L-Orizzont: “Mara” rikonoxxuta bħala raġel

http://www.l-orizzont.com/news.asp?newsitemid=71426

29.3.2011 minn Charmaine Craus

Persuna ta’ 27 sena li għamlet operazzjoni biex tibdel is-sess tagħha rebħet id-dritt biex tiġi rikonoxxuta bħala raġel mir-Reġistru Pubbliku.

Il-Qorti, ippreseduta mill-Imħallef Joseph Azzopardi, ordnat li dan ir-rikonoxximent għandu jirrifletti fiċ-ċertifikat tat-twelid, fis-sens li jinbidel is-sess tal-persuna u jinbidel ukoll l-isem.

Il-persuna, li isimha ma jistax jixxandar fuq ordni tal-Qorti, ġiet reġistrata fl-atti tat-twelid tagħha bħala sess fem­minili, kif jirriżulta miċ-ċertifikat tat-twelid li ġie ppre­żentat fil-Qorti.

Minn ċkunitha, dejjem kell­ha inklinazzjonijiet, atteġġjamenti u orjentamenti maskili, kemm psikoloġikament kif ukoll fiżikament.

Għalhekk, biex teħles mill-kunflitt interni li kellha dwar il-personalitajiet tagħha, kellha tagħmel op­erazzjoni kiru­r­ġika magħrufa bħala ‘gender reassignment’ u b’hekk is-sess tagħha sar maskili, b’mod irriversibbli.

Jirriżulta li l-operazzjoni saret fl-isptar ġenerali ta’ Belgrade, ‘Belmedic’, fis-Serbja.

B’referenza għall-Artiklu 275A tal-Liġijiet ta’ Malta, li jistabbilixxi, li f’dawn iċ-ċirkostanzi, persuna tista’ titlob biex tinbidel dik il-parti fejn hemm imniżżel is-sess tagħha fiċ-ċertifikat tat-twelid, il-persuna msemmija ressqet rikors fil-Prim Awla tal-Qorti Ċivili, fejn spjegat l-istorja tagħha. Id-Direttur tar-Reġistru Pub­bliku, fir-risposta tiegħu qal li l-persuna trid turi li mhijiex marbuta biż-żwieġ u li tgħix hawn Malta. Id-Direttur talab lill-Qorti biex tinnomina esperti mediċi biex jivverifikaw li l-persuna verament għad­diet minn din l-operazzjoni rri­versibbli biex minn mara saret raġel.

Id-Direttur qal li jekk dawn il-kundizzjonijiet jiġu onorati, ma jsib ebda oġġezzjoni. Fil-fatt, qabel ħadet id-de­ċiżjoni tagħha, il-Qorti rat ir-rap­porti li saru mill-esperti mediċi, il-Professur Godfrey La­ferla u Dr Raymond Galea, li nħatru għall-iskop li jkun ivverifikat li saret l-operazzjoni. Qud­diem id-dokumenti koll­ha li ntwerew, il-Qorti qieset li t-talba tal-persuna hija ġġustifikata u laqgħet it-talbiet tagħha.

Ir-rikors tressaq permezz tal-Avukat Owen Bonnici.

Malta Today: Transsexual wins right to be recognised as a man

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/transsexual-wins-right-to-be-recognised-as-a-man
MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2011

The courts have ordered the director of the public registry to effect name and gender changes in the birth certificate of a woman who underwent surgery to become a man.

The man, whose name cannot be published by court order, was born on 22 May, 1984 as a girl, but said in his writ that he had "male inclinations, behaviour and orientation both psychologically and externally" since childhood.

She later underwent gender reassignment surgery in Belgrade, Serbia, where he took on the male gender "irreversibly".

Maltese law recognises the rights of people who undergo gender reassignment surgery to change their gender on their birth certificates.

In his writ, the man asked the courts to order the public registry to amend his birth certificate, and change his name from his birth-name, to his new male name.

His proof of gender reassignment was established by Profs. Godfrey Laferla and Dr Raymond Galea as court experts.

[Click on the hyperlink above to view the comments on Malta Today's website.]

Times: Transsexual wins legal recognition as a man

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110329/local/transsexual-wins-legal-recognition-as-a-man

Tuesday, 29th March 2011

A woman who underwent a sex change to become a man yesterday won the right to be recognised in his new gender by the public registry after a judge ordered that his birth certificate be altered.

The man, who cannot be named by court order, made the request last October, saying that ever since birth he had felt like a man, acted like one and had masculine inclinations.

The desire to physically become a man was realised after gender reassignment surgery in Belgrade, Serbia.

Mr Justice Joseph Azzopardi ordered the director of the public registry to change the birth certificate to match the man’s new physical identity. The judge also ordered that his name be changed too.

The man’s legal counsel was Owen Bonnici.

This latest judgment comes in the wake of a legal battle fought by a woman to be given the right to marry after undergoing male-to-female gender reassignment surgery. In court, Joanne Cassar’s lawyers had referred to a section of the law introduced a few years ago by which transsexuals could file a court application to have the details changed on their birth certificate.
The judge ruled that, since the government had introduced this section, at law the State was recognising her as a woman. Therefore, all the legal consequences followed so Ms Cassar had to be allowed to marry a man.

However, the director of public registry, against whom Ms Cassar took legal action, rejected the claim, insisting the law had been introduced only to protect the person’s privacy and not because the State was recognising her acquired sex.

Ms Cassar is currently awaiting judgment in the appeal launched by the registry and the Attorney General.

[Click on the hyperlink above to view the comments on the Times' website. Click here to read more comments.]

MaltaToday: Nationalist organ Mument hits out at former 'Freedom Fighter'

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/nationalist-organ-mument-hits-out-at-former-freedom-fighter

20th March 2011 By Matthew Vella

Joe Fava, a former 'Front Freedom Fighter, gets Il-Mument's disapproval after 30 years...

1980s anti-Labour 'hardliner' who has switched allegiance, pens Orizzont editorials says PN newspaper.

A former member of the Front Freedom Fighters, a right-wing grouping at the margins of the Nationalist Party of the 1980s led by former MP Josie Muscat, has been 'targeted' by the PN organ Il-Mument for switching allegiance and his 'incapability to précis'.

This is the gist of a short piece on Joe Fava, the bearded columnist of the General Workers Union's daily l-orizzont, whose two-page features "are as long as novels" and who Il-Mument claims is also penning the union paper's editorials.

"There is an uncanny similarity between Fava's column and the orizzont leaders... The more attentive readers cannot help but notice the similarity between the editorials and Fava's writing, both in ferocity and in general content," Il-Mument's unsigned news item reads."

"Fava has been writing in the newspapers for 40 years... what he used to write was against the Labour party, now he is writing against the Nationalist party, but his harshness stayed unchanged."

Fava was one of a handful of supporters of Josie Muscat, the PN hardliner from the Labour-dominated southern districts, who formed the Front Freedom Fighters after the 1981 election when Labour was re-elected with a majority of seats but not a majority of votes. The grouping was a form of resistance action against Labour's authoritarian elements but its members were sympathisers of European fascism.

