http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110525/opinion/Stigmatised-for-being-blue-eyed.367110
Wednesday, May 25, 2011 , by Michael Conti
Let us imagine a society that stigmatises blue-eyed people. They are discriminated against at work, not allowed to marry and are even beaten up because of their eye colour. "Blue-eyed" indicates weakness in a world where being "brown-eyed" is what one should be. Religious leaders say they accept blue-eyed people but they also say there is something intrinsically wrong with them.
And you find yourself in such a society. And you are blue-eyed. How would you feel? You start feeling oppressed because of your eye colour. You start hating yourself for being blue-eyed. If someone were to offer you the chance of changing your eye colour, would you take it?
Comparing eye colour to sexual orientation is simplistic as the latter is invisible, multifaceted and involves relationships. However, such a comparison hints at some of the issues encountered by non-heterosexuals, especially when it comes to anti-gay prejudice. The latter has led some people to start offering conversion or reparative therapies for non-heterosexuals. One might accuse these therapies of discrimination against heterosexuals as these are not offered the chance to become homosexual! But what is the problem with conversion therapies? Aren't individuals free to choose, even if they want to change their orientation?
Some people experience considerable internal and external difficulties due to not being heterosexuals and their difficulties should in no way be downplayed. However, I believe that conversion therapies deceive these individuals by attributing a false origin to the difficulties the latter experience. These therapies reinforce a false belief that a non-heterosexual orientation is deviant, that one's non-heterosexual orientation is the cause of one's negative experience and that it is by changing one's orientation that one can lead a happy life.
But what would the experience of non-heterosexuals be if they lived in a society where anti-gay prejudice was absent, where one is taught that all sexual orientations are of equal value and that there is no difference between heterosexual and non-heterosexual relationships? What would their experience be if society and religions offered equal union to couples regardless of sex, granted them equal rights and allowed them to build their own families? What if all parents accepted their children fully and equally, regardless of the sex of the person the latter are attracted to? Or, taking it a step further, what if sexual orientation was not an issue in society as much as eye colour is not an issue?
My guess is that, in such a society, non-heterosexuals would experience as many negative effects because of their orientation as blue-eyed individuals do because of their eye colour: none. But as long as we live in a society were heterosexuality is superior to non-heterosexuality and where the latter is deemed as sick and as incomplete, then non-heterosexuals will experience all the negative consequences associated with being part of a marginalised minority. The root of the subsequent negative experiences should be placed where it truly resides: social and religious anti-gay attitudes.
What I came across in my research while reading for my Master's degree in psychotherapy is that change of sexual orientation is not possible. Instead, those who undergo conversion therapies are more at risk of hating themselves and, in some cases, end up reverting to homophobic violence. They are more prone to a number of negative psychological effects including depression, anxiety, self-injurious behaviours, sexual dysfunction and suicide. The happy life they were promised turns out in the long run to be full of internal division and torment due to constantly repressing who they truly are. They end up experiencing a god who castrates them rather than a God who sets people free by willing them to be who they are.
Nobody in this world or beyond can claim that one is worthy to love and be loved if s/he is brown-eyed. And if I love others who are also blue-eyed, my love is not inferior to that of loving a brown-eyed person. What really matters is whether I treat people differently because of their eye colour, whether I discriminate against them, speak against them, attack them... And whether I fail to acknowledge them, fail to speak in their favour and try to render them invisible. This is where psychological problems emerge. This is where sin lies. There are different ways of loving. People should not be judged on whom they love but on whether they love. It is the latter that society and religions need to encourage and practice.
[Click on the hyperlink above to view the comments on the Times' website.]
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Sunday, 29 May 2011
Independent: Gay movement contests court decision
http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=125855
24.5.11
The Malta Gay Rights Movement said the failure of the Constitutional Court to recognise transgender Joanne Cassar as a woman goes against the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights as expressed in Goodwin vs UK and other recent judgements and also jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice.
The Constitutional Court affirmed that a breach of Articles 8 and 12 of the Convention on Human Rights had taken place in respect of Joanne Cassar. However the court said that this breach occurred due to a lacuna in Maltese legislation that does not allow for transgender persons to enter into what it termed 'a life partnership'.
The movement said that the court did not recognise the right of the post-operative transgender woman to have her affirmed gender identity recognised by law, adopting the narrowest possible interpretation of gender based solely on biological criteria.
The MGRM said that as reiterated in the proposed Gender Identity Act, the movement holds that gender identity is a matter for the individual to decide and that the state is duty-bound to respect this identity by granting full and effective legal recognition. Anything less than this violates the right of the individual to self-determination and often leads to a violation of the transgender person's rights to private and family life.
24.5.11
The Malta Gay Rights Movement said the failure of the Constitutional Court to recognise transgender Joanne Cassar as a woman goes against the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights as expressed in Goodwin vs UK and other recent judgements and also jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice.
The Constitutional Court affirmed that a breach of Articles 8 and 12 of the Convention on Human Rights had taken place in respect of Joanne Cassar. However the court said that this breach occurred due to a lacuna in Maltese legislation that does not allow for transgender persons to enter into what it termed 'a life partnership'.
The movement said that the court did not recognise the right of the post-operative transgender woman to have her affirmed gender identity recognised by law, adopting the narrowest possible interpretation of gender based solely on biological criteria.
The MGRM said that as reiterated in the proposed Gender Identity Act, the movement holds that gender identity is a matter for the individual to decide and that the state is duty-bound to respect this identity by granting full and effective legal recognition. Anything less than this violates the right of the individual to self-determination and often leads to a violation of the transgender person's rights to private and family life.
Times: Transgender to seek right to marry from European court
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110524/local/Transgender-to-seek-right-to-marry-from-European-court.366961
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 , by Claudia Calleja
Joanne Cassar, who underwent gender reassignment surgery to become a woman, will be taking her case to the European Court of Human Rights next week after she fought in vain a four-year legal battle for the right to marry.
The Constitutional Court yesterday ruled that her fundamental rights to marriage and family life had been breached because of a legal shortcoming in Maltese law that failed to cater for her situation.
The court said its ruling did not stem from the fact that the marriage registrar had refused to issue the banns, as a previous court had found. In fact the court revoked that part of the judgment in which it was said the banns should have been issued.
Her rights had been breached because there was a lacuna in the law that did not allow transgender people to enter into any form of life partnership, according to the court presided by Mr Justice Geoffrey Valenzia, Mr Justice Giannino Caruana Demajo and Mr Justice Tonio Mallia.
"With the situation as it is today she is deprived of forming a lifetime partnership with a man or a woman.
"This partnership need not be marriage, and should not be from the nature of the circumstances... but the law should cater for another form of partnership," the judges found.
Ms Cassar's battle for marriage goes back to September 2006 when she and her partner applied for the wedding banns. The Marriage Registrar refused to issue them even though Ms Cassar had legally changed her gender to female on her birth certificate after the surgery.
Her wedding was planned for December 2007. The stress of the court battle, coupled with the publicity, piled pressure on the couple's relationship and they are no longer together.
In February 2007, Ms Cassar won a civil case in which the court ordered the Marriage Registrar to issue the wedding banns he had previously refused to issue. However, in May 2008, the decision was revoked on appeal.
The appeal court ruled Ms Cassar would never be considered to be a "woman" according to the Marriage Act and declared the change in her birth certificate, allowing a change of name and gender, was only intended to protect the right to privacy and to avoid embarrassment.
Determined to fight for her right to marry, she opened a case in the First Hall of the Civil Court in its constitutional jurisdiction, claiming a breach of human rights. The court ruled in her favour last December when it found that the registrar could not have refused to issue the banns once she was recognised as a woman.
The law as applied by the registrar did not recognise the acquired gender of a transsexual for all legal purposes including marriage. This was in breach of Ms Cassar's fundamental human right to respect for family life and her right to marry, the court had ruled. The Attorney General appealed claiming a wrong interpretation of the law.
Yesterday the Constitutional Court found that although Ms Cassar's rights had been breached this was due to shortcomings in the law to cater for some form of partnership for people in her situation. It did not result that the banns should have been issued.
Ms Cassar's lawyers said their next step would be to take the case before the European Court of Human Rights.
The Malta Gay Rights' Movement criticised the judgment for not recognising that Ms Cassar was a woman for all legal intents and purposes. This was backed up by Aditus, an organisation that promotes access to rights, which said the judgment went against decisions by the European Court of Human Rights affirming that post-operative transgender people, who fulfilled all legal requirements to have their gender recognised, should have full access to the right to marry.
Lawyers David Camilleri and Josè Herrera appeared for Ms Cassar.
Joanne's story
Joanne Cassar had been diagnosed with gender identity disorder, a conflict between a person's physical or apparent gender and that person's self-identification.
From an early age, she felt she should have been a woman. After keeping her feelings bottled up for years and enduring bullying at school, when she turned 15 she opened up to her parents who were immediately supportive.
Aged 22, she travelled to the UK for her gender reassignment surgery. Before going under the knife she was subjected to various hormone treatments and medical and psychiatric tests to ensure she was medically and psychologically prepared for the invasive surgery.
Soon after she filed a court application to have her gender changed to female on her birth certificate. The court upheld the request allowing her documents to truly reflect who she felt she was.
Having been with her boyfriend for several years they planned to get married in December 2007. All did not go as planned. However, Ms Cassar remained convinced the right to marry deserved to be fought for even if she was not the lucky one to walk down the aisle.
[Click on the hyperlink above to view the comments on the Times' website.]
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 , by Claudia Calleja
Joanne Cassar, who underwent gender reassignment surgery to become a woman, will be taking her case to the European Court of Human Rights next week after she fought in vain a four-year legal battle for the right to marry.
The Constitutional Court yesterday ruled that her fundamental rights to marriage and family life had been breached because of a legal shortcoming in Maltese law that failed to cater for her situation.
The court said its ruling did not stem from the fact that the marriage registrar had refused to issue the banns, as a previous court had found. In fact the court revoked that part of the judgment in which it was said the banns should have been issued.
Her rights had been breached because there was a lacuna in the law that did not allow transgender people to enter into any form of life partnership, according to the court presided by Mr Justice Geoffrey Valenzia, Mr Justice Giannino Caruana Demajo and Mr Justice Tonio Mallia.
"With the situation as it is today she is deprived of forming a lifetime partnership with a man or a woman.
"This partnership need not be marriage, and should not be from the nature of the circumstances... but the law should cater for another form of partnership," the judges found.
Ms Cassar's battle for marriage goes back to September 2006 when she and her partner applied for the wedding banns. The Marriage Registrar refused to issue them even though Ms Cassar had legally changed her gender to female on her birth certificate after the surgery.
Her wedding was planned for December 2007. The stress of the court battle, coupled with the publicity, piled pressure on the couple's relationship and they are no longer together.
In February 2007, Ms Cassar won a civil case in which the court ordered the Marriage Registrar to issue the wedding banns he had previously refused to issue. However, in May 2008, the decision was revoked on appeal.
The appeal court ruled Ms Cassar would never be considered to be a "woman" according to the Marriage Act and declared the change in her birth certificate, allowing a change of name and gender, was only intended to protect the right to privacy and to avoid embarrassment.
Determined to fight for her right to marry, she opened a case in the First Hall of the Civil Court in its constitutional jurisdiction, claiming a breach of human rights. The court ruled in her favour last December when it found that the registrar could not have refused to issue the banns once she was recognised as a woman.
The law as applied by the registrar did not recognise the acquired gender of a transsexual for all legal purposes including marriage. This was in breach of Ms Cassar's fundamental human right to respect for family life and her right to marry, the court had ruled. The Attorney General appealed claiming a wrong interpretation of the law.
Yesterday the Constitutional Court found that although Ms Cassar's rights had been breached this was due to shortcomings in the law to cater for some form of partnership for people in her situation. It did not result that the banns should have been issued.
Ms Cassar's lawyers said their next step would be to take the case before the European Court of Human Rights.
The Malta Gay Rights' Movement criticised the judgment for not recognising that Ms Cassar was a woman for all legal intents and purposes. This was backed up by Aditus, an organisation that promotes access to rights, which said the judgment went against decisions by the European Court of Human Rights affirming that post-operative transgender people, who fulfilled all legal requirements to have their gender recognised, should have full access to the right to marry.
Lawyers David Camilleri and Josè Herrera appeared for Ms Cassar.
Joanne's story
Joanne Cassar had been diagnosed with gender identity disorder, a conflict between a person's physical or apparent gender and that person's self-identification.
From an early age, she felt she should have been a woman. After keeping her feelings bottled up for years and enduring bullying at school, when she turned 15 she opened up to her parents who were immediately supportive.
Aged 22, she travelled to the UK for her gender reassignment surgery. Before going under the knife she was subjected to various hormone treatments and medical and psychiatric tests to ensure she was medically and psychologically prepared for the invasive surgery.
Soon after she filed a court application to have her gender changed to female on her birth certificate. The court upheld the request allowing her documents to truly reflect who she felt she was.
