MGRM welcomes judgement which lets transsexuals marry

PRESS RELEASE: MALTA GAY RIGHTS MOVEMENT
2nd DECEMBER 2010
by Gabi Calleja; COORDINATOR MGRM; TEL: 99250943

The Malta Gay Rights Movement (MGRM) welcomes the judgement of the Constitutional Court of 30th November in the case of Joanne Cassar vs Director of Public Registry where the right of transsexuals to marry was recognised. MGRM also notes the fact that the judgement made extensive reference to the case law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECrtHR) on the matter and the manner in which this has evolved over time. The ECrtHR clearly states that biology is not the sole determining factor in determining gender and that current thinking and practice also give considerable importance to psychological factors. Moreover, the ECrtHR held that the margin of appreciation allowed to States did not go so far as to permit the denial of a fundamental right such as the right to marry for persons of the opposite legal sex.

While this judgement is a step forward for all post-operative trans persons a great deal still needs to be achieved for the rights of transgender persons to be fully respected. The Fundamental Rights Agency in its updated report on Homophobia, Transphobia and Discrimination on Grounds of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (2010) calls on EU Member States to “abolish divorce and genital surgery as preconditions to the rectification of the recorded sex or alteration of name on official documents.”

On the 10th December - Human Rights Day - the MGRM will be launching a Proposed Gender Identity Bill for Malta which seeks to offer comprehensive legal protection and redress to trans persons. It is hoped that this will build on the progress that has been made in recent years.


STQARRIJA GHALL-ISTAMPA: MALTA GAY RIGHTS MOVEMENT

Il-Malta Gay Rights Movement (MGRM) tilqa’ is-sentenza tal-qorti Kostituzjonali tat-30 ta’ Novembru fil-kaz ta’ Joanne Cassar vs id-Direttur tar-Reġistru Pubbliku fejn id-dritt għaż-żwieġ għal-persuni transesswali gie rikonoxxut. L-MGRM tinnota wkoll li s-sentenza tagħmel referenzi estensivi għas-sentenzi tal-Qorti Ewropea għad-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem (QEDB) fuq il-kwistjoni u l-mod ta’ kif is-sentenzi evolvew tul iz-zmien. Il-QEBD tgħid biċ-ċar li fatturi bijoloġiċi mhumiex l-uniċi kriterji li, skond il-ħsieb u l-prattika attwali, wieħed għandu jiddetermina is-sess ta’ persuna imma li fatturi psikoloġiċi ukoll għandhom jingħataw importanza. Barra minn hekk il-Qorti Ewropeja sostniet ukoll illi l-marġini li l-liġi għandha tagħti lill-Istat mhuwiex daqshekk wiesgħa illi jippermetti li jiċħad dritt fundamentali bħal ma huwa id-dritt ta’ persuna li tiżżewweġ persuna oħra tas-sess oppost tagħha.


Filwaqt li din is-sentenza tikkostitwixxi pass ‘il quddiem għal persuni trans li għaddew mit-transizzjoni kirurġika għad hemm ħafna x’isir biex id-drittijiet ta’ persuni trans jiġu rrispettati bis-sħiħ. L-Aġenzija għad-Drittijiet Fundamentali tal-Unjoni Ewropeja fir-rapport dwar L-Omofobija, t-Transfobija u d-Diskriminazzjoni fuq Bażi ta’ Orjentazzjoni Sesswali u Identità tal-Ġeneru (2010), tgħajjat lill-istati membri tal-Unjoni Ewropeja biex “jabolixxu d-divorzju u l-kirurġija ġenitali bħala kundizzjonijiet rekwiżiti biex issir bidla fl-annotazzjoni tas-sess jew tibdil fl-isem fuq dokumenti uffiċċjali.”

Fl-10 ta’ Diċembru, fl-okkażjoni tal-Jum Dinji għad-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem, l-MGRM ser tniedi proposta ta’ Liġi dwar l-Identità tal-Ġeneru għal Malta li għandha l-għan li toffri protezzjoni legali komprensiva fir-rigward ta’ persuni trans. It-tama hi li din tkompli tibni fuq il-progress li sar f’dawn l-aħħar snin.