In an interview with MaltaToday's sister newspaper Illum, Fava's make-up was right out of the manual for right-wingers: an admirer of Reagan and Thatcherism, a supporter of US foreign policy and interventionism in Iraq, an Islamophobe and anti-immigration and sceptical of extending wider civil rights to homosexuals.

He was even "one of the foremost leaders in the Catholic junta that persecuted Labourites in the 1960s by mocking and provocations during Labour meetings. He hates communism..." wrote Kurt Sansone, who met him in 2007.

He did not follow Josie Muscat into his short-lived foray with the right-wing Azzjoni Nazzjonali after 18 years of friendship and instead turned to Labour. Before Alfred Sant's resignation in 2008, Fava described him as "sincere and an intellectual."

Miriam Dalli contributed to this report.

[Click on the hyperlink above to view the comments on Malta Today's website.]

KullĦadd: Neħħiet sidirha biex tgħix ħajja ta’ ġuvni

http://www.kullhadd.com/201103192701/Intervista/nehhiet-sidirha-biex-tghix-hajja-ta-guvni.html

Saturday, 19 March 2011 17:37 minn Ramona Portelli

Anke sempliciment injection tbezzani, ahseb u ara xi operazzjoniji li nkun nista’ nghaddi minghajrha. Min-naha l-ohra allahares kulhadd bhali fejn jidhlu affarijiet simili, ghax kieku l-esperimenti medicinali ma jimxux. Izda akkost ta’ kollox, nammira lil dawk il-persuni li lesti jiehdu riskji f’hajjithom ghall-ahjar taghhom. Spiss nisimghu bi tfajliet li jkabbru sidirhom, izda rari nisimghu b’xi tfajla li tnehhi sidirha apposta biex tigi tidher maskili, almenu f’Malta!!!

Dwar dan tkellimt ma’ Charlot Mamo li ghaddiet minn din l-esperjenza, u llum tinsab kuntenta tghix hajja daqs li kieku hi guvni. L-importanti ghaliha li m’ghadhiex tidher tfajla bis-sider.

L-istorja taghha qed tintwera wkoll bhalissa fuq il-programm televiziv Arani Issa ipprezentat minn Joseph Chetcuti kull nhar ta’ Hamis fuq ONE TV.
Iltqajt ma’ Charlot f’kafeterija f’Tas-Sliema. Tasal fuq il-post ma’ ommha – omm li tissaportjaha hafna, kif ukoll ma’ huha z-zghir.

Waqt l-intervista tieghi, Charlot qaltli biex nirreferi ghaliha fil-maskil, anke jekk fuq il-karta tal-identità taghha ghadha tidher bl-isem Charlotte. B’hekk minn issa ’l quddiem ser inkun qed nitkellem fil-maskil fuq it-talba ta’ Charlot stess.

Ghandu 23 sena u jghix l-Iklin. Jahdem fil-catering u bhalissa single. “Fil-prezent jien single, però looking!! Inhobb il-muzika u l-kompjuter. Min jafni sew jafni nidhak il-hin kollu, u li jien persuna li nhobb malajr. Sensittiv u haddiehor jaf fejn huwa mieghi,” kienu l-ewwel kummenti li hadt minghand Charlot.

Tnehhi sidirha

Kont naf li xi sena u sitt xhur ilu, Charlot kienet ghamlet operazzjoni biex fl-ahhar il-holma li kellha titwettaq – dik li tnehhi sidirha darba ghal dejjem, u tigi lixxa daqs ragel. B’hekk tlabt lil Charlot jirrakuntali minn xiex ghadda qabel sakemm kienet ghadha tfajla bis-sider. Hawnhekk fil-pront taqbez omm Charlot u tghidli, “Charlot kienet il-weggha tieghi qabel. Sa ma xi nies draw, kont nircievi sms’s jistaqsuni jekk Charlot hix ragel jew mara. Kienet tghaddili hafna kummenti koroh bhal li trid tmut jew li trid tmur taqbez. Tant sidirha kien idejjaqha, li daqshekk kienet imdejjqa.”

Fil-fatt kienet omm Charlot li resqitha lejn il-holma ta’ hajjitha. Kienet applikat ghal nominazzjoni fi programm televiziv lokali sabiex issirilha x-xewqa ta’ hajjitha, u proprju n-nominazzjoni taghha giet accettata. Fil-fatt Charlot jghid li hajtu proprja bdiet minn wara l-operazzjoni ’l hawn.

Nitkellem ma’ Charlot dwar l-operazzjoni, u nfurmani li kellu jaghmel zewg operazzjonijiet ta’ seba’ sighat -il wahda, biex illum jidher kif dejjem xtaq. “L-ewwel operazzjoni ghamiltha fil-21 ta’ Settembru 2009. Erbat ijiem wara kelli l-birthday, allura tista’ timmagina, ghalija kien l-akbar rigal ta’ hajti.

Xahar wara, preciz fil-21 ta’ Ottubru, peress li kelli xi kumplikazzjonijiet wara li nehhejt sidri, kelli nidhol ghat-tieni operazzjoni li damet seba’ sighat ohra, u saruli 134 punti.

Batejt hafna wara l-operazzjonijiet, specjalment biex nimxi u niekol. Kelli niehu xi medikazzjonijiet kuljum ghal xi zmien. Ifhem jiena ridtha din il-haga u ghamiltha tant kemm ridtha jiena,” spjegali Charlot filwaqt li ammirajt il-kuragg wara dan kollu.

Nistaqsi lil Charlot dwar ir-reazzjoni tal-familja minn wara l-operazzjoni ’l hawn. “Tal-familja accettawni kif jiena, u llum ommi tista’ tghid li ghandha tifel iehor fil-familja.

Tax-xoghol accettawni kif jiena bla problemi, ghalkemm kultant jitfixklu kif ser jindirizzawni, jekk hux bhala guvni jew tfajla. In-nanna ghadha sal-lum ma tridx tnizzilha, u ghadha tittama li tarani bid-dublett u mizzzewga,” qalli Charlot b’dahka sinciera.

Biza’ mis-sajf

Insir naf li meta kienet ghadha m’ghamlitx l-operazzjoni biex tnehhi sidirha, kienet ghaddiet minn fazijiet ta’ dwejjaq u li l-anqas ma kienet tohrog, specjalment fiz-zmien tas-sajf. Ir-raguni primarja ghaliex ma kinitx thobb is-sajf kienet ghaliex il-hwejjeg sajfin kienu jdejjquha maghha, fis-sens li sidirha kien ikun jidher imqabbez. “Kont nilbes sports bra issikkat hafna biex jiccattjali sidri u nahbihom taht il-hwejjeg, ghalkemm xorta kont nidher. Kemm-il darba kont inkun hierga, u nara li l-hwejjeg ma qaghdux sew b’sidri u nerga’ nbiddel il-hsieb u nibqa’ gewwa. Is-sajf kont noboghdu.”