Having been with her boyfriend for several years they planned to get married in December 2007. All did not go as planned. However, Ms Cassar remained convinced the right to marry deserved to be fought for even if she was not the lucky one to walk down the aisle.
[Click on the hyperlink above to view the comments on the Times' website.]
L-Orizzont: Transesswali terġa' tiġi mċaħħda milli tiżżewweġ: Mistennija tieħu l-każ fil-Qorti Ewropea
http://www.l-orizzont.com/news.asp?newsitemid=72940
24.5.11
Joanne Cassar mistennija tieħu l-każ tagħha fil-Qorti Ewropea tad-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem wara li lbieraħ l-Qorti Kostituzzjonali ta' Malta bidlet id-deċiżjoni tal-Prim'Awla tal-Qorti Ċivili u ċaħditilha li tkun tista' tiżżewweġ.
L-avukati Josè Herrera u David Camilleri qed jippreparaw biex jieħdu l-każ fuq livell Ewropew wara li ġew eżawriti t-toroq kollha legali f'pajjiżna.
Cassar, twieldet fiżikament raġel madankollu għamlet l-operazzjoni biex issir mara u talbet biex id-dritt taż-żwieġ.
Għalkemm fil-31 ta' Novembru li għadda l-Prim'Awla tal-Qorti Ċivili laqgħet it-talba, ilbieraħ il-Qorti Kostituzzjonali tat raġun lir-Reġistratur taż-Żwieġ meta dan ma ħarġilhiex it-tnidijiet taż-żwieġ madankollu qalet li dan ma jfissirx li ma kienx hemm indħil fil-ħajja privata tagħha.
Il-Qorti Kostituzzjonali sostniet li fis-sitwazzjoni li tinsab fiha llum Cassar la tista' "tifforma sħubija" ma' raġel u lanqas ma' mara imma dan mhux minħabba r-Reġistratur taż-Żwieġ imma dovut għan-"nuqqas ta' liġi li taħseb għal forma ta' sħubija tal-ħajja għal min hu fis-sitwazzjoni tagħha".
Fl-istess waqt l-istess qorti qalet li t-tnidijiet taż-żwieġ ma setgħux jinħarġu għax matul is-smigħ tal-appell Cassar informatha li llum m'għadhiex f'relazzjoni ma' persuna bl-intenzjoni li tiżżewweġ.
Is-sentenza ġabet ir-reazzjoni tal-Moviment għad-Drittijiet tal-Gays (MGRM) fejn il-kelliema Gabi Calleja rrimarkat li s-sentenza tikkonferma li Cassar kellha d-drittijiet tagħha miksurin minħabba nuqqas fil-liġi. Skont Calleja, il-bniedem għandu jiddeċiedi x'iħoss li tkun is-sesswalità tiegħu u l-Istat hu fid-dmir li jirrispetta din l-identità u jekk ma jagħmilx hekk ikun qed jikser id-dritt tal-individwu.
L-għaqda aditus, ifformata minn grupp ta' avukati żgħażagħ li jaħdmu fil-qasam tad-drittijiet umani, qalet li jiddispjaċiha bid-deċiżjoni tal-Qorti Kostituzzjonali fejn sostniet li bis-sentenza tagħha l-qorti ma mxietx mal-Qorti Ewropea għad-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem fejn dawk li jiġu rikonoxxuti l-bidla fis-sess tagħhom ikunu rikonoxxuti wkoll id-dritt taż-żwieġ. Ħeġġet lill-awtoritajiet lokali biex jindirizzaw din is-sitwazzjoni anomala fejn il-Qorti Kostituzzjonali ta' Malta qiegħda tirrifjuta dik il-pożizzjoni li ħadu l-Qorti Ewropea tad-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem u l-Qorti Ewropea tal-Ġustizzja.
Il-każ ta' Cassar beda wara li hi talbet lill-Prim'Awla tal-Qorti Ċivili biex fiċ-ċertifikat tat-twelid tagħha isimha jinbidel minn Joseph għal Joanne u s-sess tagħha jsir femminil.
Fit-28 ta' Ġunju, 2006 il-Prim'Awla tal-Qorti Ċivili laqgħet t-talba u ordnat lid-Direttur tar-Reġistru Pubbliku biex jagħmel it-tibdil neċessarju. Għalhekk inħarġilha ċertifikat tat-twelid ġdid.
Hi mbagħad applikat biex tiżżewweġ lill-maħbub tagħha. Madankollu d-Direttur tar-Reġistru Pubbliku rrifjuta li joħroġ it-tnidijiet taż-żwieġ u għalhekk irrikorriet għand il-Qorti Ċivili. B'digriet mogħti fit-12 ta' Frar, 2007, il-Qorti Ċivili laqgħetilha t-talba imma d-Direttur tar-Reġistru Pubbliku fetaħ kawża fejn talab li dan id-digriet jiġi revokat.
Fil-21 ta' Mejju, 2008, it-talba tad-Direttur tar-Reġistru Pubbliku ntlaqgħet fejn il-Qorti Ċivili sostniet li t-talba ta' Cassar biex tiżżewweġ persuna tas-sess maskil tmur kontra l-Att tal-1975 dwar iż-Żwieġ.
Cassar ħadet il-każ quddiem il-Prim'Awla tal-Qorti Ċivili fejn ilmentat li skont il-liġi Maltija persuna transesswali hi mċaħħda mill-possibilità li tiżżewweġ persuna maskili anke jekk tkun għamlet l-operazzjoni msejħa 'gender reassignment'. Min-naħa tiegħu d-Direttur tar-Reġistru Pubbliku sostna li l-Artiklu 257A tal-Kodiċi Ċivili hu intiż biss biex persuna li tkun kisbet id-dehra ta' persuna tas-sess oppost ma tkunx imbarazzata meta tipproduċi dokumenti uffiċjali li juru xort'oħra. Skont hu, dan ma jfissirx li wara l-operazzjoni l-persuna tkun akkwistat 'gender' ġdid.
Il-Prim'Awla tal-Qorti Ċivili, ippreseduta mill-Imħallef Raymond Pace, tat raġun lil Cassar u sostniet li meta ċ-ċertifikat tat-twelid jinbidel il-persuna għandha tibda' tiġi meqjusa skont is-sess indikat fl-istess ċertifikat.
L-Imħallef Pace kien irrimarka wkoll li l-Qorti Ewropea ħadet pożizzjoni fejn persuna li tkun bidlet is-sess tagħha b'mod irriversibbli ma tistax titwaqqaf mill-Istat milli tiżżewweġ persuna tas-sess oppost.
Kien għalhekk li hu laqa' t-talba ta' Cassar u ddikjara li d-Direttur tar-Reġistru Pubbliku ma jistax jirrifjuta li joħroġ it-tnidijiet taż-żwieġ tagħha ma' persuna tas-sess maskil.
Flimkien mal-Avukat Ġenerali, tal-aħħar appella mid-deċiżjoni fil-Qorti Kostituzzjonali u l-każ instema' quddiem l-Aġent Prim Imħallef Geoffrey Valenzia u l-Imħallfin Giannino Caruana Demajo u Tonio Mallia. Il-punt ewlieni mqajjem mid-Direttur tar-Reġistru Pubbliku kien li Cassar għandha d-dehra ta' mara imma ġewwa hi raġel u għalhekk ma tistax tiġi kkonsidrata bħala mara li tista' tiżżewweġ raġel.
It-tliet imħallfin qalu li dan l-argument mhux mingħajr mertu u sostnew li Cassar "ma tistax titqies bħala mara għall-għanijiet u effetti kollha tal-liġi partikolarment dawk marbutin mal-liġi taż-żwieġ".
"Jekk it-tifsira ta' dik l-għaqda bejn raġel u mara li nsejħulha żwieġ titwessa, jew aħjar tinbidel biex għaqda bejn l-attriċi u raġel ukoll titqies żwieġ, b'hekk tkun qiegħda tinbidel radikalment ukoll in-natura legali tar-relazzjoni ta' dawk li daħlu fi żwieġ kif regolat bl-att dwar iż-żwieġ, dak bejn raġel u mara. Id-drittijiet ta' dawn ukoll, iżda, jixraq li jitħarsu u jixraq li titħares ukoll l-istituzzjoni taż-żwieġ".
Fl-istess waqt huma qalu li għalkemm id-deċiżjoni tar-Reġistratur li ma joħroġx it-tnidijiet taż-żwieġ ta' Cassar kienet tajba u kif trid il-liġi dan ma jfissirx li l-indħil fil-jedd tagħha għall-ħajja privata hu ġustifikat. It-tliet imħallfin żiedu jgħidu li din is-"sħubija tal-ħajja" ma tistax tkun fil-forma ta' żwieġ u sostnew li l-liġi tista' taħseb għal forom oħra li jkun tajjeb mil-lat ta' drittijiet tal-bniedem. Skont hu, jekk l-istess sħubija tissejjaħx tali jew żwieġ ma jnaqqas xejn mid-drittijiet ta' min jagħżel forma jew oħra ta' sħubija sakemm jitħares id-dritt ta' dawk li daħlu fi żwieġ taħt l-Att dwar iż-Żwieġ.
Filwaqt li bidlet id-deċiżjoni tal-Prim'Awla tal-Qorti Ċivili, il-Qorti Kostituzzjonali ordnat li kopja tas-sentenza tintbagħat lill-Ispeaker tal-Parlament.
24.5.11
Joanne Cassar mistennija tieħu l-każ tagħha fil-Qorti Ewropea tad-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem wara li lbieraħ l-Qorti Kostituzzjonali ta' Malta bidlet id-deċiżjoni tal-Prim'Awla tal-Qorti Ċivili u ċaħditilha li tkun tista' tiżżewweġ.
L-avukati Josè Herrera u David Camilleri qed jippreparaw biex jieħdu l-każ fuq livell Ewropew wara li ġew eżawriti t-toroq kollha legali f'pajjiżna.
Cassar, twieldet fiżikament raġel madankollu għamlet l-operazzjoni biex issir mara u talbet biex id-dritt taż-żwieġ.
Għalkemm fil-31 ta' Novembru li għadda l-Prim'Awla tal-Qorti Ċivili laqgħet it-talba, ilbieraħ il-Qorti Kostituzzjonali tat raġun lir-Reġistratur taż-Żwieġ meta dan ma ħarġilhiex it-tnidijiet taż-żwieġ madankollu qalet li dan ma jfissirx li ma kienx hemm indħil fil-ħajja privata tagħha.
Il-Qorti Kostituzzjonali sostniet li fis-sitwazzjoni li tinsab fiha llum Cassar la tista' "tifforma sħubija" ma' raġel u lanqas ma' mara imma dan mhux minħabba r-Reġistratur taż-Żwieġ imma dovut għan-"nuqqas ta' liġi li taħseb għal forma ta' sħubija tal-ħajja għal min hu fis-sitwazzjoni tagħha".
Fl-istess waqt l-istess qorti qalet li t-tnidijiet taż-żwieġ ma setgħux jinħarġu għax matul is-smigħ tal-appell Cassar informatha li llum m'għadhiex f'relazzjoni ma' persuna bl-intenzjoni li tiżżewweġ.
Is-sentenza ġabet ir-reazzjoni tal-Moviment għad-Drittijiet tal-Gays (MGRM) fejn il-kelliema Gabi Calleja rrimarkat li s-sentenza tikkonferma li Cassar kellha d-drittijiet tagħha miksurin minħabba nuqqas fil-liġi. Skont Calleja, il-bniedem għandu jiddeċiedi x'iħoss li tkun is-sesswalità tiegħu u l-Istat hu fid-dmir li jirrispetta din l-identità u jekk ma jagħmilx hekk ikun qed jikser id-dritt tal-individwu.
L-għaqda aditus, ifformata minn grupp ta' avukati żgħażagħ li jaħdmu fil-qasam tad-drittijiet umani, qalet li jiddispjaċiha bid-deċiżjoni tal-Qorti Kostituzzjonali fejn sostniet li bis-sentenza tagħha l-qorti ma mxietx mal-Qorti Ewropea għad-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem fejn dawk li jiġu rikonoxxuti l-bidla fis-sess tagħhom ikunu rikonoxxuti wkoll id-dritt taż-żwieġ. Ħeġġet lill-awtoritajiet lokali biex jindirizzaw din is-sitwazzjoni anomala fejn il-Qorti Kostituzzjonali ta' Malta qiegħda tirrifjuta dik il-pożizzjoni li ħadu l-Qorti Ewropea tad-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem u l-Qorti Ewropea tal-Ġustizzja.
Il-każ ta' Cassar beda wara li hi talbet lill-Prim'Awla tal-Qorti Ċivili biex fiċ-ċertifikat tat-twelid tagħha isimha jinbidel minn Joseph għal Joanne u s-sess tagħha jsir femminil.
