urging California voters to strike down Proposition 8.
Gay and lesbian marriage was legalized last week in Connecticut, bringing to three the number of US states that allow it.
Friday, 17th October 2008 - 10:29CET
Battling to save the right to same-sex marriage in what is expected to be a close state vote next month, California gay rights backers are turning to Hollywood celebrities for help at a major fundraiser.
Actress and singer Barbra Streisand is expected at the event on Tuesday and singers Melissa Etheridge and Mary J. Blige will perform, organisers said yesterday.
Supermarket billionaire Ron Burkle will host the event at his Beverly Hills home, with a private $25,000-a-plate dinner. Among other entertainment figures planning to attend are actor/director Rob Reiner.
In recent weeks, director Steven Spielberg and actor Brad Pitt each donated $100,000 in support of the campaign to preserve the right to gay marriage.
The fundraiser comes as backers of same-sex marriage fight to stem a tide of support for Proposition 8, a November 4 ballot measure that seeks to define marriage under the California Constitution as only between a man and a woman.
A poll released last week by Survey USA showed 47 percent of Californians supported the measure, while 42 percent opposed it.
"We're feeling very good about the surge in the campaign," said Sonja Eddings Brown, a spokesman for Protect Marriage, the group advocating for a "Yes" vote on Proposition 8.
The "Yes" campaign has raised $25.4 million, compared with $15.8 million for those who wish to maintain the right to gay marriage.
In recent weeks, advocates of same-sex marriage have chided the Hollywood community for failing to contribute cash to the campaign to defeat Proposition 8.
But Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California, said the fundraiser would show Hollywood's support for same-sex marriage rights.
"Having support from Hollywood leaders who are visible, who reach a wide audience, is critical to our success," Kors said.
"It's always really scary when you're being outspent 2 to 1 in an election, and when your rights are at stake and someone's trying to take your rights away," he added.
In recent days, opponents of same-sex marriage have stepped up their television advertising and warned voters that if Proposition 8 is defeated, children will be taught about gay marriage in elementary schools.
Gay-marriage supporters call that argument misleading.
In California, an estimated 11,000 same-sex couples have married since the state's highest court in May overturned a state ban on same-sex marriage.
Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres and actress Portia de Rossi wed in August in one the most high-profile same-sex unions. Etheridge has said she plans to marry girlfriend Tammy Lynn Michaels before November 4.
DeGeneres released an online video message this week urging California voters to strike down Proposition 8.
Gay and lesbian marriage was legalized last week in Connecticut, bringing to three the number of US states that allow it.
Monday, 13 October 2008
It-Torċa: Il-knisja kattolika u l-omosesswalità
http://www.it-torca.com/news.asp?newsitemid=7513
12.10.8; minn Marisa Xuereb, Malta Gay Rights Movement, 32 Triq il-Parrocca, Mosta
L-omelija li għamel l-Isqof t’Għawdex fl-aħħar ta’ Awwissu qajmet dibattitu jaħraq fuq din il-gazzetta dwar il-knisja kattolika u l-omosesswalità.
Sfortunatament il-pożizzjoni stinata u ostili tal-knisja fir-rigward tal-omosesswalità ftit li xejn tħalli lok għal dibattitu kostruttiv dwar kif tista’ tkun eliminata d-diskriminazzjoni fil-konfront tal-persuni gay f’Malta u kif paj-jiżna jista’ jilħaq livell ta’ ċiviltà għoli fl-interess ta’ kulħadd.
Il-kwistjonijiet li għandna quddiemna huma ta’ natura soċjali, u għalkemm il-knisja – bħal kull entità oħra – għandha kull dritt li tgħid x’taħseb, m’hemmx lok għal diskussjoni ma’ min irid jimponi t-twemmin tiegħu fuq ħaddieħor.
Il-ħasra hi li fis-soċjetà tagħna għad hawn min jaħseb li għandu xi obbligu morali li jimponi t-twemmin tiegħu fuq ħaddieħor, bħal dik l-għalliema li kitbet lil din il-gazzetta li “l-omosesswalità għandha tit-ħalla għall-ġenb” (Elsie Car-uana, ‘L-omosesswali u d-dnub’, 07-09-2008). Wieħed jittama li dawk li qegħdin imexxu dan il-pajjiż m’humiex tal-istess fehma, għalkemm il-pass kajman li bih mexjin l-affarijiet fil-konfront tal-persuni gay iqanqal ċertu tħassib f’dan ir-rigward.
Iżda ta’ min wieħed jinnota b’sodisfazzjon li diversi setturi tal-midja Maltija, ewlenija fosthom din il-gazzetta, qegħdin jagħrfu r-rwol tagħhom fil-promozzjoni ta’ diskussjoni mif-tuħa li tagħti spazju lill-minoranzi, u jwettqu dan b’impenn sħiħ lejn soċjetà aħjar.
Grazzi tal-impenn tagħkom.
12.10.8; minn Marisa Xuereb, Malta Gay Rights Movement, 32 Triq il-Parrocca, Mosta
L-omelija li għamel l-Isqof t’Għawdex fl-aħħar ta’ Awwissu qajmet dibattitu jaħraq fuq din il-gazzetta dwar il-knisja kattolika u l-omosesswalità.
Sfortunatament il-pożizzjoni stinata u ostili tal-knisja fir-rigward tal-omosesswalità ftit li xejn tħalli lok għal dibattitu kostruttiv dwar kif tista’ tkun eliminata d-diskriminazzjoni fil-konfront tal-persuni gay f’Malta u kif paj-jiżna jista’ jilħaq livell ta’ ċiviltà għoli fl-interess ta’ kulħadd.
Il-kwistjonijiet li għandna quddiemna huma ta’ natura soċjali, u għalkemm il-knisja – bħal kull entità oħra – għandha kull dritt li tgħid x’taħseb, m’hemmx lok għal diskussjoni ma’ min irid jimponi t-twemmin tiegħu fuq ħaddieħor.
Il-ħasra hi li fis-soċjetà tagħna għad hawn min jaħseb li għandu xi obbligu morali li jimponi t-twemmin tiegħu fuq ħaddieħor, bħal dik l-għalliema li kitbet lil din il-gazzetta li “l-omosesswalità għandha tit-ħalla għall-ġenb” (Elsie Car-uana, ‘L-omosesswali u d-dnub’, 07-09-2008). Wieħed jittama li dawk li qegħdin imexxu dan il-pajjiż m’humiex tal-istess fehma, għalkemm il-pass kajman li bih mexjin l-affarijiet fil-konfront tal-persuni gay iqanqal ċertu tħassib f’dan ir-rigward.
Iżda ta’ min wieħed jinnota b’sodisfazzjon li diversi setturi tal-midja Maltija, ewlenija fosthom din il-gazzetta, qegħdin jagħrfu r-rwol tagħhom fil-promozzjoni ta’ diskussjoni mif-tuħa li tagħti spazju lill-minoranzi, u jwettqu dan b’impenn sħiħ lejn soċjetà aħjar.
Grazzi tal-impenn tagħkom.
Saturday, 11 October 2008
New York Times: Portugal: Bills to Legalize Same-Sex Marriages Fail
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/11/world/europe/11briefs-BILLSTOLEGAL_BRF.html?ref=world
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS; Published: October 10, 2008
Parliament rejected by a large majority on Friday two proposals to allow same-sex marriages. Two minor opposition parties, the Left Bloc and the Green Party, had offered the bills. The Green Party’s bill collected only 17 votes in the 230-seat legislature; the Left Bloc’s won the support of 11 lawmakers.
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS; Published: October 10, 2008
Parliament rejected by a large majority on Friday two proposals to allow same-sex marriages. Two minor opposition parties, the Left Bloc and the Green Party, had offered the bills. The Green Party’s bill collected only 17 votes in the 230-seat legislature; the Left Bloc’s won the support of 11 lawmakers.
New York Times: Gay Marriage Is Ruled Legal in Connecticut
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/11/nyregion/11marriage.html
By ROBERT D. McFADDEN; Published: October 10, 2008
A sharply divided Connecticut Supreme Court struck down the state’s civil union law on Friday and ruled that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry. Connecticut thus joins Massachusetts and California as the only states to have legalized gay marriages.
Joanne Mock, right, and Elizabeth Kerrigan, with their son Carlos, 6, were among eight couples who sued to get marriage licenses.
The ruling, which cannot be appealed and is to take effect on Oct. 28, held that a state law limiting marriage to heterosexual couples, and a civil union law intended to provide all the rights and privileges of marriage to same-sex couples, violated the constitutional guarantees of equal protection under the law.
Striking at the heart of discriminatory traditions in America, the court — in language that often rose above the legal landscape into realms of social justice for a new century — recalled that laws in the not-so-distant past barred interracial marriages, excluded women from occupations and official duties, and relegated blacks to separate but supposedly equal public facilities.
“Like these once prevalent views, our conventional understanding of marriage must yield to a more contemporary appreciation of the rights entitled to constitutional protection,” Justice Richard N. Palmer wrote for the majority in a 4-to-3 decision that explored the nature of homosexual identity, the history of societal views toward homosexuality and the limits of gay political power compared with that of blacks and women.
“Interpreting our state constitutional provisions in accordance with firmly established equal protection principles leads inevitably to the conclusion that gay persons are entitled to marry the otherwise qualified same-sex partner of their choice,” Justice Palmer declared. “To decide otherwise would require us to apply one set of constitutional principles to gay persons and another to all others.”
The ruling was groundbreaking in various respects. In addition to establishing Connecticut as the third state to sanction same-sex marriage, it was the first state high court ruling to hold that civil union statutes specifically violated the equal protection clause of a state constitution. The Massachusetts high court held in 2004 that same-sex marriages were legal, while California’s court decision in May related to domestic partnerships and not the more broadly defined civil unions.
The Connecticut decision, which elicited strong dissenting opinions from three justices, also opened the door to marriage a bit wider for gay couples in New York, where state laws do not provide for same-sex marriages or civil unions, although Gov. David A. Paterson recently issued an executive order requiring government agencies to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.