Illum bil-kontra. Charlot ghandu genn sa ma jasal dan is-sajf. Nistaqsi ghaliex. “Biex nilbes issikkat l-aktar, u biex nerga’ nibda nghum, ghax dan l-ahhar zewgt isjuf kont qtajt mill-bahar, proprju minhabba sidri.”

B’kurzità nistaqsi b’liema tip ta’ malja Charlot ser jibda jghum minn dan is-sajf li gej. “Shorts tal-boys u flokk tac-cingi”, kienet it-twegiba pronta u sodisfacenti ta’ Charlot.

Nistaqsi jekk illum il-gurnata Charlot hux komplut mill-hajja. “Ifhem, ma nistax nidhaq b’dak li jkun. L-ahjar haga hi li lil dak li jkun nghidilhom bil-verità mill-ewwel dwari. Ghad hawn min ma jaccettax nies bhali”.

Fil-pront taqbez omm Charlot, u tghidli, “Ghad hawn taboo fuq nies bhal Charlot. Qishom ghandhom xi marda. Din tweggani wisq. Persuni bhal Charlot ghandhom qalb daqs haddiehor, anzi qalb ikbar minn haddiehor. Ma’ Charlot illum naf fejn jiena. Spiccajt anke bi hbieb gays jiena wkoll,” bdiet tghidli omm Charlot b’certu mhabba kbira.

Illum il-gurnata, Charlot jghix hajja daqs li kieku minn dejjem kien guvni. Nistaqsi dwar l-istil ta’ hwejjeg li l-aktar ifittex illum il-gurnata. “Hwejjeg maskili ovvjament, bl-underwear b’kollox. Xejn, hwejjeg tan-nisa qtajthom darba ghal dejjem, l-anqas nohlomha ma rrid,” wiegeb Charlot entuzjast, filwaqt li rrimarkali li tfajliet ohra iharsu lejh daqs li kieku guvni daqs kull guvni iehor.

Nistaqsi lil Charlot jekk illum il-gurnata hux komplut, jew forsi ghad hemm xi haga mill-hajja li ghadha ma sehhitx. “Bhalissa ok ninsab, ghalkemm nixtieq li jkolli tfajla tieghi li tifhimni u thobbni”.

Hawnhekk terga’ titkellem omm Charlot, din id-darba emozzjonata u bi ftit dmugh niezel ma’ wiccha u tghidli, “Issa ninsab mistrieha jiena b’Charlot. Ahjar Charlot hu kif inhu bhalissa, milli Charlot qabel bid-dwejjaq”.

Hawnhekk Charlot jaqbadli argument fuq it-toilets pubblici. Xi minn daqqiet isib tfajliet ohra li jibqghu ccassati lejh hekk kif jarawh fil-kju ta’ xi toilet tan-nisa. Xtaqt aktar dettalji dwar dawn il-fatti.

“Din tat-toilet iddejjaqni wisq. Mhux l-ewwel darba li xi xiha terga’ thares lejn it-tabella tat-toilet biex tikkonferma min hu fit-toilet tajjeb jew hazin. Niddejjaq nara hekk b’ghajnejja. Mhux l-ewwel darba li noqghod apposta ma nixrobx biex ma jaqbadnix toilet meta nkun barra, halli nevita sitwazzjonijiet simili fit-toilets pubblici. L-ID card tieghi hija storja kerha ohra ghalija. Niddejjaq nuriha,” sostna Charlot.

Inkompli din id-diskursata billi nistaqsi jekk jixtieqx li jara xi tibdil hawn Malta dwar sitwazzjonijiet simili. Fil-fatt Charlot gibidli l-attenzjoni li jixtieq li jkun hawn aktar informazzjoni dwar hajja ta’ gays fl-iskejjel specjalment fil-PSD.

Jghid li jixtieq jara aktar kotba u dvds li jattiraw lil persuni gays. “Nixtieq nibda nara hwienet tad-dvds u kotba li jkollhom sezzjonijiet Gay & Lesbian, u mhux meta nistaqsi ghal xi ktieb jew dvd partikolari jibqghu jiccassaw lejja, jew jghiduli li m’ghandhomx. Kemm se ndum nixtri mill-internet biss u bilfors, meta nkun irrid xi haga simili,” spjega Charlot.

Fl-ahharnett tlabt lil Charlot jghidli x’jixtieq mill-futur tieghu. Fil-fatt Charlot sostna li jixtieq jara lilu nnifsu ma’ tfajla li taccettah hu kif inhu. “Nixtieq tfajla li tkun thobbni. Nixtieq li l-pajjiz iqum fuq tieghu, u n-nies jaccettawna aktar. Nghid lill-genituri wkoll, li flok joqoghdu jinkwetaw x’ser jghidu n-nies, jaraw biss x’jixtiequ t-tfal taghhom. Ghandi xewqa wkoll li nibda nahdem f’hanut tal-irgiel bhal per ezempju f’hanut li jbiegh biss hwejjeg tal-irgiel. Nixtieq insiefer ukoll fejn hemm balla nisa biss”, tbissem Charlot.

Hawnhekk terga’ titkellem omm Charlot u tghidli li l-genituri jehtieg li jgawdu lil uliedhom huma kif inhuma, ghax bil-fjuri u bil-quddies mhux ser iggib l-ebda tfal lura. Nghid ukoll lil Charlot, gibli tfajla li tkun thobbok id-dar, halli jkolli lil min inhobb aktar id-dar”, temmet tghidli omm Charlot ukoll ghal din l-intervista.

Din l-intervista saret f’The Caffe Bottega’, li jinsab fil-Marina Hotel, Tignà Seafront, Tas-Sliema.

It-Torċa: Is-suwiċidji tal-‘gays’

Mill-Paġna ta' Fr Colin ippubblikata fil-ħarga ta' It-Torċa tal-Ħadd, 13 ta' Marzu 2011
(S'issa ghadha mhix on-line)

Fr Colin,

GĦADNI kif smajt bl-aħbar ta’ ħabib tiegħi li qatel lilu nnifsu b’overdose għax ma felaħx jgħix iżjed bil-kritika li kellu minn nies tal-knisja. Kien omosesswali u kien jipprova jaħbi u ma jgħid lil ħadd. Kien iżomm kollox ġo fih u fl-aħħar ma setax jibqa’ jgħix iżjed dejjem bl-istress u jħossu mwarrab minn kulħadd.
Jien kont l-ikbar ħabib tiegħu u kien jgħidli bid-dwejjaq u d-dipressjoni li kien jinsab fiha. Għedtlu jmur ikellem lil saċerdot – mar... u iktar ħareġ iħossu agħar minn qabel. Il-qassis qallu li huwa marid, li hu ‘gay’ mhux għax twieled hekk imma għax irid. Beda jħossu iktar li ħadd ma jista’ jifhmu u s-solitudni wasslitu biex ineħħi ħajtu.
Xeba’ jgħix u ddeċieda li jgħid daqshekk.
Fr Colin, ma taħsibx li l-Knisja taħti ta’ dan kollu? Min ħoloq dan il-preġudizzju kontra l-gays u tagħmlulhom ħajjithom disperament kontinwu? Min jgħidilhom li qegħdin jgħixu fid-dnub u huma misħuta minn Alla?
Nixtieqek tikkummenta fuq din l-istorja tal-ħabib tiegħi għax ma rridx li jkun hemm traġedji oħra bħalu minħabba fl-intolleranza u l-ġudizzji tal-Maltin.