Fit-28 ta' Ġunju, 2006 il-Prim'Awla tal-Qorti Ċivili laqgħet t-talba u ordnat lid-Direttur tar-Reġistru Pubbliku biex jagħmel it-tibdil neċessarju. Għalhekk inħarġilha ċertifikat tat-twelid ġdid.
Hi mbagħad applikat biex tiżżewweġ lill-maħbub tagħha. Madankollu d-Direttur tar-Reġistru Pubbliku rrifjuta li joħroġ it-tnidijiet taż-żwieġ u għalhekk irrikorriet għand il-Qorti Ċivili. B'digriet mogħti fit-12 ta' Frar, 2007, il-Qorti Ċivili laqgħetilha t-talba imma d-Direttur tar-Reġistru Pubbliku fetaħ kawża fejn talab li dan id-digriet jiġi revokat.
Fil-21 ta' Mejju, 2008, it-talba tad-Direttur tar-Reġistru Pubbliku ntlaqgħet fejn il-Qorti Ċivili sostniet li t-talba ta' Cassar biex tiżżewweġ persuna tas-sess maskil tmur kontra l-Att tal-1975 dwar iż-Żwieġ.
Cassar ħadet il-każ quddiem il-Prim'Awla tal-Qorti Ċivili fejn ilmentat li skont il-liġi Maltija persuna transesswali hi mċaħħda mill-possibilità li tiżżewweġ persuna maskili anke jekk tkun għamlet l-operazzjoni msejħa 'gender reassignment'. Min-naħa tiegħu d-Direttur tar-Reġistru Pubbliku sostna li l-Artiklu 257A tal-Kodiċi Ċivili hu intiż biss biex persuna li tkun kisbet id-dehra ta' persuna tas-sess oppost ma tkunx imbarazzata meta tipproduċi dokumenti uffiċjali li juru xort'oħra. Skont hu, dan ma jfissirx li wara l-operazzjoni l-persuna tkun akkwistat 'gender' ġdid.
Il-Prim'Awla tal-Qorti Ċivili, ippreseduta mill-Imħallef Raymond Pace, tat raġun lil Cassar u sostniet li meta ċ-ċertifikat tat-twelid jinbidel il-persuna għandha tibda' tiġi meqjusa skont is-sess indikat fl-istess ċertifikat.
L-Imħallef Pace kien irrimarka wkoll li l-Qorti Ewropea ħadet pożizzjoni fejn persuna li tkun bidlet is-sess tagħha b'mod irriversibbli ma tistax titwaqqaf mill-Istat milli tiżżewweġ persuna tas-sess oppost.
Kien għalhekk li hu laqa' t-talba ta' Cassar u ddikjara li d-Direttur tar-Reġistru Pubbliku ma jistax jirrifjuta li joħroġ it-tnidijiet taż-żwieġ tagħha ma' persuna tas-sess maskil.
Flimkien mal-Avukat Ġenerali, tal-aħħar appella mid-deċiżjoni fil-Qorti Kostituzzjonali u l-każ instema' quddiem l-Aġent Prim Imħallef Geoffrey Valenzia u l-Imħallfin Giannino Caruana Demajo u Tonio Mallia. Il-punt ewlieni mqajjem mid-Direttur tar-Reġistru Pubbliku kien li Cassar għandha d-dehra ta' mara imma ġewwa hi raġel u għalhekk ma tistax tiġi kkonsidrata bħala mara li tista' tiżżewweġ raġel.
It-tliet imħallfin qalu li dan l-argument mhux mingħajr mertu u sostnew li Cassar "ma tistax titqies bħala mara għall-għanijiet u effetti kollha tal-liġi partikolarment dawk marbutin mal-liġi taż-żwieġ".
"Jekk it-tifsira ta' dik l-għaqda bejn raġel u mara li nsejħulha żwieġ titwessa, jew aħjar tinbidel biex għaqda bejn l-attriċi u raġel ukoll titqies żwieġ, b'hekk tkun qiegħda tinbidel radikalment ukoll in-natura legali tar-relazzjoni ta' dawk li daħlu fi żwieġ kif regolat bl-att dwar iż-żwieġ, dak bejn raġel u mara. Id-drittijiet ta' dawn ukoll, iżda, jixraq li jitħarsu u jixraq li titħares ukoll l-istituzzjoni taż-żwieġ".
Fl-istess waqt huma qalu li għalkemm id-deċiżjoni tar-Reġistratur li ma joħroġx it-tnidijiet taż-żwieġ ta' Cassar kienet tajba u kif trid il-liġi dan ma jfissirx li l-indħil fil-jedd tagħha għall-ħajja privata hu ġustifikat. It-tliet imħallfin żiedu jgħidu li din is-"sħubija tal-ħajja" ma tistax tkun fil-forma ta' żwieġ u sostnew li l-liġi tista' taħseb għal forom oħra li jkun tajjeb mil-lat ta' drittijiet tal-bniedem. Skont hu, jekk l-istess sħubija tissejjaħx tali jew żwieġ ma jnaqqas xejn mid-drittijiet ta' min jagħżel forma jew oħra ta' sħubija sakemm jitħares id-dritt ta' dawk li daħlu fi żwieġ taħt l-Att dwar iż-Żwieġ.
Filwaqt li bidlet id-deċiżjoni tal-Prim'Awla tal-Qorti Ċivili, il-Qorti Kostituzzjonali ordnat li kopja tas-sentenza tintbagħat lill-Ispeaker tal-Parlament.
Malta Right Now: Joanne Cassar ma tingħatax id-dritt li tiżżewweġ
http://www.maltarightnow.com/?module=news&at=Joanne+Cassar+ma+ting%26%23295%3Batax+id%2Ddritt+li+ti%26%23380%3B%26%23380%3Bewwe%26%23289%3B&t=a&aid=99828404&cid=39
23 ta' Mejju, 2011 13:11 CET minn Ray ABDILLA
Joanne Cassar ma ngħatatx id-dritt li tiżżewweġ wara li l-Qorti Kostituzzjonali qalet li taqbel li ma jinħarġux it-tnidijiet taż-żwieġ fil-konfront tagħha u talbet lill-Parlament li b'xi mod jilleġiżżla biex tali żwieġ ikun jista' jiġi fis-seħħ. Madankollu l-istess Qorti ma taqbilx li Cassar ma tingħatax l-għarfien bħala mara.
Il-każ imur lura għal Settembru tal-2006 wara li Joanne Cassar, li għamlet operazzjoni biex issir mara kienet għamlet talba flimkien mas-sieħeb tagħha biex jinħarġu t-tnidijiet biex iż-żwieġ ikun jista' jseħħ. Min-naħa tiegħu, id-Direttur tar-Reġistru Pubbliku kien ċaħad li dan isir.
Wara din iċ-ċaħda Joanne Cassar permezz tal-Avukati tagħha Jose Herrera u David Camilleri qalu li se jmorru bil-każ Strasbourg biex jiftħu kawża għad-danni morali. Fi Frar, tal-2007 Joanne Cassar kienet rebħet battalja legali fil-Qorti Ċivili, bl-istess Qorti tordna lir-Reġistratur Pubbliku biex joħroġ it-tnidijiet għaż-żwieġ, madankollu din id-deċijoni kienet revokata wara appell li kien sar mill-istess Direttur u l-Avukat Ġenerali.
Il-Qorti tal-Appell kienet iddeċidiet li Cassar qatt ma tista' tiġi dikjararata bħala mara u dan skond l-Att Dwar iż-Żwieġ, u li l-bidla fiċ-ċertifikat taż-żwieġ, fejn kien hemm bidla fl-isem saret biex jipproteġi d-dritt ta' privatezza u l-mistħija tagħha.
Joanne Cassar bdiet proċeduri fil-Prim Awla tal-Qorti Ċivili, fil-vesti tagħha bħal Qorti Kostituzzjonali, iżda tilfet il-każ minkejja li din il-Qorti qablet ma' ħafna mill-interpretazzjonijiet tagħha. Madankollu tilfet il-kawża peress li l-istat Malti ma jagħrafx lit-transesswali. Il-Qorti Kostituzzjonali preseduta mill-Imħallfin Geoffrey Valenzia, Giannino Caruana Demajo u Tonio Mallia qalet li r-rimedju huwa li l-Parlament jilleġiżla u minkejja li l-Qorti taqbel li kulħadd għandu dritt li jiżżewweġ u li jkun hemm ndil fil-karta tal-identita.
Cassar kienet fetħet kawża li biha rebħet id-dritt biex kemm fuq il-karta tal-identita' kif ukoll fiċ-ċertifikat tat-twelid sar it-tibdil neċessarju li jirrifletti l-partikolaritajiet dwar is-sess ġdid tagħha u anke l-isem li ħadet bħala mara. Ingħad ukoll li l-liġi Malija ma tipproddiex għal ċirkostanzi li tinsab fihom Joanne Cassar.
23 ta' Mejju, 2011 13:11 CET minn Ray ABDILLA
Joanne Cassar ma ngħatatx id-dritt li tiżżewweġ wara li l-Qorti Kostituzzjonali qalet li taqbel li ma jinħarġux it-tnidijiet taż-żwieġ fil-konfront tagħha u talbet lill-Parlament li b'xi mod jilleġiżżla biex tali żwieġ ikun jista' jiġi fis-seħħ. Madankollu l-istess Qorti ma taqbilx li Cassar ma tingħatax l-għarfien bħala mara.
Il-każ imur lura għal Settembru tal-2006 wara li Joanne Cassar, li għamlet operazzjoni biex issir mara kienet għamlet talba flimkien mas-sieħeb tagħha biex jinħarġu t-tnidijiet biex iż-żwieġ ikun jista' jseħħ. Min-naħa tiegħu, id-Direttur tar-Reġistru Pubbliku kien ċaħad li dan isir.
Wara din iċ-ċaħda Joanne Cassar permezz tal-Avukati tagħha Jose Herrera u David Camilleri qalu li se jmorru bil-każ Strasbourg biex jiftħu kawża għad-danni morali. Fi Frar, tal-2007 Joanne Cassar kienet rebħet battalja legali fil-Qorti Ċivili, bl-istess Qorti tordna lir-Reġistratur Pubbliku biex joħroġ it-tnidijiet għaż-żwieġ, madankollu din id-deċijoni kienet revokata wara appell li kien sar mill-istess Direttur u l-Avukat Ġenerali.
Il-Qorti tal-Appell kienet iddeċidiet li Cassar qatt ma tista' tiġi dikjararata bħala mara u dan skond l-Att Dwar iż-Żwieġ, u li l-bidla fiċ-ċertifikat taż-żwieġ, fejn kien hemm bidla fl-isem saret biex jipproteġi d-dritt ta' privatezza u l-mistħija tagħha.
Joanne Cassar bdiet proċeduri fil-Prim Awla tal-Qorti Ċivili, fil-vesti tagħha bħal Qorti Kostituzzjonali, iżda tilfet il-każ minkejja li din il-Qorti qablet ma' ħafna mill-interpretazzjonijiet tagħha. Madankollu tilfet il-kawża peress li l-istat Malti ma jagħrafx lit-transesswali. Il-Qorti Kostituzzjonali preseduta mill-Imħallfin Geoffrey Valenzia, Giannino Caruana Demajo u Tonio Mallia qalet li r-rimedju huwa li l-Parlament jilleġiżla u minkejja li l-Qorti taqbel li kulħadd għandu dritt li jiżżewweġ u li jkun hemm ndil fil-karta tal-identita.
Cassar kienet fetħet kawża li biha rebħet id-dritt biex kemm fuq il-karta tal-identita' kif ukoll fiċ-ċertifikat tat-twelid sar it-tibdil neċessarju li jirrifletti l-partikolaritajiet dwar is-sess ġdid tagħha u anke l-isem li ħadet bħala mara. Ingħad ukoll li l-liġi Malija ma tipproddiex għal ċirkostanzi li tinsab fihom Joanne Cassar.
Independent: Transsexual's marriage case to be taken to ECHR
http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=125857
24.5.11
Joanne Cassar, a post-op transgender, lost her case before the Constitutional Court denying her the right to marry, but her legal battle will not stop there, as her lawyers intend to take her plight before the European Court of Human Rights.
She lost the appeal filed by the Attorney General, from a court sentence which had granted her the right to marry a man after her gender reassignment surgery.
In the judgement handed down by Mr Justice Geoffrey Valenzia, Mr Justice Giannino Caruana Demajo and Mr Justice Tonio Mallia, the court decided that the banns should not be issued, and urged parliament to address this anomaly because Maltese laws do not provide for people who are in the same situation as Ms Cassar, denying them the fundamental right to marry. The same court agreed that Ms Cassar should be recognised as a woman as it is stipulated on her birth certificate.
Her case goes back to September 2006 when after her gender reassignment surgery, she and her partner filed an application with the Marriages Registrar to issue the banns. Ms Cassar had already legally changed her gender to female on her birth certificate.
Meanwhile, in February 2007, Ms Cassar won the legal battle in the Civil Court, ordering the Public Registry to issue the marriage banns, however this decision was revoked after the Attorney General filed the appeal in May 2008.