The opinion in Connecticut was hailed by jubilant gay couples and their advocates as a fulfillment of years of hopes and dreams. Hugs, kisses and cheers greeted eight same-sex couples as they entered the ballroom at the Hartford Hilton, where four years ago they had announced they would file a lawsuit seeking marriage licenses.
One of those couples, Joanne Mock, 53, and her partner, Elizabeth Kerrigan, 52, stood with their twin 6-year-old sons, choking back tears of joy and gratitude. Another plaintiff, Garret Stack, 59, introduced his partner, John Anderson, 63, and said: “For 28 years we have been engaged. We can now register at Home Depot and prepare for marriage.”
Religious and conservative groups called the ruling an outrage but not unexpected, and spoke of steps to enact a constitutional ban on gay marriage. Peter Wolfgang, executive director of the Family Institute of Connecticut, blamed “robed masters” and “philosopher kings” on the court. “This is about our right to govern ourselves,” he said. “It is bigger than gay marriage.”
But the state, a principal defendant in the lawsuit, appeared to be resigned to the outcome.
Gov. M. Jodi Rell said that she disagreed with the decision, but would uphold it. “The Supreme Court has spoken,” she said. “I do not believe their voice reflects the majority of the people of Connecticut. However, I am also firmly convinced that attempts to reverse this decision, either legislatively or by amending the state Constitution, will not meet with success.”
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said his office was reviewing the decision to determine whether laws and procedures will have to be revised — local officials will issue marriage licenses to gay couples without question, for example — but he offered no challenge and said it would soon be implemented.
The case was watched far beyond Hartford. Vermont, New Hampshire and New Jersey all have civil union statutes, while Maine, Washington, Oregon and Hawaii have domestic partnership laws that allow same-sex couples many of the same rights granted to those in civil unions. Advocates for same-sex couples have long argued that civil unions and domestic partnerships denied them the financial, social and emotional benefits accorded in a marriage.
Text of the Ruling (pdf)
The legal underpinnings for gay marriages, civil unions and statutory partnerships have all come in legislative actions and decisions in lawsuits. Next month, however, voters in California will decide whether the state Constitution should permit same-sex marriage.
The Connecticut case began in 2004 after the eight same-sex couples were denied marriage licenses by the town of Madison. Reflecting the contentiousness and wide interest in the case, a long list of state, national and international organizations on both sides filed friend-of-the-court briefs. The plaintiffs contended that the denial of marriage licenses deprived them of due process and equal protection under the law.
While the case was pending, the legislature in 2005 adopted a law establishing the right of same-sex partners to enter into civil unions that conferred all the rights and privileges of marriage. But, at the insistence of the governor, the law also defined marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
Arguments in the case centered on whether civil unions and marriages conferred equal rights, and on whether same-sex couples should be treated as what the court called a “suspect class” or “quasi-suspect class” — a group, like blacks or women, that has experienced a history of discrimination and was thus entitled to increased scrutiny and protection by the state in the promulgation of its laws.
Among the criteria for inclusion as a suspect class, the court said, were whether gay people could “control” their sexual orientation, whether they were “politically powerless” and whether being gay had a bearing on one’s ability to contribute to society.
A lower-court judge, Patty Jenkins Pittman of Superior Court in New Haven, sided with the state, denying that gay men and lesbians were entitled to special consideration as a suspect class and concluding that the differences between civil unions and marriages amounted to no more than nomenclature. The Supreme Court reversed the lower-court ruling.
“Although marriage and civil unions do embody the same legal rights under our law, they are by no means equal,” Justice Palmer wrote in the majority opinion, joined by Justices Flemming L. Norcott Jr., Joette Katz and Lubbie Harper. “The former is an institution of transcendent historical, cultural and social significance, whereas the latter is not.”
The court said it was aware that many people held deep-seated religious, moral and ethical convictions about marriage and homosexuality, and that others believed gays should be treated no differently than heterosexuals. But it said such views did not bear on the questions before the court.
“There is no doubt that civil unions enjoy a lesser status in our society than marriage,” the court said. “Ultimately, the message of the civil unions law is that what same-sex couples have is not as important or as significant as real marriage.”
In one dissenting opinion, Justice David M. Bordon contended that there was no conclusive evidence that civil unions are inferior to marriages, and he argued that gay people have “unique and extraordinary” political power that does not warrant heightened constitutional protections.
Justice Peter T. Zarella, in another dissent, argued that the state marriage laws dealt with procreation, which was not a factor in gay relationships. “The ancient definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman has its basis in biology, not bigotry,” he wrote.
About 1,800 couples have obtained civil unions in Connecticut since the law was adopted three years ago, although gay-rights advocates say the demand has slowed. They cite complaints that the unions leave many people feeling not quite married but not quite single, facing forms that mischaracterize their status and questions at airports challenging their ties to their own children.
But marriage will soon be a possibility for gay couples like Janet Peck, 55, and Carol Conklin, 53, of West Hartford, who have been partners for 33 years. “I so look forward to the day when I can take this woman’s hand, look deeply into her eyes and pledge my deep love and support and commitment to her in marriage,” Ms. Peck said.
By ROBERT D. McFADDEN; Published: October 10, 2008
A sharply divided Connecticut Supreme Court struck down the state’s civil union law on Friday and ruled that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry. Connecticut thus joins Massachusetts and California as the only states to have legalized gay marriages.
Joanne Mock, right, and Elizabeth Kerrigan, with their son Carlos, 6, were among eight couples who sued to get marriage licenses.
The ruling, which cannot be appealed and is to take effect on Oct. 28, held that a state law limiting marriage to heterosexual couples, and a civil union law intended to provide all the rights and privileges of marriage to same-sex couples, violated the constitutional guarantees of equal protection under the law.
Striking at the heart of discriminatory traditions in America, the court — in language that often rose above the legal landscape into realms of social justice for a new century — recalled that laws in the not-so-distant past barred interracial marriages, excluded women from occupations and official duties, and relegated blacks to separate but supposedly equal public facilities.
“Like these once prevalent views, our conventional understanding of marriage must yield to a more contemporary appreciation of the rights entitled to constitutional protection,” Justice Richard N. Palmer wrote for the majority in a 4-to-3 decision that explored the nature of homosexual identity, the history of societal views toward homosexuality and the limits of gay political power compared with that of blacks and women.
“Interpreting our state constitutional provisions in accordance with firmly established equal protection principles leads inevitably to the conclusion that gay persons are entitled to marry the otherwise qualified same-sex partner of their choice,” Justice Palmer declared. “To decide otherwise would require us to apply one set of constitutional principles to gay persons and another to all others.”
The ruling was groundbreaking in various respects. In addition to establishing Connecticut as the third state to sanction same-sex marriage, it was the first state high court ruling to hold that civil union statutes specifically violated the equal protection clause of a state constitution. The Massachusetts high court held in 2004 that same-sex marriages were legal, while California’s court decision in May related to domestic partnerships and not the more broadly defined civil unions.
The Connecticut decision, which elicited strong dissenting opinions from three justices, also opened the door to marriage a bit wider for gay couples in New York, where state laws do not provide for same-sex marriages or civil unions, although Gov. David A. Paterson recently issued an executive order requiring government agencies to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.
The opinion in Connecticut was hailed by jubilant gay couples and their advocates as a fulfillment of years of hopes and dreams. Hugs, kisses and cheers greeted eight same-sex couples as they entered the ballroom at the Hartford Hilton, where four years ago they had announced they would file a lawsuit seeking marriage licenses.
One of those couples, Joanne Mock, 53, and her partner, Elizabeth Kerrigan, 52, stood with their twin 6-year-old sons, choking back tears of joy and gratitude. Another plaintiff, Garret Stack, 59, introduced his partner, John Anderson, 63, and said: “For 28 years we have been engaged. We can now register at Home Depot and prepare for marriage.”
Religious and conservative groups called the ruling an outrage but not unexpected, and spoke of steps to enact a constitutional ban on gay marriage. Peter Wolfgang, executive director of the Family Institute of Connecticut, blamed “robed masters” and “philosopher kings” on the court. “This is about our right to govern ourselves,” he said. “It is bigger than gay marriage.”
But the state, a principal defendant in the lawsuit, appeared to be resigned to the outcome.
Gov. M. Jodi Rell said that she disagreed with the decision, but would uphold it. “The Supreme Court has spoken,” she said. “I do not believe their voice reflects the majority of the people of Connecticut. However, I am also firmly convinced that attempts to reverse this decision, either legislatively or by amending the state Constitution, will not meet with success.”
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said his office was reviewing the decision to determine whether laws and procedures will have to be revised — local officials will issue marriage licenses to gay couples without question, for example — but he offered no challenge and said it would soon be implemented.
The case was watched far beyond Hartford. Vermont, New Hampshire and New Jersey all have civil union statutes, while Maine, Washington, Oregon and Hawaii have domestic partnership laws that allow same-sex couples many of the same rights granted to those in civil unions. Advocates for same-sex couples have long argued that civil unions and domestic partnerships denied them the financial, social and emotional benefits accorded in a marriage.
Text of the Ruling (pdf)
The legal underpinnings for gay marriages, civil unions and statutory partnerships have all come in legislative actions and decisions in lawsuits. Next month, however, voters in California will decide whether the state Constitution should permit same-sex marriage.
The Connecticut case began in 2004 after the eight same-sex couples were denied marriage licenses by the town of Madison. Reflecting the contentiousness and wide interest in the case, a long list of state, national and international organizations on both sides filed friend-of-the-court briefs. The plaintiffs contended that the denial of marriage licenses deprived them of due process and equal protection under the law.
While the case was pending, the legislature in 2005 adopted a law establishing the right of same-sex partners to enter into civil unions that conferred all the rights and privileges of marriage. But, at the insistence of the governor, the law also defined marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
Arguments in the case centered on whether civil unions and marriages conferred equal rights, and on whether same-sex couples should be treated as what the court called a “suspect class” or “quasi-suspect class” — a group, like blacks or women, that has experienced a history of discrimination and was thus entitled to increased scrutiny and protection by the state in the promulgation of its laws.
Among the criteria for inclusion as a suspect class, the court said, were whether gay people could “control” their sexual orientation, whether they were “politically powerless” and whether being gay had a bearing on one’s ability to contribute to society.