Ħabib imweġġa’ ħafna

************

Fr Colin iwieġeb

Kull suwiċidju huwa eżami tal-kuxjenza ta’ kulħadd

Iva, inħossni wkoll ħati ta’ dan is-suwiċidju.
Nista’ nagħmel iżjed biex ngħin lil dawk li jridu jisimgħuni dwar xi tfisser preġudizzji, ġudizzji u kundanni.
Nista’ nagħmel iżjed biex insemma’ l-leħen ta’ min hu f’minoranza u mwarrab mis-soċjetà.
Diżgrazzjatament, anki n-nies tal-Knisja jgħixu f’din id-dinja mimlija preġudizzji u injoranza u jekk ma nħallux il-valuri ta’ Kristu jmexxuna naqgħu aħna wkoll fil-ġudizzji kulturali u l-kundizzjonamenti tas-soċjetà.
Is-suwiċidju huwa dejjem traġedja, kbira, personali, l-ewwel, imbagħad traġedja għal dawk kollha viċini: l-omm u l-missier, l-aħwa, iz-zijiet, il-familji nvoluti u l-ħbieb li faċli jibqgħu jħarsu u jitħassru u ma jagħmlu xejn.
Kull suwiċidju huwa sejħa għall-eżami tal-kuxjenza ta’ kull wieħed u waħda minna...
Meta nidhru quddiem Alla għandna ħafna xi nwieġbu għal dawk ħutna li huma mwarrba, bla drittijiet, u meqjusa bħala morda u mhux normali.

The Communist Party of Malta does not agree with a Referendum on Civil Right’s Issues [English / Malti]

Press Release, 14th March 2011

Victor Degiovanni, Segretarju, Partit Komunista Malti, (Mob:7973 0549)

14/8, Vincenti Bldgs, Strait str, Valletta. VLT1432

The Communist Party of Malta does not comply with the position being taken by the Maltese political class and the Yes-Movement to accept that the issue of divorce be settled by a referendum.

“The proposal for a referendum on this sensitive issue dealing with divorce which is a civil right, is condemnable, as it gives right to the majority to impose their believes on minorities.

The campaign to legislate for a referendum is undermining the real concept of ​​the state, to protect all minorities in society. Minorities should all be treated equally as others”.

“To shift, the introduction of such a civil right, in the electorate hands, is nothing more than the abdication of the State to legislate for minority rights. The political class should not shy away from such issues because of the fear of losing votes. This is only a betrayal by the political class against minorities”.

“It is regrettable that people with opposing interests and others without interest are being given the chance to cast their vote to block such civil right. TheCommunist Party has misgieving about what will happen in the case of other civil rights issues, such as LGBT rights. Are we going to give these decisions to the electorate?”.

The Communist Party of Malta believes that with a referendum on this issue we have given the power to conservative and reactionary forces, including Church institutions to exert their ideological influences on the Maltese political class and the electorate. We are repeating history. We have put the clock back to 1962.

The Communist Party of Malta is against the referendum and will not be an accomplice to deny the right to divorce.

--------------

Stqarrija Stampa: Il-Partit Komunista Malti ma jaqbilx ma Referendum dwar Kwistjonijiet ta’ Drittijiet Ċivili.

Il-Partit Komunista Malti ma jikkonformax mal-pożizzjoni li qed tittieħed mill-klassi politika Maltija u l-Moviment - Iva li jaċċetta li l-kwistjoni ta’ divorzju tiġi solvuta permezz ta’ referendum.

“Hija kkundannabli l-proposta għal referendum dwar din il-kwistjoni daqshekk sensittiva, li tittratta divorzju, li hu dritt ċivili. Il-maġġoranza ma’ għandhomx dritt timponu t-twemmin tagħha fuq il-minoranza. Il-kampanja favur il-leġiżlazzjoni dwar referendum qed idgħajjef il-kunċett reali ta’ dritt tal-Istat li jipproteġi l-minoranzi fis-soċjetà. Minoranzi kollha għandhom ikunu ttrattati ugwali bħal oħrajn”.

"It-trasferiment, ta’ l-introduzzjoni ta’ tali dritt ċivili f’idejn l-elettorat, mhuwa xejn aktar minn abdikazzjoni ta’ l-Istat li jilleġiżla favur drittijiet tal-minoranzi. Il-klassi politika m'għandhiex tibża minn kwistjonijiet bħal dawn minħabba l-biża’ li jintilfu l-voti. Dan huwa tradiment kontra l-minoranzi."

“Huwa ta’ dispjaċir li nies b’interessi opposti u oħrajn mingħajr interessi qed jingħataw l-opportunità li jitfgħu l-vot tagħhom sabiex jimblokkaw id-dritt tad-Divorzju. Il-Partit Komunista Malti jitħasseb dwar dak li jista’ jiġri fil-każ ta’ kwistjonijiet oħra ta’ drittijiet ċivili ta’ minoranzi bħal drittijiet ta’ LGBT. Aħna ser nagħtu dawn id-deċiżjonijiet sensittivi f’idejn l-elettorat?”.

Il-Partit Komunista Malti jemmen li bir-referendum fuq din il-kwistjoni tagħti poter lill-forzi konservattivi u reazzjonarji, inkluż l-Istituzzjonijiet tal-Knisja biex jeżerċitaw l-influwenzi ideoloġiċi tagħhom fuq il-klassi politika Maltija u l-elettorat. Jidher li sejrin nerggħu nirrepetu l-istorja. Qegħdin npoġġu l-arloġġ lura għall-1962.

Il-Partit Komunista Malti huwa kontra r-referendum u mhux se jkun kompliċi biex iċaħħad id-dritt għad-divorzju.

Mons. Mario Grech: Omelija: Infittxu l-Verità dwar Iż-Żwieġ

Fl-okkażjoni tal-festa tal-Papa San Girgor li kienet iċċelebrata f’Kerċem nhar il-Ħadd 13 ta’ Marzu 2011, l-Isqof Mario Grech mexxa quddiesa pontifikali u fl-omelija wassal dan il-messaġġ:

Id-diskussjoni li għaddejja dwar in-natura taż-żwieġ tissuponi li qegħdin infittxu l-verità dwar iż-żwieġ.