The Court had decided that Ms Cassar can never be considered a woman according to the Marriages Act and that the change in the birth certificate was done to protect her privacy and prevent embarrassment.
Eventually she lost the appeal case before the Constitutional Court despite that most of her claims were upheld. The court decided that the Marriage Registrar interpreted the law correctly.
Lawyers Josè Herrera and David Camilleri assisted Ms Cassar.
24.5.11
Joanne Cassar, a post-op transgender, lost her case before the Constitutional Court denying her the right to marry, but her legal battle will not stop there, as her lawyers intend to take her plight before the European Court of Human Rights.
She lost the appeal filed by the Attorney General, from a court sentence which had granted her the right to marry a man after her gender reassignment surgery.
In the judgement handed down by Mr Justice Geoffrey Valenzia, Mr Justice Giannino Caruana Demajo and Mr Justice Tonio Mallia, the court decided that the banns should not be issued, and urged parliament to address this anomaly because Maltese laws do not provide for people who are in the same situation as Ms Cassar, denying them the fundamental right to marry. The same court agreed that Ms Cassar should be recognised as a woman as it is stipulated on her birth certificate.
Her case goes back to September 2006 when after her gender reassignment surgery, she and her partner filed an application with the Marriages Registrar to issue the banns. Ms Cassar had already legally changed her gender to female on her birth certificate.
Meanwhile, in February 2007, Ms Cassar won the legal battle in the Civil Court, ordering the Public Registry to issue the marriage banns, however this decision was revoked after the Attorney General filed the appeal in May 2008.
The Court had decided that Ms Cassar can never be considered a woman according to the Marriages Act and that the change in the birth certificate was done to protect her privacy and prevent embarrassment.
Eventually she lost the appeal case before the Constitutional Court despite that most of her claims were upheld. The court decided that the Marriage Registrar interpreted the law correctly.
Lawyers Josè Herrera and David Camilleri assisted Ms Cassar.
MGRM: Joanne Cassar vs Director of Public Registry - Constitutional Court affirms breach of Article 8 & 12 of the European Convention of Human Rights
Malta Gay Rights Movement, 32, Parish Street, Mosta, MST 2021
Tel 21 430 009 - Mob 9925 5559, www.maltagayrights.org - mgrm@maltagayrights.org
The sentence delivered by the Constitutional Court presided by Judges Geoffrey Valenzia, Giannino Caruana Demajo and Tonio Mallia affirmed that a breach of articles 8 & 12 of the Convention on Human Rights had taken place in respect of Joanne Cassar. However the Court stated that this breach occurred due to a lacuna in Maltese legislation that does not allow for transgender persons to enter into what it termed 'a life partnership'.
The Court did not recognise the right of the post-operative transgender woman to have her affirmed gender identity recognised by law adopting the narrowest possible interpretation of gender based solely on biological criteria.
The MGRM holds that the failure of the Maltese Constitutional Court to recognise Joanne Cassar as a woman goes against the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights as expressed in Goodwin vs UK and other recent judgements and also jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice[1].
As reiterated in the Proposed Gender Identity Act for Malta MGRM holds that gender identity is a matter for the individual to decide and that the State is duty bound to respect this identity by granting full and effective legal recognition. Anything less than this violates the right of the individual to self-determination and often leads to a violation of the transgender person's rights to private and family life.
This implies the right of women like Joanne Cassar who have satisfied all the legal requirements to change their gender to then marry a person of the opposite sex, in this case a man.
[1] ECJ, C-423/04, Richards vs. Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (27th April 2006)
Tel 21 430 009 - Mob 9925 5559, www.maltagayrights.org - mgrm@maltagayrights.org
The sentence delivered by the Constitutional Court presided by Judges Geoffrey Valenzia, Giannino Caruana Demajo and Tonio Mallia affirmed that a breach of articles 8 & 12 of the Convention on Human Rights had taken place in respect of Joanne Cassar. However the Court stated that this breach occurred due to a lacuna in Maltese legislation that does not allow for transgender persons to enter into what it termed 'a life partnership'.
The Court did not recognise the right of the post-operative transgender woman to have her affirmed gender identity recognised by law adopting the narrowest possible interpretation of gender based solely on biological criteria.
The MGRM holds that the failure of the Maltese Constitutional Court to recognise Joanne Cassar as a woman goes against the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights as expressed in Goodwin vs UK and other recent judgements and also jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice[1].
As reiterated in the Proposed Gender Identity Act for Malta MGRM holds that gender identity is a matter for the individual to decide and that the State is duty bound to respect this identity by granting full and effective legal recognition. Anything less than this violates the right of the individual to self-determination and often leads to a violation of the transgender person's rights to private and family life.
This implies the right of women like Joanne Cassar who have satisfied all the legal requirements to change their gender to then marry a person of the opposite sex, in this case a man.
[1] ECJ, C-423/04, Richards vs. Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (27th April 2006)
Di-ve: Joanne Cassar's right to marry overturned on appeal
http://www.di-ve.com/Default.aspx?ID=72&Action=1&NewsId=83475<
by John Paul Cordina - editorial@di-ve.com
Court -- 23 May 2011 -- 13:00CEST
A constitutional ruling which granted a woman who had been born male the right to marry has been overturned this morning after the Constitutional Court ruled on an appeal filed by the Attorney General.
Joanne Cassar had been born male, but she underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2006 and was legally recognised as female in 2006. Despite the legal recognition, however, the Marriage Registrar refused to issue the marriage bans when she sought to marry her boyfriend, insisting that she was still male.
Ms Cassar took the registrar to court, and in February 2007 he was ordered to issue the marriage banns. But this decision was appealed, and the appeal was successful.
Undeterred, Ms Cassar filed a constitutional application, in which she said that by denying her to marry, the Maltese Courts went against Article 12 of the European Convention of Human Rights, which states that "men and women of marriageable age have the right to marry and found a family, according to the national laws governing the exercise of this right."
In earlier decisions, the European Court of Human Rights had ruled that states were free to prohibit people who underwent gender reassignment surgery from marrying persons of a now-opposite sex, but this was overturned in 2002, when British national Christine Goodwin took her country's government to court.
This ruling was recognised by Mr Justice Joseph Micallef last year, when he ruled that Ms Cassar was being unlawfully denied the right to marry. But this decision was appealed by Attorney General Peter Grech, who opted to file an appeal.
This appeal was successful, with judges Geoffrey Valenzia, Giannino Caruana Demajo and Tonio Mallia stating that the marriage registrar interpreted Maltese law correctly. However, they also confirmed that breaches of the Convention had taken place due to lacunae in Maltese law, and asked for Parliament to remedy the situation.
Ms Cassar is now set to take her case to the ECHR, where the Goodwin v. UK case has set a precedent.
The ruling has been condemned by the Malta Gay Rights Movement, which noted that the court adopted "the narrowest possible interpretation of gender based solely on biological criteria," to deny Ms Cassar's right to have her affirmed gender identity recognised by law.
by John Paul Cordina - editorial@di-ve.com
Court -- 23 May 2011 -- 13:00CEST
A constitutional ruling which granted a woman who had been born male the right to marry has been overturned this morning after the Constitutional Court ruled on an appeal filed by the Attorney General.
Joanne Cassar had been born male, but she underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2006 and was legally recognised as female in 2006. Despite the legal recognition, however, the Marriage Registrar refused to issue the marriage bans when she sought to marry her boyfriend, insisting that she was still male.
Ms Cassar took the registrar to court, and in February 2007 he was ordered to issue the marriage banns. But this decision was appealed, and the appeal was successful.
Undeterred, Ms Cassar filed a constitutional application, in which she said that by denying her to marry, the Maltese Courts went against Article 12 of the European Convention of Human Rights, which states that "men and women of marriageable age have the right to marry and found a family, according to the national laws governing the exercise of this right."
In earlier decisions, the European Court of Human Rights had ruled that states were free to prohibit people who underwent gender reassignment surgery from marrying persons of a now-opposite sex, but this was overturned in 2002, when British national Christine Goodwin took her country's government to court.
This ruling was recognised by Mr Justice Joseph Micallef last year, when he ruled that Ms Cassar was being unlawfully denied the right to marry. But this decision was appealed by Attorney General Peter Grech, who opted to file an appeal.
This appeal was successful, with judges Geoffrey Valenzia, Giannino Caruana Demajo and Tonio Mallia stating that the marriage registrar interpreted Maltese law correctly. However, they also confirmed that breaches of the Convention had taken place due to lacunae in Maltese law, and asked for Parliament to remedy the situation.
Ms Cassar is now set to take her case to the ECHR, where the Goodwin v. UK case has set a precedent.
The ruling has been condemned by the Malta Gay Rights Movement, which noted that the court adopted "the narrowest possible interpretation of gender based solely on biological criteria," to deny Ms Cassar's right to have her affirmed gender identity recognised by law.
Saturday, 28 May 2011
Qorti Konstituzzjonali: Joanne Cassar vs Direttur tar-Reġistru Pubbliku u l-Avukat Ġenerali
Sentenza [PDF]
Kopja informali tas-sentenza
MALTA
QORTI KOSTITUZZJONALI
ONOR. IMHALLEF -- AGENT PRESIDENT
GEOFFREY VALENZIA
ONOR. IMHALLEF
GIANNINO CARUANA DEMAJO
ONOR. IMHALLEF
TONIO MALLIA
Seduta tat-23 ta' Mejju, 2011
Appell Civili Numru. 43/2008/1
Joanne Cassar
versus
Direttur tar-Reġistru Pubbliku u l-Avukat Ġenerali
1. Dan huwa appell minn sentenza illi sabet illi r-rifjuttar-Reġistratur taż-Żwieġ illi joħroġ tnidijiet għaż-żwieġ tal-
attriċi jikser id-drittijiet fondamentali tagħha mħarsa taħt l-
artt. 8 u 12 tal-Konvenzjoni Ewropea għall-Protezzjoni tad-
Drittijiet tal-Bniedem u tal-Libertajiet Fondamentali [“il-
Konvenzjoni”].
Il-Fatti
2. Il-fatti relevanti seħħew hekk: L-attriċi twieldet fl-24
ta’ Settembru 1981 u ġiet reġistrata bħala ta’ sess maskili
u mogħtija l-isem ta’ Joseph. Billi iżda l-imġieba, l-
inklinazzjonijiet u l-orjentament tagħha kienu femminili,
qagħdet għal intervent magħruf bħala gender
reassignment surgery biex assumiet is-sess femminili
b’mod irriversibbli.
3. L-attriċi mbagħad għamlet azzjoni ġudizzjarja taħt l-
art. 257A tal-Kodiċi ċivili1 u l-Prim’Awla tal-Qorti ċivili
b’sentenza mogħtija fit-28 ta’ Ġunju 2006 laqgħet it-talbiet
tagħha, qalet illi assumiet is-sess femminili b’mod
irriversibbli u ordnat illi ssir annotazzjoni fl-att ta’ twelid
tagħha fil-partikolaritajiet dwar is-sess u wkoll fis-sens illi
isem l-attriċi minn “Joseph” isir “Joanne”. Wara din is-
sentenza nħareġ ċertifikat tat-twelid li juri lill-attriċi bħala
mara.
4. L-attriċi għamlet imbagħad talba għall-pubblikazzjoni
tat-tnidijiet biex tiżżewweġ ma’ raġel iżda r-Reġistratur
taż-Żwieġ [“ir-Reġistratur”] kien tal-fehma li ma setax
igħaddi għall-pubblikazzjoni u għalhekk għarraf lill-attriċi
b’dan taħt l-art. 8(1) tal-Att dwar iż-Żwieġ [“Kap. 255”]. Lattriċi
għalhekk għamlet rikors quddiem il-Qorti ċivili
(Sezzjoni Ġurisdizzjoni Volontarja) taħt l-art. 8(2) tal-Kap.