A lower-court judge, Patty Jenkins Pittman of Superior Court in New Haven, sided with the state, denying that gay men and lesbians were entitled to special consideration as a suspect class and concluding that the differences between civil unions and marriages amounted to no more than nomenclature. The Supreme Court reversed the lower-court ruling.
“Although marriage and civil unions do embody the same legal rights under our law, they are by no means equal,” Justice Palmer wrote in the majority opinion, joined by Justices Flemming L. Norcott Jr., Joette Katz and Lubbie Harper. “The former is an institution of transcendent historical, cultural and social significance, whereas the latter is not.”
The court said it was aware that many people held deep-seated religious, moral and ethical convictions about marriage and homosexuality, and that others believed gays should be treated no differently than heterosexuals. But it said such views did not bear on the questions before the court.
“There is no doubt that civil unions enjoy a lesser status in our society than marriage,” the court said. “Ultimately, the message of the civil unions law is that what same-sex couples have is not as important or as significant as real marriage.”
In one dissenting opinion, Justice David M. Bordon contended that there was no conclusive evidence that civil unions are inferior to marriages, and he argued that gay people have “unique and extraordinary” political power that does not warrant heightened constitutional protections.
Justice Peter T. Zarella, in another dissent, argued that the state marriage laws dealt with procreation, which was not a factor in gay relationships. “The ancient definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman has its basis in biology, not bigotry,” he wrote.
About 1,800 couples have obtained civil unions in Connecticut since the law was adopted three years ago, although gay-rights advocates say the demand has slowed. They cite complaints that the unions leave many people feeling not quite married but not quite single, facing forms that mischaracterize their status and questions at airports challenging their ties to their own children.
But marriage will soon be a possibility for gay couples like Janet Peck, 55, and Carol Conklin, 53, of West Hartford, who have been partners for 33 years. “I so look forward to the day when I can take this woman’s hand, look deeply into her eyes and pledge my deep love and support and commitment to her in marriage,” Ms. Peck said.
Friday, 10 October 2008
Times: Gay politics and everyday life
http://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081010/letters/gay-politics-and-everyday-life
Friday, 10th October 2008; Karl Consiglio, Paceville
My concern is not the obvious, symbolic political events but the politics that are an unobtrusive part of everyday life. This sort of politics has an inherent tendency to self-concealment.
A situation that people regard as natural without thinking deeply about it is actually produced by politics. For example, if a person is gay, what does it mean to "come out" (or be made to "come out")? Isn't it just a kind of confession? Whether you like men or women is a private matter. Why make it public? Such a response may be considered natural but it's a form of discrimination. Discrimination is always hidden in what seems natural.
Coming out is not just a confession. It challenges a boundary, the line that is generally drawn between the public and the private, the things that one calls private and must be changed if one is to live as a gay person.
Privacy is fundamentally a political concept. Etymologically, it is derived from the Latin word privare meaning "to deprive". There is no privacy that is not taken forcibly from the public realm. When we use the word "private" it is always based on the premise of public power. To problematise one's privacy is to question the power relationships that have been hypothesised as natural in the past.
The politics of private life is relevant to the condition of an alternative self or individuality in an age when egotism and individuality are best-selling products, the period from the 1990s to the present, in which the capitalist societies have achieved dominance through the spread of information technology. This endless industry thirst for labels, trends and fashions turns every individual style into another benign marketing plot.
Friday, 10th October 2008; Karl Consiglio, Paceville
My concern is not the obvious, symbolic political events but the politics that are an unobtrusive part of everyday life. This sort of politics has an inherent tendency to self-concealment.
A situation that people regard as natural without thinking deeply about it is actually produced by politics. For example, if a person is gay, what does it mean to "come out" (or be made to "come out")? Isn't it just a kind of confession? Whether you like men or women is a private matter. Why make it public? Such a response may be considered natural but it's a form of discrimination. Discrimination is always hidden in what seems natural.
Coming out is not just a confession. It challenges a boundary, the line that is generally drawn between the public and the private, the things that one calls private and must be changed if one is to live as a gay person.
Privacy is fundamentally a political concept. Etymologically, it is derived from the Latin word privare meaning "to deprive". There is no privacy that is not taken forcibly from the public realm. When we use the word "private" it is always based on the premise of public power. To problematise one's privacy is to question the power relationships that have been hypothesised as natural in the past.
The politics of private life is relevant to the condition of an alternative self or individuality in an age when egotism and individuality are best-selling products, the period from the 1990s to the present, in which the capitalist societies have achieved dominance through the spread of information technology. This endless industry thirst for labels, trends and fashions turns every individual style into another benign marketing plot.
Thursday, 9 October 2008
L-Orizzont: Prokrastinazzjoni
http://www.l-orizzont.com/news.asp?newsitemid=47961
8.10.8; minn JOSEPH CARMEL CHETCUTI
F’Lulju 2008, il-Kummissjoni Ewropea adottat proposta għal direttiva li tipprovdi protezzjoni kontra d-diskriminazzjoni marbuta ma’ età, diżabilità, orjentazzjoni sesswali u reliġjon jew twemmin, lil hinn mill-post tax-xogħol. Din id-direttiva tipprovdi għal trattament ugwali “fl-oqsma tal-protezzjoni soċjali, inklużi s-sigurtà soċjali u l-kura tas-saħħa, l-edukazzjoni u l-aċċess għal u l-forniment ta’ prodotti u ta’ servizzi disponibbli kummerċjalment lill-pubbliku, inklużi l-akkomodazzjoni fi djar”. Fi ftit kliem, il-pro- posta tistabbilixxi livell minimu ta’ protezzjoni kontra d-diskriminazzjoni fl-Unjoni Ewropea.
Liġijiet ta’ din ix-xorta smajna bihom qabel. Mhumiex ġodda u m’għandhom jgħaġġbu lil ħadd. Fl-Amerika, fl-Awstralja, fl-Ingliterra, fil-Kanada u fi New Zealand insibu ruxxmata ta’ liġijiet bi wħud minnhom imorru lura għas-snin Sebgħin. Bħala eżempju wieħed jista’ r-“Race Discrimination Act” tal-1975 tal-gvern federali Awstraljan. Fl-istat ta’ Viktorja, fejn jien naħdem ta’ avukat, l-“Equal Opportunity Act” tal-1995 jipprojbixxi diskriminazzjoni fi 17-il attribut,fosthom l-età, l-orjentazzjoni sesswali u l-‘breast feeding’, u f’diversi oqsma oħrajn bħall-akkomodazzjoni, l-edukazzjoni, l-impjieg, l-isport, il-gvernijiet lokali u sħubija fil-klabbs.
Hemm ukoll dmirijiet għall-Gvern Malti f’diversi konvenzjonijiet, fosthom dawk tal-Ewropa u tal-Ġnus Magħquda. Malta ilha li ngħaqdet jew irratifikat ruxxmata ta’ trattati internazzjonali fosthom l-“International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights u l-International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights” fit-13 ta’ Settembru, 1990, u l-“Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women” fit-13 ta’ Settembru, 1990. Nassumi li l-Onorevoli John Dalli, Ministru għall-Politika Soċjali, ġa jaf dwarhom.
Għalhekk skantajt mhux ftit nisimgħu jgħid li l-proposta għal din id-direttiva hi prematura u wiesgħa wisq. Protezzjoni kontra d-diskriminazzjoni għaċ-ċittadin Malti – kull ċittadin Malti – mhi prematura xejn. Gvern Malti, kwalunkwe Gvern Malti, għandu l-obbligu jaġixxi b’mod iktar proattiv fejn jidħlu d-drittijiet fundamentali tal-bniedem. M’għandux joqgħod jistenna l-bajtra taqa’ f’ħalqu. U l-proposta mhi wiesgħa xejn. Anzjan jew anzjana, persuni b’diżabilità, persuni omosesswali u dawk li jħaddnu twemmin li mhux imsemmi fil-Kostituzzjoni ta’ Malta għandhom il-jedd għall-ugwaljanza f’kollox. U fejn tidħol id-diżabilità, dan il-Gvern hu mmexxi minn persuna li kienet President tal-Kummissjoni Nazzjonali għal Persuni b’Diżabilità!
Skond l-istess Ministru, liġijiet ta’ din ix-xorta jistgħu jwasslu għal ċerta “inċertezza legali”. B’kull rispett lejn il-Ministru, kull liġi tista’ twassal għal ċerta inċertezza legali. Jiddependi fuq minn ifassal-ha.
Żgur li liġijiet kontra d-diskriminazzjoni mhux se jkunu iktar ikkomplikati minn liġijiet oħrajn tal-pajjiż bħal, per eżempju, dawk li jirrigwardaw it-taxxa. B’kull rispett lejn il-Ministru, kull min hu midħla tal-liġi u tal-qrati m’għandu qatt jippretendi liġijiet mingħajr komplikazzjonijiet.
Skont l-istess Ministru, hemm bżonn ukoll għal adattament kulturali u kampanji edukattivi u pubbliċitarji qawwija. X’qiegħed tgħid, Ministru? Li l-Maltin ċwieċ? Li m’għandhomx sens ta’ ugwaljanza u ġustizzja? Li l-kultura tal-ugwaljanza u l-‘fair go’ m’humiex parti mill-karattru Malti? U għaliex ħallejtu l-kampanji edukattivi għal issa? Għax ma bdejtuhomx snin ilu? U kemm se ndumu b’dawn l-imberkin kampanji edukattivi? Ma tafx li wieħed mill-iskopijiet tal-liġi – iktar u iktar dawk li jirrigwardaw id-diskriminazzjoni – hu li jeduka, li jinforma lill-pubbliku dwar x’inhu u x’mhux aċċettabbli?
B’kull rispett, l-intervent tal-Ministru waqt il-laqgħa tal-Kunsill EPSCO kellu effett wieħed (ma ngħidx skop għax ma nafx x’kellu f’moħħu l-Ministru) li jittardja d-dħul ta’ liġijiet ta’ importanza nazzjonali. Kien ikun servizz ikbar għal Malta kieku l-Ministru tana x’nifhmu li l-Gvern kien se jaqbeż il-livell minimu ta’ protezzjoni kontra d-diskriminazzjoni ffissata mill-proposta.