Huwa fatt li soċjetà tkun isserraħ fuq pedamenti veri daqskemm tkun miftuħa għal Alla. Aktar ma nitbiegħdu minn Alla, aktar nieħdu pożizzjonijiet li jkunu ’l bogħod mis-sewwa. Min jeskludi lil Alla, jirriskja li jeskludi wkoll il-verità.

Alla ħaseb iż-żwieġ bħala rabta dejjiema bejn mara u raġel. Kull definizzjoni oħra ta’ żwieġ hija gidba.

Il-verità hija kategorija politika għaliex il-bniedem ma jistax jibni s-soċjetà fis-sod jekk mhux fuq il-verità. Id-dittaturi rnexxew għax ħaddnu ideoloġiji foloz. In-nuqqas ta’ rispett lejn il-verità jikkawża l-inġustizzja. Kif jikteb il-Papa Benedittu XVI, id-diskussjoni li twitti t-triq għall-formazzjoni tal-liġijiet ma tistax ma tkunx imsieħba minn tiftix dwar x’inhi l-verità. Huwa fatt li xi politiċi jħossuhom skomdi quddiem il-verità.

Hemm żewġ possibilitajiet kif il-bniedem jasal għall-verità. Għall-Insara hemm il-Liġi Divina miktuba fl-Iskrittura, waqt li dawk li ma għandhomx il-fidi jistgħu permezz tar-raġuni jaslu biex jiskopru l-verità li hemm miktuba fin-natura umana.

Hekk il-verità dwar iż-żwieġ, għal min jemmen jaf li Ġesù għallem b’mod ċar li ż-żwieġ huwa rabta dejjiema; u għal dawk li ma għandhomx fidi imma jużaw biss r-raġuni, il-liġi divina naturali mnaqqxa fil-qalb ta’ kull bniedem tgħid li r-rabta taż-żwieġ naturali ma tinħall qatt.

Huwa minnu li l-pożizzjoni tan-Nisrani hija “konfessjonali”, imma b’daqshekk mhix “irrazzjonali”. Għall-kuntrarju, in-Nisrani jkun “irrazzjonali” jekk jafferma ħwejjeġ li jmorru kontra dak li tgħid ir-raġuni umana! Il-bniedem ma jistax jilgħab mal-liġi t’Alla, kemm dik naturali kif ukoll dik pożittiva.

L-Orizzont: "Rainbow Weekend" f'Għawdex mill-MGRM

http://www.l-orizzont.com/news.asp?newsitemid=71010
14.3.2011


Il-Malta Gay Rights Movement (MGRM) se jorganizzaw l-ewwel edizzjoni ta' dik deskritta bħala "Rainbow Weekend". Din se ssir fi tmien il-ġimgħa ta' bejn il-25 u s-27 ta' Marzu fil-lukanda Cornucopia fix-Xagħra, Għawdex.

L-iskop prinċipali ta' din l-attività huwa biex l-MGRM tinforma aktar lill-parteċipanti bix-xogħol imwettaq min­nha kif ukoll il-ħidma ppjanata għall-futur, dwar l-iżviluppi li jkunu seħħew fil-qasam tad-drittijiet ta' persuni LGBT u kwistjonijiet pendenti li jolqtulhom mill-qrib, kif ukoll biex aktar nies jieħdu rwol attiv kemm fi ħdan l-istess MGRM kif ukoll movimenti oħrajn li jaħdmu b'risq persuni LGBT fil-gżejjer Maltin.

L-attività "Rainbow Weekend" se toffri wkoll l-opportunità lil dawk kollha li jattendu għaliha biex jiltaqgħu personalment mal-attivisti u l-voluntieri li jaħdmu fil-MGRM, kif ukoll biex iressqu 'l quddiem l-opinjonijiet u l-ħsibijiet li b'xi mod jew ieħor jolqtu l-qasam tal-LGBT kemm dawk lokali kif ukoll internazzjonali.

Għal dan il-"Rainbow Weekend" jista' jattendi kull mingħandu 18-il sena jew aktar, huma x'inhuma l-ħiliet jew il-professjoni tiegħu. Fid-dikussjonijiet li se jsiru se jintużaw kemm il-Malti kif ukoll l-Ingliż biex dak li jkun, ikun jista' aktar jesprimi lilu nnifsu.

Dawk kollha interessati jieħdu sehem jew jixtiequ aktar dettalji jistgħu jċemplu fuq in-numru tat-telefon: 99255559 jew jibgħatu imejl fuq mgrm@maltagayrights.org jew jidħlu fis-sit www.maltagayrights.org/rainbow2011.

Times: Yes to divorce, No to nanny state - MGRM

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110311/local/yes-to-divorce-no-to-nanny-state-mgrm

Friday, 11th March 2011

The Malta Gay Rights Movement said it favoured the introduction of divorce, which it said was a civil right that should be legally available to everyone living in Malta.

“We oppose the concept of a nanny state which determines for how long adults should love each other. This is a choice that lies solely with the individuals concerned. Once a marriage has irretrievably broken down, then the possibility of remarriage should be made available with all its attendant rights and obligations,” the movement said.

The MGRM said two consenting adults who entered into a civil marriage should be able to terminate such arrangement when the relationship, “for whatever reason”, broke down.

It added that children should be adequately catered for but this applied irrespective of the relationship status of the parents involved.

“Parents should provide for their children whether they are married, separated, cohabiting, divorced, remarried or hold any other status. Moreover, current legislation already provides for the maintenance of children where a relationship has broken down.”

[Click on the hyperlink above to view the comments on the Times' website.]

Pink News: Swedish footballer Anton Hysen comes out as gay

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/03/09/swedish-footballer-anton-hysen-comes-out-as-gay/
9 March 2011 by Jessica Green

Anton Hysen has announced he is gay

Swedish football player Anton Hysen has announced he is gay.

The 20-year-old came out in an interview with Offside magazine today.

Hysen, who plays for Swedish 4th tier side Utsiktens BK, is the first elite Swedish player to come out.

He told the magazine today that it was “f**ked up” that no other Swedish player had come out yet.

“I am a footballer. And gay. If I perform as a footballer, then I do not think it matters if I like girls or boys,” he said.

He admitted that the announcement could affect his career, but pointed out that other players had to deal with issues like racism from coaches and team bosses.

“That is their problem and not mine,” he told the magazine. “People may call me anything they want, it will just make me even more psyched. ”

The footballer is the son of former Liverpool and Fiorentina star Glenn Hysen,

Hysen senior told the magazine he was pleased his son had decided to come out.

[Click on the hyperlink above to view the comments on the Pink News' website.]

Independent: MGRM position on divorce

http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=121487

8.3.2011

The Malta Gay Rights Movement said divorce is a civil right that should be legally available to all those resident in Malta. While MGRM embraces “a wide definition of family that is not restricted to the institution of marriage,” it said that it supports the right of two consenting adults to enter into a civil marriage and to terminate this arrangement when the relationship, for whatever reason, breaks down.