255 sabiex din tordna lir-Reġistratur joħroġ it-tnidijiet. Ilqorti
laqgħet it-talba b’dikriet tat-12 ta’ Frar 2007.5. Ir-Reġistratur iżda fetaħ kawża biex jitlob li jitħassar
id-dikriet tat-12 ta’ Frar 2007 u b’sentenza mogħtija fil-21
ta’ Mejju 2008 il-Prim’Awla tal-Qorti ċivili laqgħet it-talba u
ħassret id-dikriet “billi l-istess dikriet jinbena fuq premessa
li ma taqbilx mar-realtà għaliex il-partijiet li għalihom
jirreferi ma humiex ta’ sess oppost” u għax “żwieġ bejn [lattriċi]
u persuna oħra ta’ sess maskil imur kontra ddispożizzjonijiet
tal-Att tal-1975 dwar iż-Żwieġ”. Il-qorti
iddikjarat ukoll illi:
«… … … l-annotazzjoni li saret fuq l-Att tat-Twelid tal-parti
intimata bis-saħħa tas-sentenza mogħtija fit-28 ta’ Ġunju
2006 saret biss għal skop tal-ħarsien tal-privatezza
tagħha u ma tagħtiha l-ebda dritt li titqies bħala “mara”
għall-finijiet tal-kontrattazzjoni ta’ żwieġ.»It-Talbiet tal-Attriċi
1 257A. (1) Kull persuna mhux miżżewġa li jkollha d-domiċilju tagħha f’Malta
tista’ tagħmel azzjoni ġudizzjarja biex issir annotazzjoni rigward il-partikolaritajiet
dwar is-sess li jkunu ġew assenjati lilu jew lilha fl-att ta’ twelid.6. L-attriċi tgħid illi l-liġi kif interpretata fis-sentenza tal-
21 ta’ Mejju 2008 tikser id-drittijiet fondamentali tagħha
mħarsa taħt l-artt. 32(ë) u 36 tal-Kostituzzjoni ta’ Malta [“il-
Kostituzzjoni”] u l-artt. 3, 8 u 12 tal-Konvenzjoni.
Għalhekk b’rikors kostituzzjonali tad-29 ta’ Lulju 2008
quddiem il-Prim’Awla tal-Qorti ċivili talbet illi l-qorti:
i. tgħid illi, għax l-liġi ta’ Malta ma tagħrafx littransesswali
bħala persuni tas-sess miksub għall-għanijiet
kollha tal-liġi, fosthom il-liġi taż-żwieġ, dan jikser il-jedd
tagħha mħares taħt l-art. 32(ë) tal-Kostituzzjoni u l-artt. 8 u
12 tal-Konvenzjoni;
ii. tgħid illi, għax skond il-liġi ta’ Malta persuna
transesswali la tista’ tiżżewweġ ma’ raġel u lanqas tista’
tiżżewweġ ma’ mara, dan jikser il-jedd tal-attriċi li ma tiġix
assoġġettata għal trattament inuman u degradanti mħares
taħt l-art. 36 tal-Kostituzzjoni u l-art. 3 tal-Konvenzjoni;
iii. tagħtiha dawk ir-rimedji li jidhrulha xierqa għattwettiq
tad-drittijiet fondamentali fuq imsemmija, fosthom li
tgħid illi l-konvenut Direttur tar-Reġistru Pubbliku (bħala
Reġistratur taż-Żwieġ), ma jistax jirrifjuta li joħroġ ittnidijiet
għaż-żwieġ tal-attriċi ma’ persuna oħra tas-sess
maskili minħabba l-fatt illi l-attriċi twieldet raġel u qagħdet
għall-intervent ta’ gender reassignment;
iv. tillikwida kumpens li għandu jitħallas lill-attriċi
minħabba fil-ksur tal-jeddijiet tagħha.L-Eċċezzjonijiet tal-Konvenuti7. Il-konvenuti wieġbu fid-9 ta’ Settembru 2008 u
ressqu dawn l-eċċezzjoni-jiet:
i. l-art. 32 tal-Kostituzzjoni ma huwiex ġustizzjabbli u
ma jistax jiġi invokat;
ii. l-art. 257A tal-Kodiċi ċivili huwa maħsub biss
sabiex persuna li tkun kisbet id-dehra minn barra ta’
persuna tas-sess oppost ma tkunx imbarazzata meta
tipproduċi dokumenti uffiejali li juru xort’oħra;
iii. ma hemm ebda ksur tal-art. 8 tal-Konvenzjoni għax
dak l-artikolu, fil-waqt li jħares id-dritt għar-rispett tal-ħajja
familjari u ma jridx li jsir indħil minn awtorità pubblika fittgawdija
ta’ dak id-dritt, fis-subartikolu (2) tiegħu
jikkontempla każijiet fejn indħil mill-istat ikun leċitu u legali;
iv. ma hemm ebda ksur tal-art. 12 tal-Konvenzjoni
għax id-dritt taż-żwieġ jingħata biss għal għaqda bejn
raġel u mara illi jkunu ġenetikament ikklassifikati bħala
raġel u mara; u
v. ma hemm ebda ksur tal-art. 3 tal-Konvenzjoni u lart.
36 tal-Kostituzzjoni għax ma huwiex minnu illi l-attriċi
qiegħda b’xi mod tiġi assoġġettata għal trattament
inuman.Is-Sentenza tal-ewwel Qorti8. B’sentenza mogħtija fit-30 ta’ Novembru 2010 il-
Prim’Awla tal-Qorti ċivili hekk iddisponiet mit-talbiet talattriċi
u mill-eċċezzjonijiet tal-konvenuta:
«… … … il-qorti taqta’ u tiddeċiedi billi, filwaqt li tilqa’ lewwel
u l-ħames eċċezzjoni tal-intimati fil-każ biss li listess
huma konformi ma’ dak hawn deċiż, iżda tieħad leċċezzjonijiet
l-oħra tal-intimati in kwantu inkonsistenti ma’
dak hawn deċiż, u filwaqt li tieħad it-tieni u r-raba’ talba
tar-rikorrenti, iżda tilqa’ l-ewwel u t-tielet talba tar-rikorrenti
fir-rikors tagħha datat 29 ta’ Lulju 2008 biss fil-kuntest ta’
dak hawn deċiż, b’dan illi:-
«i) tiddikjara illi, minħabba illi l-fatt illi l-liġi ta’ Malta kif
applikata u interpretata mill-intimat id-Direttur tar-Reġistru
Pubbliku, ma rrikonoxxietx it-transesswali bħala persuni
tas-sess akkwistat għall-finijiet u effetti kollha tagħha
inkluz ai finijiet tal-liġi taż-żwieġ, u għalhekk u biss f’dan
is-sens ġew leżi d-drittijiet tar-rikorrenti skond l-artikoli 8 u
12 tal-Konvenzjoni Ewropeja għad-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem;
«ii) tiddikjara illi l-intimat Direttur tar-Reġistru Pubbliku ma
jistax jirrifjuta li joħroġ it-tnidijiet għaż-żwieġ tar-rikorrenti
ma’ persuna oħra ta’ sess maskil u dan a bażi tal-fatt illi rrikorrenti
twieldet bħala raġel u ssottomettiet ruħha għalloperazzjoni
fuq indikata u assumiet u akkwistat is-sess ta’
mara u dan kif rifless fl-annotazzjonijiet li saru fie-ċertifikat
tat-twelid tagħha konsegwenti għas-sentenza fl-ismijiet
Joseph sive Joanne Cassar vs Direttur tar-Reġistru
Pubbliku (P.A. (RCP) – 28 ta’ Gunju 2006).«Bl-ispejjeż kontra l-intimati.»9. Il-qorti immotivat hekk is-sentenza tagħha:
«… … … fid-dawl tal-eċċezzjonijiet tal-intimat, jingħad flewwel
lok dwar l-applikabbilità tal-artikolu 32(ë) tal-
Kostituzzjoni ta’ Malta li r-rikorrenti qed tallega li dan lartikolu
jitkellem dwar ir-rispett għall-ħajja privata u
familjari. F’dan il-kuntest jingħad li l-qorti taqbel massottomissjoni
tal-intimati f’dan ir-rigward fis-sens li l-
artikolu 32 tal-Kostituzzjoni mhuwiex wieħed enforzabbli
taħt l-artikolu 46 tal-istess Kostituzzjoni li huwa l-artikolu li
jagħti l-ġurisdizzjoni lil din il-qorti li teżamina ksur ta’
drittijiet fundamentali tal-bniedem. Dan l-artikolu 46 infatti
jsemmi biss id-drittijiet fundamentali elenkati fl-artikoli 33
sa 45 tal-Kostituzzjoni u allura t-talbiet tar-rikorrenti fuq
dan il-punt qed jiġu mieħuda.
… … …
«… … … Però d-dritt għar-rispett tal-ħajja privata, tad-dar
u tal-korrispondenza huma msemmija wkoll fl-artikolu 8 u
jifformaw parti integrali mid-dritt sostantiv taghna … … …
«[F]is-sentenza fl-ismijiet Id-Direttur tar-Reġistru Pubbliku
vs Joanne Cassar (P.A. (JRM) – 21 ta’ Mejju 2008)
ingħad li l-effett [tal-artt. 257A sa D tal-Kodiċi ċivili] u tassentenza
dikjaratorja [tat-28 ta’ Ġunju 2006] “jolqot
radikalment l-identità tal-persuna li tkun (u mhux biss iddehra
taghha) għall-finijiet tal-istatus tagħha f’għajnejn illiġi
u għall-finijiet u effetti kollha tal-istess liġi bla ebda
distinzjoni ta’ xejn”.
«Illi f’dan il-kuntest din il-qorti taddotta l-istess
dikjarazzjoni iżda mill-bqija tiddipartixxi minn dak li ngħad
fl-istess sentenza fis-sens li tali bdil fis-sess kif annotat
għandu jservi biss għal ċertu sitwazzjonijiet. Dan għaliex
jidher li l-liġi pprovdiet li r-rikonoxximent tas-sess assunt
kellu jservi għal kull avveniment fil-futur u dan huwa
naturali, għaliex huwa biss b’riżultat tal-interventi li saru li
attwalment is-sess tal-persuna indikata kellu jiġi l-ewwel
mibdul bl-interventi appositi rikonoxxuti mill-liġi, u
mbagħad fil-liġi; il-fatt li dan it-tibdil isir b’annotazzjoni ma
jbiddel xejn mill-fatt li permezz tal-istess is-sess assunt
jew akkwistat mill-persuna, dan ġie rikonoxxut legalment;
il-fatt li tali bidla fil-liġi seħħet minħabba li l-qorti kienet
sabet li n-nuqqas ta’ rikonoxximent tal-istat ta’ sess assunt
kien jikser l-artikolu 8 tal-Konvenzjoni, ma jfissirx li dan
kien riferibbli biss għad-dritt ta’ rispett lejn il-ħajja privata u
dan għaliex l-istess artikolu jipproteġi wkoll id-dritt ta’ kull
persuna għall-familja u mkien fis-sentenzi li saret riferenza
ghalihom ma ngħad li dan il-bdil fis-sess tal-persuna
għandu jservi biss għal xi skopijiet ċivili iżda mhux għal
oħrajn; fl-aħħarnett il-fatt li tali dritt ġie mogħti biss lil
persuna “mhux miżżewġa” jfisser li l-leġislatur kellu
f’moħħu u ikkonsidra x’effett tali bdil kien ser ikollu fuq
persuna miżżewġa b’dan li kien ser jaffettwa l-ħajja
miżżewġa (proprju għaliex kienet ser tinħoloq sitwazzjoni
fejn is-sess assunt jew akkwist ikun allura simili għal dak
tal-persuna l-oħra involuta f’tali żwieġ), u allura tali dritt ġie
ristrett għal persuna mhux miżżewġa, b’dan għalhekk tali
persuna li fil-futur setgħet titlob li tiżżewweġ.
… … …
«… … … din il-qorti hija tal-fehma li l-introduzzjoni ta’ dan
l-artikolu [257A tal-Kodiċi ċivili] mhux intiż biss sabiex
jissalvagwarda d-drittijiet tar-rikorrent fit-termini ta’
privatezza kif qed jifhimhom l-intimat, iżda l-kappa ta’
protezzjoni hija bil-wisq ikbar għaliex il-bdil fie-ċertifikat
tat-twelid tar-rikorrenti jintitola l-istess, kif jippovdu l-istess
artikoli, sabiex l-awtoritajiet kompetenti joħorġu ddokumenti
kollha neċessarji, inklużi dawk tal-karta talidentità,
u allura wkoll passporti, reġistrazzjoni tax-xogħol,
u kull ċertifikati oħra, sabiex l-istess persuna, fis-soċjetà u
fit-trattamenti tagħha mal-awtoritajiet kompetenti, tiġi
trattata għall-finijiet u effetti kollha tal-liġi bħala mara, cioè
konformament mas-sess tagħha jew assunt minnha wara
l-interventi msemmija, u in vista tad-dikjarazzjoni tal-qorti,
u l-annotazzjojnijiet appositi. Din il-qorti tħoss li kemm-il
darba awtoritajiet governattivi, inkluż l-intimat, ma
jirrikonoxxux, anke għaż-żwieġ, is-sess tagħha assunt jew
akkwistat bħala s-sess applikabbli għaliha, anke għall-fini
tal-Liġi taż-Żwieġ, dan jammonta għal ksur tad-drittijiet
tagħha bħala mara u konsegwenti ksur tal-istess artikolu 8
tal-Konvenzjoni.