Kulħadd iħobb il-galbu. Fejn tidħol id-diskriminazzjoni, hemm bżonn ta’ azzjoni mhux galbu. Il-prudenza m’għandha qatt tkun skuża għal prokrastinazzjoni! Gvern li mhux kompetenti jifhem l-urġenza ta’ dawn il-liġijiet mhux gvern ta’ galbu imma gvern ta’ ġaħan!
---
Din l-ittra hi reazzjoni ghal dan l-artiklu:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081002/local/dalli-urges-detailed-study-on-proposed-eu-directive
Thursday, 2nd October 2008 - 14:33CET
Times: Dalli urges detailed study on proposed EU directive
Social Policy Minister John Dalli said today that an EU proposal for a directive on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment between persons, irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, was premature.
Speaking at a meeting of the EU’s Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, the minister said that although Malta backed the purposes of this proposed directive, its implications were very wide and needed long and detailed study.
The minister said there existed various interpretations and transpositions of existing anti-discrimination directives about which the member states were not clear.
Before moving forward, it was important that there was certainty on legal terms and competences.
Furthermore, Malta strongly felt that the proposal should not, in any way prejudice national practices in areas such as marriage, the family, sexual and reproductive rights.
In the talks which would be held, it was important that one considered the different realities in the various member states , Mr Dalli said.
8.10.8; minn JOSEPH CARMEL CHETCUTI
F’Lulju 2008, il-Kummissjoni Ewropea adottat proposta għal direttiva li tipprovdi protezzjoni kontra d-diskriminazzjoni marbuta ma’ età, diżabilità, orjentazzjoni sesswali u reliġjon jew twemmin, lil hinn mill-post tax-xogħol. Din id-direttiva tipprovdi għal trattament ugwali “fl-oqsma tal-protezzjoni soċjali, inklużi s-sigurtà soċjali u l-kura tas-saħħa, l-edukazzjoni u l-aċċess għal u l-forniment ta’ prodotti u ta’ servizzi disponibbli kummerċjalment lill-pubbliku, inklużi l-akkomodazzjoni fi djar”. Fi ftit kliem, il-pro- posta tistabbilixxi livell minimu ta’ protezzjoni kontra d-diskriminazzjoni fl-Unjoni Ewropea.
Liġijiet ta’ din ix-xorta smajna bihom qabel. Mhumiex ġodda u m’għandhom jgħaġġbu lil ħadd. Fl-Amerika, fl-Awstralja, fl-Ingliterra, fil-Kanada u fi New Zealand insibu ruxxmata ta’ liġijiet bi wħud minnhom imorru lura għas-snin Sebgħin. Bħala eżempju wieħed jista’ r-“Race Discrimination Act” tal-1975 tal-gvern federali Awstraljan. Fl-istat ta’ Viktorja, fejn jien naħdem ta’ avukat, l-“Equal Opportunity Act” tal-1995 jipprojbixxi diskriminazzjoni fi 17-il attribut,fosthom l-età, l-orjentazzjoni sesswali u l-‘breast feeding’, u f’diversi oqsma oħrajn bħall-akkomodazzjoni, l-edukazzjoni, l-impjieg, l-isport, il-gvernijiet lokali u sħubija fil-klabbs.
Hemm ukoll dmirijiet għall-Gvern Malti f’diversi konvenzjonijiet, fosthom dawk tal-Ewropa u tal-Ġnus Magħquda. Malta ilha li ngħaqdet jew irratifikat ruxxmata ta’ trattati internazzjonali fosthom l-“International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights u l-International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights” fit-13 ta’ Settembru, 1990, u l-“Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women” fit-13 ta’ Settembru, 1990. Nassumi li l-Onorevoli John Dalli, Ministru għall-Politika Soċjali, ġa jaf dwarhom.
Għalhekk skantajt mhux ftit nisimgħu jgħid li l-proposta għal din id-direttiva hi prematura u wiesgħa wisq. Protezzjoni kontra d-diskriminazzjoni għaċ-ċittadin Malti – kull ċittadin Malti – mhi prematura xejn. Gvern Malti, kwalunkwe Gvern Malti, għandu l-obbligu jaġixxi b’mod iktar proattiv fejn jidħlu d-drittijiet fundamentali tal-bniedem. M’għandux joqgħod jistenna l-bajtra taqa’ f’ħalqu. U l-proposta mhi wiesgħa xejn. Anzjan jew anzjana, persuni b’diżabilità, persuni omosesswali u dawk li jħaddnu twemmin li mhux imsemmi fil-Kostituzzjoni ta’ Malta għandhom il-jedd għall-ugwaljanza f’kollox. U fejn tidħol id-diżabilità, dan il-Gvern hu mmexxi minn persuna li kienet President tal-Kummissjoni Nazzjonali għal Persuni b’Diżabilità!
Skond l-istess Ministru, liġijiet ta’ din ix-xorta jistgħu jwasslu għal ċerta “inċertezza legali”. B’kull rispett lejn il-Ministru, kull liġi tista’ twassal għal ċerta inċertezza legali. Jiddependi fuq minn ifassal-ha.
Żgur li liġijiet kontra d-diskriminazzjoni mhux se jkunu iktar ikkomplikati minn liġijiet oħrajn tal-pajjiż bħal, per eżempju, dawk li jirrigwardaw it-taxxa. B’kull rispett lejn il-Ministru, kull min hu midħla tal-liġi u tal-qrati m’għandu qatt jippretendi liġijiet mingħajr komplikazzjonijiet.
Skont l-istess Ministru, hemm bżonn ukoll għal adattament kulturali u kampanji edukattivi u pubbliċitarji qawwija. X’qiegħed tgħid, Ministru? Li l-Maltin ċwieċ? Li m’għandhomx sens ta’ ugwaljanza u ġustizzja? Li l-kultura tal-ugwaljanza u l-‘fair go’ m’humiex parti mill-karattru Malti? U għaliex ħallejtu l-kampanji edukattivi għal issa? Għax ma bdejtuhomx snin ilu? U kemm se ndumu b’dawn l-imberkin kampanji edukattivi? Ma tafx li wieħed mill-iskopijiet tal-liġi – iktar u iktar dawk li jirrigwardaw id-diskriminazzjoni – hu li jeduka, li jinforma lill-pubbliku dwar x’inhu u x’mhux aċċettabbli?
B’kull rispett, l-intervent tal-Ministru waqt il-laqgħa tal-Kunsill EPSCO kellu effett wieħed (ma ngħidx skop għax ma nafx x’kellu f’moħħu l-Ministru) li jittardja d-dħul ta’ liġijiet ta’ importanza nazzjonali. Kien ikun servizz ikbar għal Malta kieku l-Ministru tana x’nifhmu li l-Gvern kien se jaqbeż il-livell minimu ta’ protezzjoni kontra d-diskriminazzjoni ffissata mill-proposta.
Kulħadd iħobb il-galbu. Fejn tidħol id-diskriminazzjoni, hemm bżonn ta’ azzjoni mhux galbu. Il-prudenza m’għandha qatt tkun skuża għal prokrastinazzjoni! Gvern li mhux kompetenti jifhem l-urġenza ta’ dawn il-liġijiet mhux gvern ta’ galbu imma gvern ta’ ġaħan!
---
Din l-ittra hi reazzjoni ghal dan l-artiklu:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081002/local/dalli-urges-detailed-study-on-proposed-eu-directive
Thursday, 2nd October 2008 - 14:33CET
Times: Dalli urges detailed study on proposed EU directive
Social Policy Minister John Dalli said today that an EU proposal for a directive on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment between persons, irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, was premature.
Speaking at a meeting of the EU’s Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, the minister said that although Malta backed the purposes of this proposed directive, its implications were very wide and needed long and detailed study.
The minister said there existed various interpretations and transpositions of existing anti-discrimination directives about which the member states were not clear.
Before moving forward, it was important that there was certainty on legal terms and competences.
Furthermore, Malta strongly felt that the proposal should not, in any way prejudice national practices in areas such as marriage, the family, sexual and reproductive rights.
In the talks which would be held, it was important that one considered the different realities in the various member states , Mr Dalli said.
Tuesday, 7 October 2008
Illum: Mà u pà, jien gay
http://www.illum.com.mt/2008/10/05/t12.html
Aħbarijiet 05 ta’ Ottubru 2008 Nr 101 minn Sabrina Agius
Kull ġenitur jiddejjaq jisma’ xi ħaġa kontra uliedu. Iktar u iktar jekk tkun xi ħaġa li żgur ma tistax tinbidel.
L-orjentazzjoni sesswali hi waħda minn dawn iċ-ċirkostanzi li jistgħu joħolqu ansjetà fil-familja. L-istigma li tippersisti kontra nies gay żgur mhix ta’ pjaċir għall-ġenituri ta’ tfal b’orjentazzjoni sesswali differenti.
Weġgħa oħra li tolqot lill-ġenituri fil-laħam il-ħaj hi li jafu li jagħmlu x’jagħmlu, uliedhom se jkunu diskriminati mis-soċjetà.
Anki jekk għad hawn min jaħseb li tkun gay hi moda jew fażi ta’ esperimentazzjoni, għal ġenituri ta’ tfal gay din hi realtà li mhux se tinbidel.
Illum ikkuntattjat grupp ta’ ġenituri li jiltaqgħu bejniethom fi grupp biex jiddiskutu ċ-ċirkostanzi familjari tagħhom.
Mill-kummenti ħareġ ċar li l-inkwiet tagħhom dwar uliedhom kollu ġej minħabba l-pressjonijiet li tikkawża s-soċjetà fuq nies gay .
“Għalkemm aħna support group m’aħniex hawnhekk għax ma naċċettawx lil uliedna. L-esperjenzi ta’ kulħadd huma differenti. Min hu muġugħ u min il-ħajja baqgħet għaddejja. Aħna nagħtu sapport lil xulxin. Aħna niġu biex naqsmu l-esperjenzi tagħna,” sostnew uħud mill-ġenituri li kienu preżenti.