The MGRM said it recognises that children need to be adequately provided for but also holds that this applies irrespective of the relationship status of the parents involved. Parents should provide for their children whether they are married, separated, cohabiting, divorced, remarried or in any other status. Existing legislation already provides for the maintenance of children where a relationship has broken down.

The movement said it “endorses the IVA to divorce movement”.

European Parliament: Situation of lesbian, bisexual and transgender women deserves specific attention

March 8th, 2011

In its just-adopted 2010 report on equality between women and men in the European Union, the European Parliament said the situation of lesbian and bisexual women, as well as that of transgender people, deserves specific attention.

The report examines issues of gender equality in the European Union for the year 2010. Two paragraphs (originally put forward by the Greens/EFA group) take particular notice of the situation for sexual and gender minorities.

With this text, the European Parliament “calls on the Member States and the Commission to pay particular attention to vulnerable groups of women: disabled, elderly, immigrant, lesbian, bisexual and transgender, and minority women and women who have little or no training and are responsible for dependants, all of these being specific groups in need of measures tailored to their circumstances” (paragraph 61*).

The Parliament also ”notes that transgender people remain a highly marginalised and victimised group facing a high degree of stigmatisation, exclusion and violence, as reported by the Fundamental Rights Agency“. The Parliament goes on to “strongly encourages the Commission and the Member States to follow the Agency’s recommendations for stronger and clearer protection against discrimination on grounds of gender identity” (paragraph 66*).

(*: In the final version of the resolution, paragraphs 61 and 66 will become paragraphs 60 and 65 respectively.)

L-Orizzont: L-MGRM tappoġġja l-Moviment Iva għad-Divorzju

http://www.l-orizzont.com/news.asp?newsitemid=70840

8.3.2011

L-MGRM sostniet li d-divor­zju huwa dritt ċivili li għandu jkun legalment disponibbli għal dawk kollha residenti f’Mal­ta. Filwaqt li l-MGRM tħad­dan definizzjoni wiesgħa tal-familja li mhijiex ristretta għall-istituzzjoni ta’ żwieġ, tap­poġġja d-dritt ta’ żewġ adul­ti li b’kunsens jidħlu fi żwieġ ċivili u li jtemmu dan l-arran­ġament meta r-relazzjoni, għal kwalunkwe raġuni, titkisser.

L-MGRM qalet li topponi l-kunċett ta’ stat protettiv li jiddetermina għal kemm żmien adulti għandhom iħobbu lil xulxin. Din hija għażla li tinsab biss fl-individwi kkonċernati. Ladarba ż-żwieġ tkisser irrimedjabilment, allura l-pos­sib­biltà li wiehed jerga’ jiż­żew­weġ għandha tkun hemm bid-drittijiet u l-obbligi kollha mar­­butin maż-żwieġ.

L-MGRM tirrikonoxxi li għan­du jkun hemm provvediment adekwat għat-tfal iżda wkoll izzomm li dan japplika rrispettivament mill-istatus re­lazzjonali tal-ġenituri nvoluti. Ġenituri għandhom jipprovdu għat-tfal tagħhom kemm jekk huma miżżewġin, separa­ti, jikkoabitaw, divorzjati, reġ­għu żżewġu jew li jkollhom kwa­lunkwe status ieħor. Minbarra hekk, leġiżlazzjoni attwa­li diġà jipprevedi l-manteniment tat-tfal fejn ir-relazzjoni spiccat.

L-MGRM tirrikonoxxi wkoll li fejn ġenitur ikun għażel li jċedi karriera biex iwettaq doveri ta’ kura tat-tfal, allura dan għandu jkun adegwatament kumpensat mill-ġenitur l-ie­ħor mas-separazzjoni jew divorzju u dan sakemm l-obbligi tat-trobbija tat-tfal jipprevje­nu l-genitur li jidhol fl-imp­jieg u jsostni lilu nnifsu finanzjarjament.

L-MGRM għalhekk jappogg­ja l-Moviment IVA favur id-Di­vorzju.

Times: Gay Rights Movement backs divorce

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110307/local/gay-rights-movement-backs-divorce

Monday, 7th March 2011 - 15:28CET

The Malta Gay Rights Movement (MGRM) officially declared its position in favour of divorce today.

"Divorce is a civil right that should be legally available to all those resident in Malta. While MGRM embraces a wide definition of family that is not restricted to the institution of marriage, it supports the right of two consenting adults to enter into a civil marriage and to terminate this arrangement when the relationship, for whatever reason, breaks down," the movement said.

"The MGRM opposes the concept of a nanny state that determines for how long adults should love each other. This is a choice that lies solely with the individuals concerned. Once a marriage has irretrievably broken down then the possibility of re-marriage should be made available with all its attendant rights and obligations."

The MGRM said it recognised that children need to be adequately catered for but, it said, this applied irrespective of the relationship status of the parents involved.

"Parents should provide for their children whether they are married, separated, cohabiting, divorced, remarried or hold any other status. Moreover, current legislation already provides for the maintenance of children where a relationship has broken down."

It added that where a parent chooses to forego a career in order to carry out child-caring duties then this should be adequately compensated for by the other parent on separation or divorce and for as long as the child rearing obligations prevent the parent from entering into employment and sustaining themselves financially.

The MGRM said it endoresed the IVA to Divorce movement.

[Click on the hyperlink above to view the comments on the Times' website.]

L-Orizzont: Meta tgħix ħajja doppja

http://www.l-orizzont.com/news.asp?newsitemid=70723
3.3.2011 minn Martina Vella

Mark (isem fittizju u qed jin­tuża biex tkun imħarsa l-iden­tità ta' din il-persuna) iħa­res lejja, lest biex jgħid l-istorja tie­għu. Tkellmu mingħajr ebda diffikul­tà u mill-ewwel jibda jgħid tiegħu, għal­kemm din hi l-ewwel darba li qatt iltqajna. Iżda f'ħajjet Mark hemm dell tqil, dejjem preżenti. Għandu sigriet li qed jaħbi mill-ġenituri tie­għu, sigriet li jista' jkollu konsegwenzi xejn sbieħ jekk jinkixef.

"Irrealizzajt li kont diffe­renti meta kelli madwar 12-il sena, iżda ma kelli ebda ħjiel ta' x'kien għaddej fija," jgħid­li. Inġenwu dwar dak li kien qed iħoss, ma kinitx tgħaddilu minn rasu li seta' kien 'gay'. Iżda s-sinjali hemm kie­nu. L-iskola kien iżomm ma' grupp ta' bniet, u qatt ma ħa sehem f'atti­vitajiet tas-su­bien, bħall-futbol.

Waqt li kien qed jikber sar iżjed kon­xju tas-sesswalità tiegħu. Kien iħos­su miġbud lejn is-subien, iżda meta kellu madwar 13 għadda minn fażi 'straight'.