«Illi għalhekk huwa d-dritt tar-rikorrenti skond l-istess
artikolu li tiġi rikonoxxuta bħala mara, skond is-sess
assunt tagħha, mill-organi kollha tal-istat, u dan anke in
vista taċ-ċertifikat tat-twelid hekk annotat u emendat
skond il-liġi, u kull nuqqas ta’ rikonoxximent bħala tali
mhux biss imur kontra l-liġi (Kap. 16), iżda wkoll kontra ddisposizzjonijiet
tal-artikolu 8 tal-Konvenzjoni, għaliex, kif
ġà spjegat, hawnhekk mhux qegħdin nitkellmu
sempliċiment fuq mezzi biex persuna transesswali ma
tkunx imbarazzata, iżda qegħdin nitkellmu dwar id-dinjità
u libertà tal-individwu, u d-dritt tiegħu li jiġi rikonoxxut u
trattat skond is-sess tagħha akkwistat jew assunt, hekk kif
issa rikonoxxut legalment, u dan in kwantu jirreferi għallatti
kollha ċivili li jseħħu wara l-istess annotazzjoni.
… … …
«Hawn Malta saru l-emendi permezz tal-artikolu 257A u
257D tal-Kap. 16 u f’dan il-kuntest is-sess tal-persuna tarrikorrenti
hekk akkwistat ġie rikonoxxut, iżda in kwantu listess
jista’ jiġi b’xi mod interpretat, kif ġie interpretat, li
dan japplika biss għal ċertu ċirkostanzi wara li ssir tali
annotazzjoni, tali deċiżjoni, tittieħed minn min tittieħed,
jew ittieħdet minn min ittieħdet, inkluż allura mill-intimat,
tmur kontra d-disposizzjonijiet tal-artikolu 8 tal-
Konvenzjoni, u għalhekk in kwantu l-istess rikorrenti ma
ġietx trattata u kkunsidrata bħala tas-sess femminili filkuntest
tat-talba tagħha biex tiżżewweġ persona tas-sess
oppost għal dak minnha assunt jew akkwistat, tali
deċiżjoni, irrispettivament minn min ingħatat, tilledi u kisret
id-drittijiet tar-rikorrenti skond id-disposizzjonijiet tal-artikolu
8 tal-Konvenzjoni Ewropeja.
… … …
«Illi jekk il-kawża tar-rikorrenti tiġi trattata taħt iddisposizzjonijiet
tal-artikolu 12 tal-Konvenzjoni Ewropeja
jingħad li … … … llum hija ċara u konsistenti l-pożizzjoni li
ħadet il-Qorti Ewropeja fis-sens li persuna li bidlet is-sess
tagħha b’mod irreversibbli bħall-każ odjern, ma tistax tiġi
impeduta mill-istat li tiżżewweġ persuna tas-sess oppost
minn dak ta’ dak minnha assunt jew akkwistat u
rikonoxxut skond il-liġi. Dak li ma huwiex permess huwa
żwieġ bejn żewġ persuni tal-istess sess, u persuna li
bidlet is-sess tagħha, kif provdut mil-liġi, u rikonoxxuta
bħala tali, għandha d-dritt li tiżżewweġ persuna tas-sess
oppost għal dak minnha assunt jew akkwistat; altrimenti,
jekk tiġi impeduta milli tagħmel dan, hija ma tkunx tista’
tiżżewweġ, għaliex ċertament ma tistax tiżżewweġ
persuna tas-sess simili għal dak li twieldet bih għaliex
b’hekk tiġi li qed tiżżewweġ persuna tal-istess sess, b’dan
li f’dawn ie-ċirkostanzi l-istat ikun qed jikser id-dritt tagħha
kif protett taħt id-disposizzjonijiet tal-artikolu 12 tal-
Konvenzjoni.
… … …
«Illi din l-qorti hija tal-fehma li n-nuqqas tas-salvagwardji
kif konsidrati f’din id-deċiżjoni anke fil-kuntest sia ta’ lartikolu
8 u sia tal-artikolu 12, sabiex ir-rikorrenti, persuna
transesswali, tkun tista’ tgħix id-dinjità u libertà tagħha
bħal individwi oħra fil-pajjiż, ma jammontawx għal ksur tal
artikolu 3 tal-Konvenzjoni u artikolu 36 tal-Kostituzzjoni ta’
Malta għalkemm fil-kuntest ta’ dak deċiż din hija biss
kwistjoni akkademika.
«Illi fl-aħħarnett il-qorti tħoss li d-dikjarazzjonijiet hawn fuq
indikati, li jwasslu sabiex jintlaqgħu l-ewwel u t-tielet talba
attriċi, huma rimedji adegwati u suffiejenti għall-każ in
eżami u r-raba’ talba ma għandhiex tiġi milqugħa.»
L-Appell tal-Konvenuti10. B’rikors tas-17 ta’ Diċembru 2010 il-konvenuti
appellaw minn din is-sentenza u talbu illi din il-qorti
tirriformaha billi tikkonfermaha fejn laqgħet l-ewwel u lħames
eċċezzjonijiet tagħhom u fejn ċaħdet it-tieni u rraba’
talbiet tal-attriċi, u tħassarha fil-bqija tagħha u tieħad
it-talbiet kollha tal-attriċi. L-aggravji tagħhom huma dawn:
i. illi l-ewwel qorti “għamlet interpretazzjoni ħażina
tal-applikabilità tal-artikolu 8 tal-Konvenzjoni Ewropeja”; u
ii. illi l-ewwel qorti “għamlet interpretazzjoni ħażina
tal-applikabilità tal-artikolu 12 tal-Konvenzjoni Ewropeja”.11. L-attriċi wieġbet fit-22 ta’ Diċembru 2010.
L-ewwel Aggravju – l-artikolu 8 tal-Konvenzjoni
Ewropeja12. Biex ifissru l-ewwel aggravju tagħhom, dwar l-art. 8
tal-Konvenzjoni, il-konvenuti appellanti qalu illi l-ewwel
qorti interpretat ħażin dak l-artikolu għax “skartat
kompletament il-fatt illi l-art. 8 tal-Konvenzjoni ma
jiggarantix id-dritt li wieħed ikollu familja iżda
jippresupponi l-eżistenza ta’ familja”, u komplew igħidu illi
l-attriċi “ma ġabet l-ebda prova li hemm eżistenti xi familja
bejnha u xi persuna oħra, u dan lanqas fit-tifsira l-aktar
wiesgħa tagħha”.13. L-art. 8 tal-Konvenzjoni jgħid hekk:
ARTIKOLU 8
(1) Kulħadd għandu d-dritt għar-rispett tal-ħajja privata
tiegħu u tal-familja tiegħu, ta’ daru u tal-korrispondenza
tiegħu.
(2) Ma għandux ikun hemm indħil minn awtorità
pubblika dwar l-eżerċizzju ta’ dan id-dritt ħlief dak li jkun
skond il-liġi u li jkun meħtieġ f’soċjetà demokratika flinteressi
tas-sigurtà nazzjonali, sigurtà pubblika jew il-ġid
ekonomiku tal-pajjiż, biex jiġi evitat id-diżordni jew l-għemil
ta’ delitti, għall-protezzjoni tas-saħħa jew tal-morali, jew
għall-protezzjoni tad-drittijiet u libertajiet ta’ ħaddieħor.14. Għalkemm huwa minnu illi dan l-artikolu, safejn
iħares id-dritt għar-rispett tal-ħajja tal-familja, ma jagħtix
id-dritt li jkollok familja iżda “jippresupponi” l-eżistenza ta’
familja, dan ma jfissirx illi jistgħu jistrieħu fuq dan l-artikolu
dawk biss li għandhom familja u mhux ukoll dawk li huma
weħedhom. Barra minn hekk, l-artikolu jħares mhux biss
id-dritt għar-rispett tal-ħajja tal-familja iżda wkoll id-dritt
għar-rispett tal-ħajja privata.15. Għalhekk, il-fatt illi l-attriċi ma ġabitx prova illi
qiegħda f’relazzjoni ta’ familja ma’ ħaddieħor ma
jċaħħadhiex minn ħarsien taħt dan l-artikolu.16. Dwar ir-rispett tal-ħajja privata l-konvenuti appellanti
jgħidu illi l-art. 257A tal-Kodiċi ċivili (dwar annotazzjoni flatt
ta’ twelid) huwa maħsub biss sabiex min ikun kiseb issura
ta’ persuna ta’ sess li ma jkunx dak li twieldet bih “ma
tkunx imbarazzata meta tipproduċi dokumenti uffiejali li
juru xort’oħra”.17. Huwa minnu illi dan l-aspett tal-ħajja privata huwa
mħares bid-dispożizzjonijiet tal-artt. 257A et seqq. tal-
Kodiċi ċivili. Huwa minnu wkoll illi l-interpretazzjoni ta’
dawk l-artikoli – jekk l-annotazzjoni hijiex maħsuba biss
għall-ħarsien tal-privatezza tal-persuna jew hijiex
maħsuba għall-għanijiet u l-effetti kollha tal-liġi – aktar
għandha ssir fil-kuntest ta’ proċeduri normali ċivili milli fi
proċeduri straordinarji bħal dawn tallum, u f’dan il-kuntest
il-qorti ma tistax ma tosservax illi kien ikun ċertament utli li
kieku, qabel fetħet din il-kawża tallum, l-attriċi nqdiet birrimedji
kollha li tagħti l-liġi ordinarja billi tappella middeċiżjoni
tal-Prim’Awla tal-Qorti ċivili tal-21 ta’ Mejju 2008,
biex hekk l-interpretazzjoni tal-artt. 257A et seqq. tkun
ingħatat mill-ogħla qorti ta’ kompetenza ċivili.18. Madankollu, din il-qorti ma taqbilx mal-konvenuti
appellanti illi d-dritt ta’ rispett tal-ħajja privata huwa
mħares biżżejjed bl-interpretazzjoni mogħtija fis-sentenza
tal-21 ta’ Mejju 2008 għax l-attriċi “ma tkunx imbarazzata
meta tipproduċi dokumenti uffiejali”. Id-deċiżjoni jekk
wieħed jagħżilx li jiżżewweġ hija intimament marbuta malħajja
privata iżda bid-deċiżjoni tar-Reġistratur u blinterpretazzjoni
tal-liġi mogħtija fis-sentenza msemmija lattriċi
qiegħda tiġi mċaħħda mis-setgħa li tagħmel dik lgħażla.
19. Il-konvenuti appellanti iżda jistrieħu fuq it-tieni
paragrafu tal-art. 8 tal-Konvenzjoni u jgħidu illi dan l-indħil
mill-organi tal-istat fil-ħajja privata tal-attriċi huwa ġustifikat
għax:
«… … … dak li qiegħda ssir referenza għalih bħala
“żwieġ” imur kontra l-prinċipju ta’ ordni pubbliku assodat
fis-sistema legali malti fis-sens illi żwieġ jista’ jsir biss bejn
żewġ persuni ta’ sess oppost. L-esponenti jissottomettu
illi mill-provi jirriżulta illi l-appellata hija biss phenotypiclly
mara, u cioè għandha biss is-sura esterjuri ta’ mara iżda lorgani
bħal prostata li hija waħda mid-differenzi bażiċi
bejn raġel u mara għadha preżenti fl-appellata u għalhekk
taħt il-liġi maltija taż-żwieġ l-appellata qatt ma tista’ tiġi
ikkonsidrata bħala mara li tista’ tikkontratta żwieġ ma’
raġel ieħor.»20. Dan l-argument ma huwiex mingħajr meritu.21. Ma jistax raġonevolment ma jingħadx illi ż-żwieġ li
trid li tidħol fih l-attriċi ma huwiex dak bejn raġel u mara li
jaħseb għalih l-Att dwar iż-Żwieġ. Għar-raġunijiet miġjuba
tajjeb ħafna fis-sentenza tal-21 ta’ Mejju 2008 u li ma
hemmx għalfejn jerġgħu jissemmew hawnhekk, l-attriċi
ma tistax titqies bħala mara għall-għanijiet u effetti kollha
tal-liġi, partikolarment dawk marbutin mal-liġi taż-żwieġ.22. Jekk it-tifsira ta’ dik l-għaqda bejn raġel u mara li
nsejħulha żwieġ titwessa’, jew, aħjar, tinbidel biex għaqda
bejn l-attriċi u raġel ukoll titqies żwieġ, b’hekk tkun
qiegħda tinbidel radikalment ukoll in-natura legali tarrelazzjoni
ta’ dawk li daħlu fi żwieġ kif regolat bl-Att dwar
iż-Żwieġ, dak bejn raġel u mara. Id-drittijiet ta’ dawn ukoll,
iżda, jixraq illi jitħarsu u jixraq li titħares ukoll l-istituzzjoni
taż-żwieġ.23. F’dan il-kuntest, ir-relevanza tal-preċedenti mwaqqfa
bid-deċiżjonijiet tal-Qorti Ewropeja tad-Drittijiet tal-
Bniedem hija biss relativa. Kif osservat dik il-qorti stess
fil-każ ta’ Goodwin2, li effettivament bidlet il-ġurisprudenza
tal-qorti fuq din il-materja, waħda mir-raġunijiet għal dan
kienet illi “There have been major social changes in the
institution of marriage since the adoption of the
2 Christine Goodwin versus ir-Renju Unit, 11 ta’ Lulju 2002 (rikors numru
28957/1995).