Il-grupp spunta ftit xhur ilu fiż-żmien fejn hawn Malta kien hawn Sr Jeannine Gramick li kienet mistiedna mill-grupp kattoliku gay Drachma f’konferenza pubblika bit-titlu ‘On Becoming Whole: Sexual and Spiritual Integration.’
“Din iż-żjara wasslet biex inħoloq dan il-grupp għall-ġenituri Maltin li għalissa jiltaqa’ darba fix-xahar,” qal Mario Gerada, il-moħħ wara Drachma.
Il-ftit tensjoni li kien hemm fil-bidu tal-intervista telqet bil-mod il-mod mal-mogħdija tal-ħin. Infetħu l-pjagi ta’ kull ġenitur.
Ftit bsart kemm frażijiet bħal “ara dak qisu pufta” jew “ara dik lesbjana” jistgħu jweġġgħu ġenitur li għandu ibnu jew bintu gay. Staqsejthom xi tfisser għalihom meta jisimgħu lil xi ħadd jgħid xi frażi dispreġġattiva.
“Weġgħa kbira,” qaltli spontanjament Grace. “Taf li jistgħu jkunu qed jgħidu hekk fuq uliedek u mhix xi ħaġa sabiħa għax wara kollox hemm l-individwalità tal-persuna. Taf li qed jiġġudikaw bniedem minħabba s-sesswalità tiegħu.”
Grace u r-raġel tagħha Lawrence huma l-ġenituri ta’ Sofia. Grace irrakkontat li Sofia hi l-iżgħar tal-familja.
“L-ewwel li ma qalet kienet lil ħutha. Ħadt xokk kbir. Ippruvajt ngħid lili nnifsi li forsi kienet fażi u ġibt elf mitt skuża għal ħafna żmien. Kienet toħroġ ma’ ġuvni, allura iktar u iktar ħsibt li kienet fażi,” qalet l-omm.
“Biż-żmien bdejt naċċetta s-sitwazzjoni u llum il-ġurnata m’għadhiex problema,” tgħid bi ftit inċertezza u b’ħarsa mhux daqstant konvinċenti.
Il-ġenituri preżenti ammettew li l-ikbar problema hi li l-ġenituri jridu jegħlbu l-aspettattivi għolja li jkunu imponew fuq uliedhom.
Għal Grace l-iktar li se jiddispjaċiha għax bintha mhix se tiżżewweġ, mhix se jkollha tfal u hi mhix se ssir nanna.
Inkwiet ieħor li jvenven f’moħħ il-ġenituri hu dwar x’se jgħidu n-nies.
“Bdejt ninkwieta li n-nies iweġġgħuha. Bħala omm ridt affarijiet differenti. Imma tgħallimt li dak li hu normali għalija mhux normali għal ħaddieħor. Illum il-ġurnata nista’ ngħid li għandi tifla gay, li għandha karriera u li hi tal-ġenn. Kont ninkwieta li jistgħu joqogħdu jgħadduha biż-żmien,” sostniet omm oħra li xtaqet ma tissemmiex b’isimha.
Iktar ma jgħaddi ż-żmien il-fenomenu gay iktar ħiereġ fid-deher imma kif irrakkuntaw il-ġenituri, il-Knisja tippreferi tibqa’ siekta u b’għajnejha mgħottija.
Tkellmet Rose, ‘l-imqarba’ tal-grupp. Hi omm żagħżugħ ta’ 20 sena. L-aħbar li binha gay ma tantx ħaditha bi kbira. “Qalli tliet snin ilu. Għal bidu ma ħadthiex bis-serjetà. Qalli b’sms meta konna fil-karozza. Staqsejtu jekk kienx bagħat sms lili bi żball minflok lil xi ħabib tiegħu. Qalli ‘le, lilek bgħattu’. L-sms kien jgħid “I am gay”. Qalli li kien ilu jaf minn mindu kellu disa’ snin. Qalli li kien ippreparali ittra li kien fiha xi sitt paġni. Meta wasalt id-dar qrajtha. The letter was a real relief.”
Xi ħaġa li laqtet lil Rose kienet li t-tifel kien jippreferi jgħid lil oħtu ż-żgħira milli lilha. Dik kienet xi ħaġa li ġiegħlitha taħseb.
L-għaqda bejn il-familja hu s-sigriet biex id-diffikultajiet li jinqalgħu jissolvew bl-iktar mod kalm possibbli.
Rose spjegat li t-tifel għandu boyfriend u ilu sitt xhur miegħu. Issa t-test mal-kumplament tal-familja se jkun fil-Milied.
“Suppost għandhom ikunu flimkien sa dak iż-żmien għax tidher relazzjoni tajba u qed tinbena b’saħħitha,” qalet Rose fuq ir-relazzjoni ta’ binha.
Punt ieħor li ttambar fuqu Rose, kif ukoll ġenituri oħra, hu li uliedhom ma jistgħux jesprimu rwieħhom fil-pubbliku.
“Ninkwieta għax għal kuntrarju ta’ żgħażagħ oħra t-tifel tiegħi ma jistax jesprimi ruħu fil-pubbliku. L-unika post fejn jista’ jesprimi ruħu hu d-dar biss. Din sa ċertu punt tweġġagħni. Ikollu jiġi d-dar biex ikun komdu,” qalet imbaqbqa Rose.
“Li tgħallimt minn din l-esperjenza hi li the more you are open, the better the relationship. Minn mindu qalilna li hu gay xorta għadna niċċajtaw. M’għandniex inibizzjonijiet u pjuttost għandna sens ta’ umoriżmu. Anki mal-ħbieb tagħna, m’hemm l-ebda problema. Jaċcettaw is-sitwazzjoni kif inhi,” irrakkuntat Rose.
Illum il-ġurnata t-tifel ta’ Therese għandu 38 sena u saret taf li hu gay 15-il sena ilu. Anki għal Therese kien xokk kbir. Peress li t-tifel kien jaf li kienet se toħodha bi kbira, ma marx waħdu biex jgħidilha. Ammettiet li meta saret taf għamlet lejl tibki u ma raqditx.
“Ma setax jgħidli waħdu. Allura ġie ma xi ħbieb. Għannaqni u qalli li hu gay. Qalli li kien se jagħżel li jitlaq mid-dar u ma jgħidli xejn biex ma jinkwetanix. Għidtlu li kien se jagħtini żewġ xokkijiet minflok wieħed!”
Il-biża’ li kellha Therese kienet li forsi għamlet xi ħaġa ħażina hi peress li hi omm weħidha. Serrħet rasha biż-żmien meta rrealizzat li binha kien ilu jaf minn ċkunitu dwar is-sesswalità tiegħu.
Il-Milied hu żmien diffiċli għall-familja ta’ Therese ukoll. B’weġgħa u emozzjoni tgħid “ikollok pjanijiet għat-tfal, imma trid tbiddilhom. Il-Milied dejjem problema għalina għax iz-zijiet għadhom ma niżżluhiex. Inħossni b’dahri mal-ħajt għax inħossni maqsuma fit-tnejn.”
F’ċirkostanzi estremi l-pressjoni tas-soċjetà u l-knisja jistgħu jwasslu omm biex taqa’ f’dipressjoni. Kif ġara fil-każ ta’ Marthese. Ir-raġel tagħha li kien preżenti għal-laqgħa irrakkonta kif l-orjentazzjoni sesswali ta’ binthom wasslet lil martu biex kważi kważi ma taċċettahiex.
Charles qal: “l-ewwel ħaġa naċċettaha għax dik binti u tiġi l-ewwel u qabel kollox. Vera li f’qalbek tgħid, kif ħarġet hekk jekk m’għamilt xejn ħażin? Imma din parti min-natura bħal meta xi ħadd eżempju jitwieled zopp jew ikollu xi tip ta’ diżabbiltà. X’tagħmel allura? Temarġina lill-uliedek? Ma tagħmilx sens.”
Bħal Lawrence, Charles konxju li bintu tbati għax gay.
“Jien konxju li hi tbati wkoll. Meta tiġi ma’ xi partner id-dar ommha tarma tħares bl-ikrah. Ġeneralment taqbad tidħol fil-kamra u joqogħdu hemm, fuq il-kompjuter jew jaraw it-televixin. U l-mara toqgħod bil-geddum. Tiġi d-dar bis-serqa. U jien f’qalbi ngħid, kieku kienet prostituta x’konna nagħmlu?”
“F’pajjiżi ċivilizzati dawn il-problemi ma jeżistux,” saħaq Lawrence fuq din it-tema.
Meta qajjimt is-suġġett tal-Knisja, kollha kienu kor wieħed. Spikkat il-kelma “ipokrezija.” Hemm qbil bejn il-grupp li mhemmx djalogu biżżejjed. Clayton, ġuvni ta’ 22 sena li jifforma parti minn Drachma, sosta li għandu jsir xogħol pastorali ma’ persuni gay.
“Ġesù kien man-nies emarġinati. Imma l-qassisin jibżgħu jidhru ma’ nies gay,” qal il-ġuvni.
Għal Lawrence l-problema tibqa’ li l-Knisja taċċetta żewġ nisa jew irġiel flimkien imma ma taċċettax li jesprimu r-relazzjoni bejniethom b’mod intimu. “Kulħadd għandu d-dritt għall-imħabba,” sostna Lawrence.
Staqsejthom jekk qatt iddiskriminawx kontra nies gay qabel saru jafu li uliedhom stess huma gay.
Grace fost l-oħrajn kienet waħda li ma tantx kellha kliem sbieħ għal nies gay.
“Naf li għandi tifla sew imma qed tmur kontra l-iskrittura, skont il-Knisja. Qabel jien stess kont kontra nies omosesswali. I was being judgemental until I got to know that my own daughter is gay. Din xi ħaġa li tista’ tiġri lil kulħadd.”
Għalihom l-edukazzjoni tibqa’ l-aħjar arma biex titneħħa l-istigma fuq persuni gay.
“Importanti li jkun hemm iktar edukazzjoni fl-iskejjel. Importanti li s-suġġett jidħlu fih iktar fil-fond b’hekk tibda titneħħa l-oppressjoni,” saħqu l-ġenituri.