F'daqqa waħda l-bniet bdew jogħġ­buh iżda "dik ir-relazzjoni ma damitx" jgħidlek bi tbissima. Malajr jgħidlek li l-fażi 'straight' ġrat naturali. Ma ġegħelx lilu nnifsu jħobb il-bniet biex jinbidel. Meta kien f'dak l-is­tadju ta' ħajtu kien jaf li jista' jkun 'gay', u dik xejn ma kien se jibdilha.

Fl-iskola sekondarja l-affarijiet ma setgħux ikunu agħar. "Kien żmien tas­sew ikrah," jirrifletti b'mod meqjus. Ma kien qal lil ħadd li kien omosesswali iżda malajr ittimbrawh, u bdew jibbuljawh. "Għal xi żmien lanqas kel­li isem, u kont noq­għod għalihom u naċċetta dak it-trattament."

Kien tifel kwiet b'vuċi rqi­qa. Student b'manjieri tajbin li qatt ma qala' nkwiet u kien ħabib mal-barranin. Jaħ­seb li dawn il-fatturi kollha setgħu wasslu għall-aġir ta' bbuljar. Il-fatt li l-iskola kienet tas-subien biss u l-am­bjent kien goff ma għenux. L-ibbuljar ma kienx jieqaf.

"Kien hemm żmien meta anke kont noħlom li kienu qegħdin isawtuni," kompla jgħidli. Ironikament, fil-klassi tiegħu kien hemm tnejn li wkoll kie­nu 'gay', iżda ħadd ma kien jaqbad magħhom, u dawn issieħbu wkoll ma' dawk li kienu jibbuljawh. "U llum aħna ħbieb! Id-dinja timxi b'mod tassew stramb," jgħid bi tbissi­ma.

Lill-ġenituri tiegħu qatt ma qalilhom xejn dwar dan kollu, u baqgħu fil-għama dwar x'kien qed jiġri lil bin­hom. Ma kienx għadu lest li jgħidilhom li kien 'gay'. Anke meta kellu 17, u beda jgħid lil sħabu. Il-ħsieb li jiftaħ qal­bu ma' ommu u missieru kien jidher remot ħafna.

Aktar ma fetaħ qalbu ma' sħabu u sar komdu bih innifsu, ir-relazzjoni tiegħu mal-ġenituri aktar bdiet titbie­għed u titqal, sakemm wasal iż-żmien li ma kellhomx idea binhom min kien. Hu ħeba s-sesswalità tiegħu minnhom mhux għax kien iħossu mis­tħi, iżda minħabba s-sitwazzjoni li nqalgħet fid-dar u li laqtitu fil-fond.

Oħtu l-kbira hi lesbjana. Meta fet­ħet qalbha mal-ġenituri, it-tama ta' Mark li jiftaħ qalbu magħhom kienet tfarrket biċċiet. Missieru tant kien inkorlat għal oħtu li għall-aħħar sena lanqas qatt ma kellem lil bintu, tant li ċaħadha għal kollox.

Wara l-argumenti kollha li Mark ra bejn il-ġenituri u oħtu, kif seta' jġie­għel lilu nnifsu jgħidilhom li hu 'gay'? Kif seta' jagħtihom daqqa oħra wara dak kollu li kienu għadhom kemm għaddew minnu?

"Qgħadt hemm. Ħarist madwari. Smajt lill-ġenituri jiġġieldu dwarha," jgħid. "Ġesu', għaliex qed jiġrili dan kollu?" U Mark baqa' ma qalx lill-ġe­ni­turi, la dakinhar u lanqas fix-xhur ta' wara. Qed jgħix ħajja doppja. Il-ħin kollu jigdeb lill-ġenituri. Dwar fejn ikun, u dwar ma' min ikun.

"Kultant inkun nixtieq biss li l-ġenituri jikbru u jimmaturaw… u li jien ma kbirt qatt, u dik kienet tkun l-għażla tiegħi," jgħidlek. Kien hemm żmien fejn kien iħossu eqreb lejn ommu iżda llum dik qisha biss memor­ja fil-bogħod. "Kelli ninġibed lura, nig­deb u ngħatti kollox," jgħidli b'dis­pjaċir. Jammetti li maż-żmien irid jgħid lil ommu, iżda mhux lil missie­ru. Ommu hi inqas preġudikata, għal­kemm "se tinfaqa', għax min irid li jkollu iben 'gay'?"

"Tant ġraw affarijiet f'sena," jgħid, waqt li jiftakar meta l-ewwel darba kien qal lil sħabu li hu omosesswali. "Kważi nfqajt nibki għax dik l-ewwel darba li tgħid lil xi ħadd tkun qisha ġrat xi ħaġa kbira. Iżda kif tibda, ma tkunx tista' tieqaf!" jgħidlek, waqt li jiftakar fis-serħan u ferħ li ħass meta sħabu aċċettawh u nfetaħ kapitlu ġdid f'ħajtu. Issa qed jgħix il-ħajja ta' 'gay' u kull minuta qiegħda togħġbu.

"Fi tmiem il-ġimgħa ngħix ħajja tas­sew 'gay'. Il-ġenituri ma jafux dwar l-istil ta' ħajja tiegħi iżda din ma żam­mitnix lura!" jassigurani bi tbissima. Meta joħroġ filgħaxija jagħ­milha l-ak­tar mal-lesbjani għax jgħidli, b'ton im­qareb, li rġiel 'gay' huma "orribbli u preġudikati, iżda jien mhux bħalhom."

Qalli li bħalissa qed joħroġ ma' xi ħadd, u qabel kellu xi ftit relazzjonijiet għalkemm bħalissa qed jieħu biss pjaċir bil-ħajja u jgħix il-ħajja ta' żagħżugħ bħall-oħrajn.

Jien ngħidlu li hemm ċans kbir li l-ġenituri tiegħu jsiru jafu, għax Malta hi tant żgħira. Jaqbel miegħi perfettament għax darba minnhom lta­qa' ma' wieħed minn qrabatu. "Naf x'se jiġri, u hu għal­hekk li jbeżżagħni," jgħidlek, waqt li jiftakar fis-sitwazzjo­ni li sabet ruħha fiha oħtu.

Iżda l-intervista Mark itemmha fuq nota pożittiva. Qalli li f'dan kollu jaf li għandu l-appoġġ t'oħtu għal meta jasal iż-żmien li jgħid lill-ġenituri. "Domt xi sentejn jew tlieta biex fil-fatt għedt lil oħti, u issa ftaħt qalbi sew magħha. Inħossni qrib magħha u xortina tajba li għandna lil xulxin," jgħid­lek.

L-intervista spiċċat u jiena tlaqt, bit-tama li maż-żmien Mark jafda fil-ġenituri tiegħu. Għalkemm it-triq se tkun iebsa, huma maż-żmien għad jagħ­tuh l-appoġġ li jixraqlu.

Bil-pressjoni biex jimxu man-normi soċjali, il-ġenituri ta' Mark ma ki­nux kapaċi jaċ­ċettaw li binthom hi les­bjana. Kif se jirreaġixxu għall-orjentazzjoni sesswali ta' Mark ma nafx, iżda x'aktarx li mhix se tkun pjaċevoli.