Convention”3. Dawn il-bidliet soċjali, iżda, la seħħew blistess
mod fil-pajjiżi kollha u lanqas ma jistgħu jiġu imposti
minn qorti – organu ġudizzjarju, mhux leġislativ –
f’eżerċizzju ta’ social engineċring.24. Madankollu, il-fatt illi d-deċiżjoni tar-Reġistratur li ma
joħroġx it-tnidijiet għaż-żwieġ tal-attriċi kienet tajba u kif
trid il-liġi, ma jfissirx illi l-indħil fil-jedd tal-attriċi għall-ħajja
privata huwa ġustifikat. Fis-sitwazzjoni kif inhi llum, lattriċi
hija mċaħħda mill-possibbilità li tifforma sħubija talħajja
kemm ma’ raġel u kemm ma’ mara. Iżda huwa dan
il-fatt – in-nuqqas tal-liġi li taħseb għal forma ta’ sħubija
tal-ħajja għal min hu fis-sitwazzjoni tal-attriċi – aktar milli rrifjut
tar-Reġistratur li joħroġ it-tnidijiet għaż-żwieġ li
jwassal għall-ksur tal-obbligu pożittiv tal-istat li jara li jkun
hemm rispett xieraq għad-dritt tal-attriċi għall-ħajja privata.25. Din is-sħubija tal-ħajja mhux bilfors trid tkun u, anzi,
min-natura tal-affarijiet ma tistax tkun iż-żwieġ. Iżda l-liġi
tista’ taħseb għal forom oħra ta’ sħubija tal-ħajja. Dan
ikun ukoll rimedju tajjeb u biżżejjed għall-għanijiet tal-
Konvenzjoni għax, kif qalet il-Qorti Ewropeja tad-Drittijiet
tal-Bniedem fil-każ ta’ I versus ir-Renju Unit4, “it is for the
Contracting State to determine inter alia … … … the
formalities applicable to future marriages”. Jekk
imbagħad is-sħubija tissejjaħx żwieġ (marriage) jew
sħubija tal-ħajja (life partnership) ma jnaqqas xejn middrittijiet
ta’ min jagħżel forma jew oħra ta’ sħubija,
sakemm jitħares id-dritt ta’ dawk li daħlu fi żwieġ taħt l-Att
dwar iż-Żwieġ li ma tinbidilx in-natura legali tar-relazzjoni
tagħhom, u jitħares id-dritt ta’ dawk li, bħall-attriċi, iridu
jidħlu f’forma oħra ta’ sħubija tal-ħajja.26. Din il-forma oħra ta’ sħubija tal-ħajja tħares ukoll iljedd
għall-ħarsien tal-ħajja tal-familja billi l-Qorti Ewropeja
tad-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem tagħraf illi ma huwiex meħtieġ iżżwieġ
biex titwaqqaf familja5.27. Din il-qorti għalhekk, għalkemm għal raġunijiet
diversi, taqbel mal-konklużjoni tal-ewwel qorti illi kien
3 Para. 100.
4 11 ta’ Lulju 2002 (rikors numru 25680/1994).
5 Johnston u oħrajn versus l-Irlanda, 18 ta’ Diċembru 1986 (rikors numru
9697/1982).
hemm ksur tal-jedd tal-attriċi għar-rispett tal-ħajja privata
tagħha mħares taħt l-art. 8 tal-Konvenzjoni.
It-tieni Aggravju – l-artikolu 12 tal-Konvenzjoni
Ewropeja28. Fit-tieni aggravju tagħhom il-konvenuti jgħidu illi lewwel
qorti interpretat u applikat ħażin l-art. 12 tal-
Konvenzjoni, li jgħid hekk:
ARTIKOLU 12
L-irġiel u n-nisa ta’ età ta’ żwieġ għandhom id-dritt li
jiżżewġu u li jkollhom familja, skond il-liġijiet nazzjonali li
jirregolaw l-eżerċizzju ta’ dan id-dritt.29. Il-konvenuti jgħidu illi:
«… … … l-Artikolu 12 ma jistax jiġi interpretat illi jagħti
carte blanche sabiex persuna ta’ età taż-żwie tikkuntratta
żwieġ anke jekk dan imur kontra l-ordni pubbliku tal-istat.
… … … Ir-regolament tal-istituzzjoni taż-żwieġ hija wkoll
ħaġa li taqa’ fil-poteri u fid-diskrezzjoni tal-istati firmatarji
tal-Konvenzjoni, u l-Konvenzjoni ċertament li ma tobbliga
lil ebda stat li jirrikonoxxi żwieġ li jmur kontra l-ordni
pubbliku malti. Iż-żwieġ f’Malta huwa kuntratt ta’ natura
sui generis u ta’ ordni pubbliku. Dan il-kuntratt jista’ jiġi
konkluż biss bejn żewġ persuni ta’ sess oppost u dan irid
jirriżulta mill-istruttura kemm esterjuri u kemm anatomika,
gonodali u kromosomika opposta. Kull interpretazzjoni
differenti twassal għal-żwieġ bejn żewġ persuni tal-istess
sess li ċertament hija djametrikament opposta għall-ordni
pubbliku malti.»30. L-attriċi taqbel illi l-istat jista’ jgħaddi “liġijiet
nazzjonali li jirregolaw l-eżerċizzju ta’ dan id-dritt”, iżda
dawn il-liġijiet ma jistgħux ikollhom, bħala effett illi filprattika
jeliminaw dan id-dritt. Hija tistrieħ fuq is-sentenza
fuq imsemmija ta’ Goodwin fejn il-Qorti Ewropeja qalet
hekk:
«The exercise of the right to marry gives rise to social,
personal and legal consequences. It is subject to the
national laws of the Contracting States but the limitations
thereby introduced must not restrict or reduce the right in
such a way or to such an extent that the very essence of
the right is impaired.»6
6 Para. 99.
31. Dan kollu jkompli jiswa jekk flok il-kliem “to marry”
jidħol il-kliem “to enter into a life partnership”, u linterpretazzjoni
x’aktarx wiesgħa tal-art. 12 mogħtija fissentenza
ta’ Goodwin tagħti dan il-jedd ukoll, li minnu lattriċi
ġiet imċaħħda. Il-fatt iżda jibqa’ illi l-ksur tal-art. 12
fil-każ tallum seħħ mhux għax l-attriċi ma tħallietx tidħol fi
żwieġ taħt l-Att dwar iż- Żwieġ iżda għax il-liġi ma taħsibx
għal forom oħra ta’ sħubija tal-ħajja li huma miftuħa għallattriċi.32. Din il-qorti għalhekk, għalkemm għal raġunijiet
diversi, taqbel mal-konklużjoni tal-ewwel qorti illi kien
hemm ksur tal-jedd tal-attriċi mħares taħt l-art. 12 tal-
Konvenzjoni, fis-sens biss iżda illi l-jedd imħares taħt dak
l-artikolu ma huwiex dak regolat fl-Att dwar iż- Żwieġ.33. Dan iwassal għall-konsegwenza illi r-rimedju mitlub
mill-attriċi u mogħti mill-ewwel qorti – biex ir-Reġistratur
joħroġ it-tnidijiet għaż-żwieġ – ma huwiex ir-rimedju xieraq
fie-ċirkostanzi, għax it-tnidijiet li jista’ joħroġ ir-Reġistratur
huma biss dawk taħt l-Att dwar iż-Żwieġ. F’kull każ, ebda
tnidijiet ma jistgħu jinħarġu ladarba, kif ġie verbalizzat fisseduta
tal-14 ta’ Frar 2011, l-attriċi stqarret illi “llum hi
m’hijiex f’relazzjoni ma’ persuna bl-intenzjoni li
tiżżewweġ”.
Konklużjoni34. Għal dawn ir-raġunijiet il-qorti hekk tirriforma ssentenza
appellata:
i. tikkonfermaha fejn ċaħdet it-tieni u r-raba’ talbiet,
ukoll għax ma sar ebda appell inċidentali minn din il-parti
tas-sentenza;
ii. tirriformaha fejn laqgħet l-ewwel talba fis-sens illi
tikkonfermaha fejn qalet illi kien hemm ksur tal-artt. 8 u 12
tal-Konvenzjoni iżda tħassarha fejn qalet illi dan il-ksur
seħħ għax il-liġi ta’ Malta, kif interpretata u applikata mir-
Reġistratur, ma tagħrafx lill-attriċi bħala mara għallgħanijiet
u effetti kollha tal-liġi, fosthom dawk ta’ żwieġ, u
minflok tgħid illi l-ksur seħħ minħabba fin-nuqqas tal-liġi li
taħseb għal forma ta’ sħubija tal-ħajja għal min hu fissitwazzjoni
tal-attriċi; u
iii. tħassarha fejn qalet illi r-Reġistratur ma jistax
jirrifjuta li joħroġ it-tnidijiet għaż-żwieġ tal-attriċi.35. Fie-ċirkostanzi, l-ispejjeż għandhom jinqasmu bin-nofs
bejn il-partijiet.
36. Tordna illi kopja ta’ din is-sentenza tintbagħat
minnufih lill-iSpeaker tal-Kamra tad-Deputati.
- Sentenza Finali -
---------------------------------TMIEM--------------------------------
Times: MGRM disappointed by Joanne Cassar court decision
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110523/local/mgrm.366855
Monday, May 23, 2011, 12:58
The Malta Gay Rights Movement this afternoon expressed its disappointment after the Constitutional Court upheld an appeal by the Attorney General in the Joanne Cassat transgender case.
The MGRM argued that the failure of the Maltese Constitutional Court to recognise Joanne Cassar as a woman who could marry a man went against the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights as expressed in Goodwin vs UK and other recent judgements and jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice.
The sentence delivered by the Constitutional Court presided by Judges Geoffrey Valenzia, Giannino Caruana Demajo and Tonio Mallia affirmed that a breach of articles 8 & 12 of the Convention on Human Rights had taken place in respect of Joanne Cassar. However the Court stated that this breach occurred due to a lacuna in Maltese legislation that did not allow for transgender persons to enter into what it termed 'a life partnership'.
"The Court did not recognise the right of the post-operative transgender woman to have her affirmed gender identity recognised by law, adopting the narrowest possible interpretation of gender based solely on biological criteria," the MGRM said.
It said that gender identity was a matter for the individual to decide and the State was duty bound to respect this identity by granting full and effective legal recognition. Anything less than this violated the right of the individual to self-determination and often led to a violation of the transgender person's rights to private and family life.
"This implies the right of women like Joanne Cassar who have satisfied all the legal requirements to change their gender to then marry a person of the opposite sex, in this case a man."
See also
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110523/local/joanne-cassar-loses.366791
[Click on the hyperlink at the top to view the comments on the Times' website.]
Monday, May 23, 2011, 12:58
The Malta Gay Rights Movement this afternoon expressed its disappointment after the Constitutional Court upheld an appeal by the Attorney General in the Joanne Cassat transgender case.
The MGRM argued that the failure of the Maltese Constitutional Court to recognise Joanne Cassar as a woman who could marry a man went against the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights as expressed in Goodwin vs UK and other recent judgements and jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice.
The sentence delivered by the Constitutional Court presided by Judges Geoffrey Valenzia, Giannino Caruana Demajo and Tonio Mallia affirmed that a breach of articles 8 & 12 of the Convention on Human Rights had taken place in respect of Joanne Cassar. However the Court stated that this breach occurred due to a lacuna in Maltese legislation that did not allow for transgender persons to enter into what it termed 'a life partnership'.
"The Court did not recognise the right of the post-operative transgender woman to have her affirmed gender identity recognised by law, adopting the narrowest possible interpretation of gender based solely on biological criteria," the MGRM said.
It said that gender identity was a matter for the individual to decide and the State was duty bound to respect this identity by granting full and effective legal recognition. Anything less than this violated the right of the individual to self-determination and often led to a violation of the transgender person's rights to private and family life.
"This implies the right of women like Joanne Cassar who have satisfied all the legal requirements to change their gender to then marry a person of the opposite sex, in this case a man."
See also
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110523/local/joanne-cassar-loses.366791
[Click on the hyperlink at the top to view the comments on the Times' website.]
MaltaToday: Transgender case 'going straight to European Court of Human Rights' - lawyer
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/transgender-case-going-straight-to-european-court-of-human-rights-lawyer
MONDAY, MAY 23, 2011 By RAPHAEL VASSALLO
MONDAY, MAY 23, 2011 By RAPHAEL VASSALLO
The case for Joanne Cassar's right to marry will go to the European Court of Human Rights, her lawyer José Herrera said. (Photo: Ray Attard/Mediatoday)
Joanne Cassar, a post-op transgender woman who has been fighting for the right to marry her partner since 2006, this morning technically lost an appeal filed by the Attorney General Peter Grech.
Updated at 12:59pm, with MGRM reaction.