Fejn jidħol żwieġ bejn koppji gay kien hemm qbil li għandu jkun hemm xi forma ta’ partnership rikonoxxuta mill-Istat. Iżda fejn tidħol l-addozzjoni tat-tfal ħafna sostnew li għadu prematur li jkun diskuss għax peress li Malta għadha lura fis-suġġett it-tfal jistgħu ibatu.
Għal ġenituri li huma interessati jingħaqdu mal-grupp Drachma, jistgħu jżuru l-website www.drachmalgbt.org jew iċemplu fuq 79342328
Aħbarijiet 05 ta’ Ottubru 2008 Nr 101 minn Sabrina Agius
Kull ġenitur jiddejjaq jisma’ xi ħaġa kontra uliedu. Iktar u iktar jekk tkun xi ħaġa li żgur ma tistax tinbidel.
L-orjentazzjoni sesswali hi waħda minn dawn iċ-ċirkostanzi li jistgħu joħolqu ansjetà fil-familja. L-istigma li tippersisti kontra nies gay żgur mhix ta’ pjaċir għall-ġenituri ta’ tfal b’orjentazzjoni sesswali differenti.
Weġgħa oħra li tolqot lill-ġenituri fil-laħam il-ħaj hi li jafu li jagħmlu x’jagħmlu, uliedhom se jkunu diskriminati mis-soċjetà.
Anki jekk għad hawn min jaħseb li tkun gay hi moda jew fażi ta’ esperimentazzjoni, għal ġenituri ta’ tfal gay din hi realtà li mhux se tinbidel.
Illum ikkuntattjat grupp ta’ ġenituri li jiltaqgħu bejniethom fi grupp biex jiddiskutu ċ-ċirkostanzi familjari tagħhom.
Mill-kummenti ħareġ ċar li l-inkwiet tagħhom dwar uliedhom kollu ġej minħabba l-pressjonijiet li tikkawża s-soċjetà fuq nies gay .
“Għalkemm aħna support group m’aħniex hawnhekk għax ma naċċettawx lil uliedna. L-esperjenzi ta’ kulħadd huma differenti. Min hu muġugħ u min il-ħajja baqgħet għaddejja. Aħna nagħtu sapport lil xulxin. Aħna niġu biex naqsmu l-esperjenzi tagħna,” sostnew uħud mill-ġenituri li kienu preżenti.
Il-grupp spunta ftit xhur ilu fiż-żmien fejn hawn Malta kien hawn Sr Jeannine Gramick li kienet mistiedna mill-grupp kattoliku gay Drachma f’konferenza pubblika bit-titlu ‘On Becoming Whole: Sexual and Spiritual Integration.’
“Din iż-żjara wasslet biex inħoloq dan il-grupp għall-ġenituri Maltin li għalissa jiltaqa’ darba fix-xahar,” qal Mario Gerada, il-moħħ wara Drachma.
Il-ftit tensjoni li kien hemm fil-bidu tal-intervista telqet bil-mod il-mod mal-mogħdija tal-ħin. Infetħu l-pjagi ta’ kull ġenitur.
Ftit bsart kemm frażijiet bħal “ara dak qisu pufta” jew “ara dik lesbjana” jistgħu jweġġgħu ġenitur li għandu ibnu jew bintu gay. Staqsejthom xi tfisser għalihom meta jisimgħu lil xi ħadd jgħid xi frażi dispreġġattiva.
“Weġgħa kbira,” qaltli spontanjament Grace. “Taf li jistgħu jkunu qed jgħidu hekk fuq uliedek u mhix xi ħaġa sabiħa għax wara kollox hemm l-individwalità tal-persuna. Taf li qed jiġġudikaw bniedem minħabba s-sesswalità tiegħu.”
Grace u r-raġel tagħha Lawrence huma l-ġenituri ta’ Sofia. Grace irrakkontat li Sofia hi l-iżgħar tal-familja.
“L-ewwel li ma qalet kienet lil ħutha. Ħadt xokk kbir. Ippruvajt ngħid lili nnifsi li forsi kienet fażi u ġibt elf mitt skuża għal ħafna żmien. Kienet toħroġ ma’ ġuvni, allura iktar u iktar ħsibt li kienet fażi,” qalet l-omm.
“Biż-żmien bdejt naċċetta s-sitwazzjoni u llum il-ġurnata m’għadhiex problema,” tgħid bi ftit inċertezza u b’ħarsa mhux daqstant konvinċenti.
Il-ġenituri preżenti ammettew li l-ikbar problema hi li l-ġenituri jridu jegħlbu l-aspettattivi għolja li jkunu imponew fuq uliedhom.
Għal Grace l-iktar li se jiddispjaċiha għax bintha mhix se tiżżewweġ, mhix se jkollha tfal u hi mhix se ssir nanna.
Inkwiet ieħor li jvenven f’moħħ il-ġenituri hu dwar x’se jgħidu n-nies.
“Bdejt ninkwieta li n-nies iweġġgħuha. Bħala omm ridt affarijiet differenti. Imma tgħallimt li dak li hu normali għalija mhux normali għal ħaddieħor. Illum il-ġurnata nista’ ngħid li għandi tifla gay, li għandha karriera u li hi tal-ġenn. Kont ninkwieta li jistgħu joqogħdu jgħadduha biż-żmien,” sostniet omm oħra li xtaqet ma tissemmiex b’isimha.
Iktar ma jgħaddi ż-żmien il-fenomenu gay iktar ħiereġ fid-deher imma kif irrakkuntaw il-ġenituri, il-Knisja tippreferi tibqa’ siekta u b’għajnejha mgħottija.
Tkellmet Rose, ‘l-imqarba’ tal-grupp. Hi omm żagħżugħ ta’ 20 sena. L-aħbar li binha gay ma tantx ħaditha bi kbira. “Qalli tliet snin ilu. Għal bidu ma ħadthiex bis-serjetà. Qalli b’sms meta konna fil-karozza. Staqsejtu jekk kienx bagħat sms lili bi żball minflok lil xi ħabib tiegħu. Qalli ‘le, lilek bgħattu’. L-sms kien jgħid “I am gay”. Qalli li kien ilu jaf minn mindu kellu disa’ snin. Qalli li kien ippreparali ittra li kien fiha xi sitt paġni. Meta wasalt id-dar qrajtha. The letter was a real relief.”
Xi ħaġa li laqtet lil Rose kienet li t-tifel kien jippreferi jgħid lil oħtu ż-żgħira milli lilha. Dik kienet xi ħaġa li ġiegħlitha taħseb.
L-għaqda bejn il-familja hu s-sigriet biex id-diffikultajiet li jinqalgħu jissolvew bl-iktar mod kalm possibbli.
Rose spjegat li t-tifel għandu boyfriend u ilu sitt xhur miegħu. Issa t-test mal-kumplament tal-familja se jkun fil-Milied.
“Suppost għandhom ikunu flimkien sa dak iż-żmien għax tidher relazzjoni tajba u qed tinbena b’saħħitha,” qalet Rose fuq ir-relazzjoni ta’ binha.
Punt ieħor li ttambar fuqu Rose, kif ukoll ġenituri oħra, hu li uliedhom ma jistgħux jesprimu rwieħhom fil-pubbliku.
“Ninkwieta għax għal kuntrarju ta’ żgħażagħ oħra t-tifel tiegħi ma jistax jesprimi ruħu fil-pubbliku. L-unika post fejn jista’ jesprimi ruħu hu d-dar biss. Din sa ċertu punt tweġġagħni. Ikollu jiġi d-dar biex ikun komdu,” qalet imbaqbqa Rose.
“Li tgħallimt minn din l-esperjenza hi li the more you are open, the better the relationship. Minn mindu qalilna li hu gay xorta għadna niċċajtaw. M’għandniex inibizzjonijiet u pjuttost għandna sens ta’ umoriżmu. Anki mal-ħbieb tagħna, m’hemm l-ebda problema. Jaċcettaw is-sitwazzjoni kif inhi,” irrakkuntat Rose.
Illum il-ġurnata t-tifel ta’ Therese għandu 38 sena u saret taf li hu gay 15-il sena ilu. Anki għal Therese kien xokk kbir. Peress li t-tifel kien jaf li kienet se toħodha bi kbira, ma marx waħdu biex jgħidilha. Ammettiet li meta saret taf għamlet lejl tibki u ma raqditx.
“Ma setax jgħidli waħdu. Allura ġie ma xi ħbieb. Għannaqni u qalli li hu gay. Qalli li kien se jagħżel li jitlaq mid-dar u ma jgħidli xejn biex ma jinkwetanix. Għidtlu li kien se jagħtini żewġ xokkijiet minflok wieħed!”
Il-biża’ li kellha Therese kienet li forsi għamlet xi ħaġa ħażina hi peress li hi omm weħidha. Serrħet rasha biż-żmien meta rrealizzat li binha kien ilu jaf minn ċkunitu dwar is-sesswalità tiegħu.
Il-Milied hu żmien diffiċli għall-familja ta’ Therese ukoll. B’weġgħa u emozzjoni tgħid “ikollok pjanijiet għat-tfal, imma trid tbiddilhom. Il-Milied dejjem problema għalina għax iz-zijiet għadhom ma niżżluhiex. Inħossni b’dahri mal-ħajt għax inħossni maqsuma fit-tnejn.”
F’ċirkostanzi estremi l-pressjoni tas-soċjetà u l-knisja jistgħu jwasslu omm biex taqa’ f’dipressjoni. Kif ġara fil-każ ta’ Marthese. Ir-raġel tagħha li kien preżenti għal-laqgħa irrakkonta kif l-orjentazzjoni sesswali ta’ binthom wasslet lil martu biex kważi kważi ma taċċettahiex.
Charles qal: “l-ewwel ħaġa naċċettaha għax dik binti u tiġi l-ewwel u qabel kollox. Vera li f’qalbek tgħid, kif ħarġet hekk jekk m’għamilt xejn ħażin? Imma din parti min-natura bħal meta xi ħadd eżempju jitwieled zopp jew ikollu xi tip ta’ diżabbiltà. X’tagħmel allura? Temarġina lill-uliedek? Ma tagħmilx sens.”