Għażilt li nikteb dan l-artiklu għax hemm ħafna nies bħal Mark li għandhom bżonn joħorġu fil-beraħ. Jixtie­qu ħafna li jafdaw fil-ġenituri tagħ­hom iżda jibżgħu jagħmlu hekk għax skont is-soċjetà, huma mhumiex normali.

Dan il-mod ta' ħsieb irid jieqaf. Il-Kummissjoni Ewropea ħolqot kampanja li tispira, magħrufa bħala "Ngħoż­żu d-diversità. Diskriminazzjoni Qatt". Hi kampanja mfassla bil-għan li turi l-aspett sabiħ fid-diversi­tà. Dawk li huma 'gay', anzjani, ta' razza diffe­renti jew li jipprattikaw reliġjon jew twemmin differenti għand­hom dritt isemmgħu leħinhom u din il-kampanja qiegħda titmexxa biex tqaj­jem fin-nies kuxjenza li d-din­ja hi sabiħa għax hi differenti. Id-diskriminazzjoni hi ħaġa ħażina u hemm bżonn li tintemm issa.

Martina Vella qiegħda fit-tie­ni sena fil-kors tal-Komunikazz­joni fl-Uni­versità ta' Malta. Bħalissa qiegħda tis­tudja Basic Reporting and Intercultural Communications with Psycho­logy.

Malta Today: US court allows military funeral anti-gay protests

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/world/us-court-allows-military-funeral-anti-gay-protests

2nd March 2011

Free speech wins over privacy rights in the US as Phelps wins the case to be allowed to hold anti-gay protests at military funerals

The Supreme Court ruled that a church has the legal right to stage anti-gay protests at US military funerals to promote its claim that God is angry at America for its tolerance of homosexuality.

In a case pitting free-speech versus privacy rights, the nation's high court held that the protest messages and picketing at a private funeral were protected by the US Constitution's First Amendment.

The court's 8-1 ruling was a defeat for Albert Snyder, the father of a Marine killed in Iraq in 2006.

He had appealed to the Supreme Court after the family's funeral service at a Roman Catholic Church in Westminster, Maryland, drew unwanted protests by members of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas.

The protesters carried signs that stated, "God Hates You," "You Are Going To Hell," and "Thank God for Dead Soldiers."

Westboro Pastor Fred Phelps and other church members have protested at hundreds of funerals of military members killed in Iraq or Afghanistan as part of their religious view that God is punishing America for its tolerance of gays and lesbians.

They cited the US military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy that allows gays and lesbians to serve as long as they do not make their sexuality known. Snyder's 20-year-old son, Matthew, was not gay.

Phelps founded the church in 1955 and it has about 70 members made up mostly of his relatives. Phelps and his followers have protested at more than 200 military funerals.

In the court's opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that the ruling was narrow and said free-speech rights dictated the outcome.

[Click on the hyperlink above to view the comments on Malta Today's website.]

Pink News: Comment: When did gay men stop fighting HIV?

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/11/05/comment-when-did-gay-men-stop-fighting-hiv/

5.11.2010 by Scott Roberts

Last month I attended the Queer Question Time debate on HIV at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern. On the panel were several experts in HIV prevention along with a famous gay porn actor and a scene queen DJ. Seeing so many gay men of different ages in one setting, candidly discussing the defining issue which intrinsically links all gay men together, was inspiring.

However the debate ended on a despondent note. The last person on the panel to speak suggested that gay men are now immune to having their attitudes improved when it comes to HIV prevention; at this point you could see the crumpled dismay etched on faces throughout the audience. Gay men are crying out for steadfast resolve and leadership on the biggest challenge we face, but already pessimism is becoming entrenched.

When it comes to equality, gay men have never entertained defeatism before, so I get enraged when some argue that the current picture cannot be turned around. It can. What’s needed is the same level of dynamism, passion and sheer strength which went into getting gay rights on the statue book. All of that now must go into the campaign for a better settlement in regards to our health. As studies (or September’s edition of Attitude) will tell you, only by addressing gay men’s personal social deficiencies, brought on by years of relentless homophobia, can we then cement a more effective approach to HIV prevention. I defy anyone to argue that this is not a cause worth fighting for.

According to Terrence Higgins Trust, one in seven of all gay men on London’s scene is HIV-positive and the figure is probably closer to one in six for my home city of Brighton. This is the permanent legacy of failed policies. Some gay rights activists now believe giving heterosexuals civil partnerships is more important than tackling our greatest health and social challenge. What would a martian make of our priorities? The campaign to get rid of the blood ban is another example where we are completely missing the point. The best we can realistically hope for is a 12 month deferral like in Australia. Most gay men would still be unable to donate unless they refrained from sex for that duration.

It suits the political system for us to be lobbying on peripheral issues. It’s the politics of the quick fix. MPs from all the main parties, along with the Greens, have made sympathetic mood music about the blood ban, but you don’t have to be an epidemiologist to know that the current National Blood Service review is already a complete red herring for gay men, a forgone conclusion.

We are missing the bigger picture. If you’re angry about the ban you should be enraged by what lies behind it, the huge gulf of health inequality amongst gay men in comparison to our heterosexual counterparts. The ball is now in our court. The secondary school curriculum is under review in 2011 and it’s up to us to tell government how gay men’s health should best be addressed within it.

Ministers will not fill in the blanks for us. The state can only go so far. If we really want to transform gay men’s health and see a sustained reduction in new HIV infection rates, the private sector needs to incorporate the safe-sex message into areas of overwhelming commercial influence such as the gay porn industry. Public health campaigns in a post-treatment, post-internet world cannot make a discernible difference in isolation. One of David Cameron’s advisers made the same point in conversation with me directly after the QQT debate.

The Conservative MP for Brighton Kemptown, Simon Kirby, says the government needs to put HIV prevention at the “heart” of its public health strategy and to increase spending. While I applaud him for this pledge, we can’t just rely on words. The gay community needs to be aware of the reduction in funding that has already taken place and how this has already weakened service delivery.

It’s now time for Brighton’s gay community to hold all of the city’s MPs to account on this issue. Simon Kirby and Caroline Lucas are members of the All-Parliamentary Group for HIV & AIDS. I want both of them to support a promise of reducing undetected HIV diagnoses in Brighton by 50 per cent before 2015 as part of the ‘Halve It’ national strategy, a policy document which the all-parliamentary group already supports along with National AIDS Trust, THT, BHIVA and the National HIV Nurses Association. At the moment Westminster isn’t taking the gay community seriously on health. We need to mobilise and politicise the pursuit of a gay men’s health agenda in Brighton and everywhere else where the gay community is politically powerful at the ballot box.

Scott Roberts is news editor at Gaydar Radio

[Click on the hyperlink above to view the comments on Pink News' website.]