The Labour Party is setting up a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) section within its structure, opposition leader Joseph Muscat announced last night.
This section will be represented in the party’s general conference, he said during a meeting with a delegation from the International Lesbian and Gay Association.
“This is not tokenism,” he said, adding the party knew it would be difficult and was expecting criticism from a conservative society.
The party believed it was high time new initiatives were taken when it came to gay rights, and LGBT Labour would be the “first step to a new era”.
Dr Muscat expressed hope that other political parties would follow in the PL’s footsteps. He expressed his belief that although the country was conservative, things were changing.
An LGBT section was set up recently within the party’s youth section.
Dr Muscat said the party had chosen to break new ground, adding it was time to stop being hypocritical about the issue of gay rights.
Louise Ashworth, a member of the international association, stressed how important it was for people in high places to stand up for gay rights.
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Times: Labour to set up LGBT section
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20091102/local/labour-to-set-up-lgbt-sectionMonday, 2nd November 2009 - 17:50CET
The Labour Party is to set up an LGBT (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender ) section, party leader Joseph Muscat announced this afternoon.
He said that while he understood that the party may be criticised for this initiative from some conservative quarters, the party was seeking to break new ground.
This, he said, was not tokenism, but an initiative to uphold the rights of such people.
LGBT Labour will have representation on the party general conference.
Dr Muscat made the announcement when he met a delegation from International Lesbian and Gay Association.
He said he was sure that this initiative would eventually be followed by other political parties.
The PL youth section set up an LGBT section some months ago.
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