Bħal Lawrence, Charles konxju li bintu tbati għax gay.
“Jien konxju li hi tbati wkoll. Meta tiġi ma’ xi partner id-dar ommha tarma tħares bl-ikrah. Ġeneralment taqbad tidħol fil-kamra u joqogħdu hemm, fuq il-kompjuter jew jaraw it-televixin. U l-mara toqgħod bil-geddum. Tiġi d-dar bis-serqa. U jien f’qalbi ngħid, kieku kienet prostituta x’konna nagħmlu?”
“F’pajjiżi ċivilizzati dawn il-problemi ma jeżistux,” saħaq Lawrence fuq din it-tema.
Meta qajjimt is-suġġett tal-Knisja, kollha kienu kor wieħed. Spikkat il-kelma “ipokrezija.” Hemm qbil bejn il-grupp li mhemmx djalogu biżżejjed. Clayton, ġuvni ta’ 22 sena li jifforma parti minn Drachma, sosta li għandu jsir xogħol pastorali ma’ persuni gay.
“Ġesù kien man-nies emarġinati. Imma l-qassisin jibżgħu jidhru ma’ nies gay,” qal il-ġuvni.
Għal Lawrence l-problema tibqa’ li l-Knisja taċċetta żewġ nisa jew irġiel flimkien imma ma taċċettax li jesprimu r-relazzjoni bejniethom b’mod intimu. “Kulħadd għandu d-dritt għall-imħabba,” sostna Lawrence.
Staqsejthom jekk qatt iddiskriminawx kontra nies gay qabel saru jafu li uliedhom stess huma gay.
Grace fost l-oħrajn kienet waħda li ma tantx kellha kliem sbieħ għal nies gay.
“Naf li għandi tifla sew imma qed tmur kontra l-iskrittura, skont il-Knisja. Qabel jien stess kont kontra nies omosesswali. I was being judgemental until I got to know that my own daughter is gay. Din xi ħaġa li tista’ tiġri lil kulħadd.”
Għalihom l-edukazzjoni tibqa’ l-aħjar arma biex titneħħa l-istigma fuq persuni gay.
“Importanti li jkun hemm iktar edukazzjoni fl-iskejjel. Importanti li s-suġġett jidħlu fih iktar fil-fond b’hekk tibda titneħħa l-oppressjoni,” saħqu l-ġenituri.
Fejn jidħol żwieġ bejn koppji gay kien hemm qbil li għandu jkun hemm xi forma ta’ partnership rikonoxxuta mill-Istat. Iżda fejn tidħol l-addozzjoni tat-tfal ħafna sostnew li għadu prematur li jkun diskuss għax peress li Malta għadha lura fis-suġġett it-tfal jistgħu ibatu.
Għal ġenituri li huma interessati jingħaqdu mal-grupp Drachma, jistgħu jżuru l-website www.drachmalgbt.org jew iċemplu fuq 79342328
Sunday, 5 October 2008
Personal Experience of the Violence in Sarajevo
http://andysfilmworld.blogspot.com/2008/10/queer-sarajevo-festival-highly-personal.html
1.10.8 by Andy X, Film Festival co-ordinator of the International Lesbian and Gay Culture Network (ILGCN) http://www.ilgcn.tupilak.org/
Click on above hyperlink to see the video.
If you had come to Sarajevo last week you would have seen large billboards across the city in connection with the forthcoming municipal elections. Quite a few of them state in massive letters – Sarajevo na evropskom putu or Sarajevo on Road to Europe. Yeah, sure – what about a fast track? Municipal elections have rarely got anything to do with pan-European issues but in this case the billboards’ authors might just have struck the chord with what’s at stake in their city and country, unknowingly.Queer Sarajevo Festival was opened on Wednesday, 24 September in the premises of the Academy of Fine Arts. The occasion was also used for the opening of several exhibitions – a photo exhibition by Irfan Redžović, a sculpture exhibition by Alma Selimović (both from Bosnia) and a number of queer art works from different parts of former Yugoslavia. The hall with the art exhibitions where the opening took place was bursting with people – the organisers clearly weren´t counting on so many people showing up. In fact, it was almost impossible to see the art works for all the people. At one point, a representative of the Dutch embassy, being one of the main funders of the festival, gave a speech in English concluding it with „Long live the Queers!” followed by a speech in Bosnian made by Boba, one of the local organisers from Organisation Q. The crowds cheered and the whole atmosphere was lively but rather relaxed – the weeks of hate speech from parts of the Bosnian media and most political parties seemed rather distant.In the meantime, the opposing crowd outside was growing bigger – the daily Ramadan meal at 7 pm was over. As the opening was coming to a close, I and three Bosnian friends of mine decided to move further and went outside. The crowd didn’t look particularly friendly but on the other side, at least at that moment they weren’t shouting or chanting anything and looked relatively calm, no doubt largely due to the presence of the police in front of the building. When we decided to start walking, a guy standing next to me silently tried to block my passage and pushed me. I asked him what his problem was but he didn’t reply. We started walking and I noticed that a group of those people also started walking in the same direction. One of the two girls in our group decided that we´d better get into her car which was parked on the other side of the Academy, not far away, so we turned right and walked through a line of policemen who were standing outside. The other side was badly lit and deserted – no civilians, no police. I kept watching our backs but nobody seemed to follow us at that point. But that was only a moment of calm before the storm. As we had reached the parking lot, I suddenly saw with the back of my eye that a group of people were running at us and a second later we were attacked from behind. I tried to turn around to defend myself and get away from them but fell and found myself surrounded by what seemed to be four young guys who started kicking the living daylights out of me from all sides. Somehow, I managed to get back on my feet and get out of the circle, so I started running all I could without looking back. As I was running, I noticed I was basically blind on my left eye and my hands were covered in blood. I also couldn’t help noticing how badly lit and deserted the streets were at that point. Absolutely no police presence 50 meters from the Academy. I eventually reached a place where I felt I was safe and my friends collected me from there. Most of that night was spent in a local hospital where they kept sending me from one clinic to another and eventually stitched me up. At the emergency room we also saw some other victims of the attacks that night. Two guys who had left the venue in a taxi were followed for four kilometers, then brutally dragged out of the car, threatened with guns and then beaten with them. Towards dawn we were all taken to a police station where we gave our statements. This process took an incredible amount of time and the police officers in charge found it important to ask questions like what the maiden name of my mother was. Eventually, I and a friend of mine were driven to my hotel room with some police escort and we could finally get some sleep.On the following day I was taken back to the hospital for some further checks but otherwise stayed in my hotel room all day watching TV including an episode of JAG with one of the main characters hospitalised after he stepped on a landmine in Afghanistan. It seemed somehow appropriate. In the evening I was visited by some of the organisers who told me that the Festival as a public event wouldn´t continue since the police claimed that they couldn´t provide any protection for the participants or the organisers but that they would try to stage some of the planned events in secret locations for specifically invited guests. I was supposed to take part in a panel debate after the screening of John Greyson’s Lilies together with the director himself on Friday and although in a poor physical condition I still wanted to go through with it.The day after, on Friday, I had to go back to the clinic of „facial reconstruction”. The organisers suggested that I go to their office after that as they were planning to take me and the other guests of the festival to „the only safe restaurant” in town for a dinner later that day. What I couldn´t quite foresee was that I was to stay inside that office for about 24 hours. Plans kept changing as the phones never went silent around me. The organisers even used my phone at times (I had my own Bosnian pay as you go SIM card) as they weren´t sure if their phones weren’t bugged. „Bugged by the police?” – „Yes, you never know who they are really working for”. At one point some of the organisers left for the airport to collect an artist who was coming to the festival to stage a performance. A car had followed them. Boba, the girl who remained in the office with me, switched off the lights, I sat down on the floor – just in case. After a number of calls back and forth we learned that they were now safe – they drove back from the airport with a police escort which they finally managed to get. Although offered, I decided not to leave. If they followed after me, they would learn where I´m staying and that place was definitely not safe. Not knowing who was lurking outside and what those people could come up with during the night, I decided to seek protection from a different source. Being a Danish national, I phoned the emergency number of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. About twenty minutes later I got a phone call from the Danish embassy. It turned out to be the ambassador himself. After some negotiations the embassy managed to persuade the Bosnian police to dispatch a police car to the area which was to keep an eye on us all night long. I guess it did, I never saw the actual car but that night will probably go down in my personal history as the longest night I had ever experienced, full of sounds of stopping cars and slammed car doors. At some point toward the morning I finally fell asleep.When I woke up the next morning, I knew I didn’t want to spend another night in that city. The organisers put me on a plane to Zagreb on Saturday afternoon after a rather remarkable drive through the city, first to my hotel room and then to the airport, which seemed rather surreal and, if anything, a bad reprise of some crap Hollywood film with Svetlana in the front seat trying to hide her face under a hood and me at the back seat constantly looking back. The day had come that I felt I had to be airlifted out of Sarajevo, just like those people in the early spring of 1992 as the Bosnian war was becoming a reality. The only difference being that there now wasn’t a war or any shelling or shooting and the other people at the airport didn’t seem to be in distress. This was pure terrorism and not many ordinary people in Sarajevo seemed to care. I left but the local organisers stayed and so did thousands of Bosnian queers, many of them too afraid to leave their houses after what had happened.One of the parties contesting at the municipal elections in Sarajevo on 5 October, Stranka za BiH or Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina which is led by Haris Silajdžić, one of the three rotating presidents in that country, has the whole city plastered with another set of billboards – these ones read 100% Europe. It is also the same party that has been the most ferocious opponent of Queer Sarajevo Festival publicly. What can I say to this? They probably mean 100% Europe as of 1933 when Hitler was democratically elected as Germany´s chancellor. There is, of course, no connection between people governing Sarajevo and Bosnia, people like Haris Silajdžić, and Europe as of 2008. Whichever road to Europe these people believe they are travelling, it hasn´t existed for decades and at the moment it certainly resembles the Old Bridge in Mostar after it was blown up in 1993. I sincerely hope the events from last week will serve as an eye-opener to the larger public.Queer Sarajevo Festival was opened on 24 September but it was never closed. All the performances, film screenings and other events never took place and are still waiting for their audience. An audience which is there and which will not disappear, no matter how much certain parts of the Bosnian society may wish them away. It is therefore up to the Bosnian public, but also the international community, to make sure that these events DO take place and a significant part of this EU candidate member state's population can feel free from both the state and private terrorism which characterises the country at the moment.Here is some footage made by Croatian TV on the opening night
1.10.8 by Andy X, Film Festival co-ordinator of the International Lesbian and Gay Culture Network (ILGCN) http://www.ilgcn.tupilak.org/
Click on above hyperlink to see the video.If you had come to Sarajevo last week you would have seen large billboards across the city in connection with the forthcoming municipal elections. Quite a few of them state in massive letters – Sarajevo na evropskom putu or Sarajevo on Road to Europe. Yeah, sure – what about a fast track? Municipal elections have rarely got anything to do with pan-European issues but in this case the billboards’ authors might just have struck the chord with what’s at stake in their city and country, unknowingly.Queer Sarajevo Festival was opened on Wednesday, 24 September in the premises of the Academy of Fine Arts. The occasion was also used for the opening of several exhibitions – a photo exhibition by Irfan Redžović, a sculpture exhibition by Alma Selimović (both from Bosnia) and a number of queer art works from different parts of former Yugoslavia. The hall with the art exhibitions where the opening took place was bursting with people – the organisers clearly weren´t counting on so many people showing up. In fact, it was almost impossible to see the art works for all the people. At one point, a representative of the Dutch embassy, being one of the main funders of the festival, gave a speech in English concluding it with „Long live the Queers!” followed by a speech in Bosnian made by Boba, one of the local organisers from Organisation Q. The crowds cheered and the whole atmosphere was lively but rather relaxed – the weeks of hate speech from parts of the Bosnian media and most political parties seemed rather distant.In the meantime, the opposing crowd outside was growing bigger – the daily Ramadan meal at 7 pm was over. As the opening was coming to a close, I and three Bosnian friends of mine decided to move further and went outside. The crowd didn’t look particularly friendly but on the other side, at least at that moment they weren’t shouting or chanting anything and looked relatively calm, no doubt largely due to the presence of the police in front of the building. When we decided to start walking, a guy standing next to me silently tried to block my passage and pushed me. I asked him what his problem was but he didn’t reply. We started walking and I noticed that a group of those people also started walking in the same direction. One of the two girls in our group decided that we´d better get into her car which was parked on the other side of the Academy, not far away, so we turned right and walked through a line of policemen who were standing outside. The other side was badly lit and deserted – no civilians, no police. I kept watching our backs but nobody seemed to follow us at that point. But that was only a moment of calm before the storm. As we had reached the parking lot, I suddenly saw with the back of my eye that a group of people were running at us and a second later we were attacked from behind. I tried to turn around to defend myself and get away from them but fell and found myself surrounded by what seemed to be four young guys who started kicking the living daylights out of me from all sides. Somehow, I managed to get back on my feet and get out of the circle, so I started running all I could without looking back. As I was running, I noticed I was basically blind on my left eye and my hands were covered in blood. I also couldn’t help noticing how badly lit and deserted the streets were at that point. Absolutely no police presence 50 meters from the Academy. I eventually reached a place where I felt I was safe and my friends collected me from there. Most of that night was spent in a local hospital where they kept sending me from one clinic to another and eventually stitched me up. At the emergency room we also saw some other victims of the attacks that night. Two guys who had left the venue in a taxi were followed for four kilometers, then brutally dragged out of the car, threatened with guns and then beaten with them. Towards dawn we were all taken to a police station where we gave our statements. This process took an incredible amount of time and the police officers in charge found it important to ask questions like what the maiden name of my mother was. Eventually, I and a friend of mine were driven to my hotel room with some police escort and we could finally get some sleep.On the following day I was taken back to the hospital for some further checks but otherwise stayed in my hotel room all day watching TV including an episode of JAG with one of the main characters hospitalised after he stepped on a landmine in Afghanistan. It seemed somehow appropriate. In the evening I was visited by some of the organisers who told me that the Festival as a public event wouldn´t continue since the police claimed that they couldn´t provide any protection for the participants or the organisers but that they would try to stage some of the planned events in secret locations for specifically invited guests. I was supposed to take part in a panel debate after the screening of John Greyson’s Lilies together with the director himself on Friday and although in a poor physical condition I still wanted to go through with it.The day after, on Friday, I had to go back to the clinic of „facial reconstruction”. The organisers suggested that I go to their office after that as they were planning to take me and the other guests of the festival to „the only safe restaurant” in town for a dinner later that day. What I couldn´t quite foresee was that I was to stay inside that office for about 24 hours. Plans kept changing as the phones never went silent around me. The organisers even used my phone at times (I had my own Bosnian pay as you go SIM card) as they weren´t sure if their phones weren’t bugged. „Bugged by the police?” – „Yes, you never know who they are really working for”. At one point some of the organisers left for the airport to collect an artist who was coming to the festival to stage a performance. A car had followed them. Boba, the girl who remained in the office with me, switched off the lights, I sat down on the floor – just in case. After a number of calls back and forth we learned that they were now safe – they drove back from the airport with a police escort which they finally managed to get. Although offered, I decided not to leave. If they followed after me, they would learn where I´m staying and that place was definitely not safe. Not knowing who was lurking outside and what those people could come up with during the night, I decided to seek protection from a different source. Being a Danish national, I phoned the emergency number of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. About twenty minutes later I got a phone call from the Danish embassy. It turned out to be the ambassador himself. After some negotiations the embassy managed to persuade the Bosnian police to dispatch a police car to the area which was to keep an eye on us all night long. I guess it did, I never saw the actual car but that night will probably go down in my personal history as the longest night I had ever experienced, full of sounds of stopping cars and slammed car doors. At some point toward the morning I finally fell asleep.When I woke up the next morning, I knew I didn’t want to spend another night in that city. The organisers put me on a plane to Zagreb on Saturday afternoon after a rather remarkable drive through the city, first to my hotel room and then to the airport, which seemed rather surreal and, if anything, a bad reprise of some crap Hollywood film with Svetlana in the front seat trying to hide her face under a hood and me at the back seat constantly looking back. The day had come that I felt I had to be airlifted out of Sarajevo, just like those people in the early spring of 1992 as the Bosnian war was becoming a reality. The only difference being that there now wasn’t a war or any shelling or shooting and the other people at the airport didn’t seem to be in distress. This was pure terrorism and not many ordinary people in Sarajevo seemed to care. I left but the local organisers stayed and so did thousands of Bosnian queers, many of them too afraid to leave their houses after what had happened.One of the parties contesting at the municipal elections in Sarajevo on 5 October, Stranka za BiH or Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina which is led by Haris Silajdžić, one of the three rotating presidents in that country, has the whole city plastered with another set of billboards – these ones read 100% Europe. It is also the same party that has been the most ferocious opponent of Queer Sarajevo Festival publicly. What can I say to this? They probably mean 100% Europe as of 1933 when Hitler was democratically elected as Germany´s chancellor. There is, of course, no connection between people governing Sarajevo and Bosnia, people like Haris Silajdžić, and Europe as of 2008. Whichever road to Europe these people believe they are travelling, it hasn´t existed for decades and at the moment it certainly resembles the Old Bridge in Mostar after it was blown up in 1993. I sincerely hope the events from last week will serve as an eye-opener to the larger public.Queer Sarajevo Festival was opened on 24 September but it was never closed. All the performances, film screenings and other events never took place and are still waiting for their audience. An audience which is there and which will not disappear, no matter how much certain parts of the Bosnian society may wish them away. It is therefore up to the Bosnian public, but also the international community, to make sure that these events DO take place and a significant part of this EU candidate member state's population can feel free from both the state and private terrorism which characterises the country at the moment.Here is some footage made by Croatian TV on the opening night
Thursday, 2 October 2008
ILGA: Bosnia and Herzegovina must guarantee freedom of assembly and expression for LGBT people. Police must provide security of LGBT events
Received by email from the International Lesbian Gay Association
ILGA-Europe’s statement
2.10.8 Brussels
ILGA-Europe is deeply concerned with the news about the Queer Festival in Sarajevo: attacks on the participants of the events, attacks on the office of LGBT organisation, lack of police protection, death threats to the organisers of the festival.
Freedom of assembly and expression is one of the fundamental principles of a democratic society. The European Court of Human Rights has confirmed that freedom of assembly cannot be denied to events organised by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people or to those supporting equality for LGBT people. Similarly, the European Court of Human Rights repeatedly ruled that freedom of expression is not limited to the ideas which are received favourably by the majority of society. Moreover, the European Court of Human rights ruled that a state has a positive duty to protect the participants of public events.
ILGA-Europe is calling on Bosnia and Herzegovinian authorities to immediately ensure the security of LGBT activists and to fully respect international human rights standards related to freedom of assembly and expression.
ILGA-Europe is also calling on the European Union and the Council of Europe to continue monitoring the situation with regards to the rights to assembly and expression for LGBT people in Bosnia Herzegovina.
ILGA-Europe’s statement
2.10.8 Brussels
ILGA-Europe is deeply concerned with the news about the Queer Festival in Sarajevo: attacks on the participants of the events, attacks on the office of LGBT organisation, lack of police protection, death threats to the organisers of the festival.
Freedom of assembly and expression is one of the fundamental principles of a democratic society. The European Court of Human Rights has confirmed that freedom of assembly cannot be denied to events organised by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people or to those supporting equality for LGBT people. Similarly, the European Court of Human Rights repeatedly ruled that freedom of expression is not limited to the ideas which are received favourably by the majority of society. Moreover, the European Court of Human rights ruled that a state has a positive duty to protect the participants of public events.
ILGA-Europe is calling on Bosnia and Herzegovinian authorities to immediately ensure the security of LGBT activists and to fully respect international human rights standards related to freedom of assembly and expression.
ILGA-Europe is also calling on the European Union and the Council of Europe to continue monitoring the situation with regards to the rights to assembly and expression for LGBT people in Bosnia Herzegovina.
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