In an unusual ruling that her lawyers plan to contest in Europe, the Court of Appeal acknowledged that the fundamental rights accorded to Ms Cassar by articles 8 and 12 of the convention had been breached.
But the Court also observed that other remedies were available outside of marriage, and that the State should pass legislation to formally recognize such unions while stopping short of granting full marriage rights.
The court also upheld the AG’s argument that the surgery undergone by Ms Cassar was not enough for the State to recognize her gender as female, despite having amended her birth certificate from male to female. This, the Court noted, had been done in order to respect her privacy and spare her any embarrassment.
Cassar’s lawyers told MaltaToday that the case was now heading “straight for Strasbourg.”
“They have put Joanne Cassar through hell, we will be demanding higher compensation,” Dr Jose Herrera, who assisted Ms Cassar together with Dr David Camilleri, said.
Cassar’s battle began in May 2006, when the Registrar of Marriages refused to issue marriage banns for Cassar and her fiance on the grounds that the Marriage Act prohibited unions between persons of the same gender – and despite the fact that Cassar’s birth certificate had been amended post-surgery to reflect her gender change.
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 necessary marriage banns.
But the registrar appealed, and in his decision to overturn the ruling in May 2008, 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 Asciak, who wrote: “after gender reassignment therapy, a person will have remained of the same sex as before the operation.”
Cassar challenged this ruling in the Constitutional Court. Last November Mr Justice Raymond C. Pace cited a previous European Court of Human Rights ruling (Christine Goodwin vs. UK) which established that a ban on transgender marriage, of the kind imposed by the lower courts in previous rulings, violated Article 12 of the European Convention on Human Rights on the right to marry, to which Malta is signatory.
In their reaction, the Malta Gay Rights Movement said that the Court did not recognise the right of the post-operative transgender woman to have her affirmed gender identity recognised by law, adopting the narrowest possible interpretation of gender based solely on biological criteria.
"The MGRM holds that the failure of the Maltese Constitutional Court to recognise Joanne Cassar as a woman goes against the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights as expressed in Goodwin vs UK and other recent judgements and also jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice," coordinator Gabi Calleja said.
"As reiterated in the Proposed Gender Identity Act for Malta MGRM holds that gender identity is a matter for the individual to decide and that the State is duty bound to respect this identity by granting full and effective legal recognition. Anything less than this violates the right of the individual to self-determination and often leads to a violation of the transgender person’s rights to private and family life.
"This implies the right of women like Joanne Cassar who have satisfied all the legal requirements to change their gender to then marry a person of the opposite sex, in this case a man," Calleja said.
[Click on the hyperlink above to view the comments on MaltaToday's website.]
Times: Joanne Cassar loses transsexual marriage case
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110523/local/joanne-cassar-loses.366791
Monday, May 23, 2011, 10:06
Joanne Cassar this morning lost the appeal filed by the Attorney General from a court sentence which had granted her the right to marry a man after her gender reassignment surgery.
The case goes back to September 2006 when Ms Cassar and her then partner applied for marriage banns. The Marriage Registrar refused to issue the banns even though Ms Cassar had legally changed her gender to female on her birth certificate after the surgery.
In February 2007, Ms Cassar won a civil case in which the court ordered the Marriage Registrar to issue the wedding banns he had previously refused to issue. However, in May 2008, the decision was revoked on appeal.
The court ruled Ms Cassar would never be considered to be a "woman" according to the Marriage Act and declared the change in her birth certificate, allowing a change of name and gender, was only intended to protect the right to privacy and to avoid embarrassment.
Determined to fight for her right to marry, she opened a case in the First Hall of the Civil Court in its constitutional jurisdiction, claiming a breach of human rights. She won the case last month.
However the decision was again overturned on appeal this morning. The Court argued that the Marriage Registrar was correct in the interpretation of the law and the law did not not provide for circumstances such as those of Ms Cassar's.
[Click on the hyperlink above to view the comments on the Times' website.]
Monday, May 23, 2011, 10:06
Joanne Cassar this morning lost the appeal filed by the Attorney General from a court sentence which had granted her the right to marry a man after her gender reassignment surgery.
The case goes back to September 2006 when Ms Cassar and her then partner applied for marriage banns. The Marriage Registrar refused to issue the banns even though Ms Cassar had legally changed her gender to female on her birth certificate after the surgery.
In February 2007, Ms Cassar won a civil case in which the court ordered the Marriage Registrar to issue the wedding banns he had previously refused to issue. However, in May 2008, the decision was revoked on appeal.
The court ruled Ms Cassar would never be considered to be a "woman" according to the Marriage Act and declared the change in her birth certificate, allowing a change of name and gender, was only intended to protect the right to privacy and to avoid embarrassment.
Determined to fight for her right to marry, she opened a case in the First Hall of the Civil Court in its constitutional jurisdiction, claiming a breach of human rights. She won the case last month.
However the decision was again overturned on appeal this morning. The Court argued that the Marriage Registrar was correct in the interpretation of the law and the law did not not provide for circumstances such as those of Ms Cassar's.
[Click on the hyperlink above to view the comments on the Times' website.]
L-Orizzont: Transesswali tkun taf illum tistax tiżżewweġ jew le
http://www.l-orizzont.com/news.asp?newsitemid=72912
23.5.11
Il-Qorti Kostituzzjonali, preseduta minn tliet imħallfin, illum se tagħti s-sentenza tagħha dwar l-appell li l-Avukat Ġenerali għamel fuq Joanne Cassar (ritratt), il-persuna transesswali ta' 29 sena li ngħatat id-dritt li tiżżewweġ.
Cassar telgħet ir-Renju Unit fejn għamlet l-operazzjoni li permezz tagħha bidlet is-sess tagħha minn raġel għal mara u wara talbet lill-Prim'Awla tal-Qorti Ċivili biex fiċ-ċertifikat tat-twelid is-sess tagħha jitniżżel bħala femminili.
Fit-28 ta' Ġunju, 2006, il-Prim'Awla tal-Qorti Ċivili ordnat lid-Direttur tar-Reġistru jibdel l-isem "Joseph" għal "Joanne" u ċ-ċertifikat tat-twelid kien mibdul.
23.5.11
Il-Qorti Kostituzzjonali, preseduta minn tliet imħallfin, illum se tagħti s-sentenza tagħha dwar l-appell li l-Avukat Ġenerali għamel fuq Joanne Cassar (ritratt), il-persuna transesswali ta' 29 sena li ngħatat id-dritt li tiżżewweġ.
Cassar telgħet ir-Renju Unit fejn għamlet l-operazzjoni li permezz tagħha bidlet is-sess tagħha minn raġel għal mara u wara talbet lill-Prim'Awla tal-Qorti Ċivili biex fiċ-ċertifikat tat-twelid is-sess tagħha jitniżżel bħala femminili.
Fit-28 ta' Ġunju, 2006, il-Prim'Awla tal-Qorti Ċivili ordnat lid-Direttur tar-Reġistru jibdel l-isem "Joseph" għal "Joanne" u ċ-ċertifikat tat-twelid kien mibdul.
Cassar applikat ukoll biex tiżżewweġ lill-maħbub tagħha madankollu d-Direttur tar-Reġistru Pubbliku rrifjuta li joħroġ it-tnidijiet taż-żwieġ u kien għalhekk li talbet lill-Qorti Ċivili biex jordnalu joħroġ it-tnidijiet għaż-żwieġ.
Fit-12 ta' Frar, 2007, il-Qorti Ċivili laqgħetilha t-talba madankollu d-Direttur tar-Reġistru Pubbliku fetaħ kawża fejn talab li d-digriet jiġi revokat. Fil-21 ta' Mejju, 2008, it-talba tad-Direttur tar-Reġistru Pubbliku kienet milqugħa u l-Qorti Ċivili sostniet li t-talba ta' Cassar biex tiżżewweġ persuna tas-sess maskil tmur kontra l-Att tal-1975 dwar iż-Żwieġ.
Cassar ħadet il-każ quddiem il-Prim'Awla tal-Qorti Ċivili (Sede Kostituzzjonali) u fit-30 ta' Novembru, 2010 u l-Imħallef Raymond Pace ddeċieda li meta d-Direttur tar-Reġistru Pubbliku rrifjuta li jippermetti transesswali tiżżewweġ lill-maħbub tagħha kien qed jikser l-Konvenzjoni Ewropea għad-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem.
Waqt li qal li minn dakinhar li ċertifikat tat-twelid jinbidel allura l-persuna għandha tiġi kkonsidrata bħala tas-sess indikat fl-istess att ta' twelid, l-Imħallef Pace rrefera għall-pożizzjoni li ħadet il-Qorti Ewropea li persuna li bidlet is-sess tagħha b'mod irriversibbli ma tistax titwaqqaf mill-Istat li tiżżewweġ persuna tas-sess oppost minn dak rikonoxxut mil-liġi.
Kien għalhekk li hu laqa' t-talba ta' Cassar u ddikjara li d-Direttur tar-Reġistru Pubbliku ma jistax jirrifjuta li joħroġ it-tnidijiet taż-żwieġ tagħha ma' tas-sess maskili. Madankollu dan tal-aħħar appella u l-każ se jiġi deċiż illum.
Il-Moviment tal-Gays u l-Li]bjani qed jittama li l-Qorti Kostituzzjonali żżomm mad-deċiżjoni mogħtija mill-Prim'Awla tal-Qorti Ċivili u sostniet li jekk le Cassar xorta tista' terġa' tbiddel id-deċiżjoni fil-Qorti Ewropea.
Independent: J'accuse: Thoroughly modern Malta
http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=125797
22.5.11 by Jacques René Zammit
It's official. It's no longer about divorce. Saturday's referendum is about rubber-stamping Malta's new Identity Card. Think of it as a visit to the ID Office the next time the authorities decide to renew most expired cards. Think of Lady Malta in the queue waiting to get her photo taken and digitally added to the spanking new card. She's moved on since the last photo and is eager to look her best when the guy behind the camera tells her to say "cheese" − and we get to decide what she'll be wearing for the next few years: will it be Lady Malta in an ghonnella or will we have a Thoroughly Modern Malta?
"Yes, because if marriage is what I have in mind, love has everything to do with it." Those were the words of Millie in the movie Thoroughly Modern Millie back in 1967 when marriage and values were quite the talk at the dawn of the modern era of the western world. Hollywood could still carry the responsibility of present day pageant with a vocation to educate, and 10 years had passed since Cecil B. De Mille's monumental The Ten Commandments. Since 1967, most countries have come to terms with the idea that divorce legislation is "normal" − almost a fundamental right. At least the right to divorce is recognised by almost all states on the face of the earth bar the Philippines and Vatican City. Yep, you read that right. Malta is not included in the list because foreign divorces are recognised in Malta, as you probably already know.
Say cheese
But if it's not about divorce then what? The drumming up of support by the IVA movement is more than a passing clue. The emphasis is not on the divorce question itself (which is important) but on the emancipation of our society. It is about the recognition of the role of free will in our society. As I wrote (and as Bertu pictured the idea perfectly) last week, we are coming to terms with an important decision that is more about ourselves than about others but that at the very same time will have an impact on every other person.
Lady Malta in an ghonnella represents Malta in the nanny state. She is the Malta of "because they told us so". She implies an option where our life decisions are not based on our free will but on the diktat of "those who know better for us". She is the Garden of Eden with the fenced off apple tree. For people like me it implies a moral failure of an abysmal kind. Every person voting for NO and the lady in an ghonnella is admitting that he or she is incapable of making a mature informed choice when faced with a dilemma − whatever code of values they subscribe to. I don't mean to imply that his choice for NO is immature. I mean that his NO translates into a decision to renounce his free will and hand over his right to self-determination to others: the Church, the conservatives, the busybodies − whatever.
Thoroughly Modern Malta scares many people. They have called it a leap in the dark. It is not a matter of courage or machoism. It is a lifestyle choice. The leap in the dark for them means that they are worried that there is a Playboy magazine on the shelves because they cannot resist taking a peek. They are worried that if divorce is available they will succumb to some irresistible urge to destroy their marriage. They are the people who will not allow a play to be performed because they do not like the content (even if they would not watch it themselves). The fear of the leap in the dark is actually the fear of letting go of mummy's hand and venturing out into the adult world. Thoroughly Modern Malta is about emancipation.
Evil v good
I've decided to vote because I cannot let this opportunity go by. This referendum has transcended our obsolete political party system insofar as content goes. It is a choice for the future of our country. Let's deal with the parties after we've dealt with the referendum. Whichever way it goes will be a clear message to both parties − we'll watch them handle the hot potato afterwards. What worries me is that the new trenches that have been formed (see post "After the Dust Settles (I)" on www.akkuza.com) will lose their momentum once the decision is announced. I am worried that a major cause that is crying out for representation and leadership − the cause for change − will allow the PLPN thread to reabsorb them and mollify their needs.
There is much that needs fixing in our society. News from the courts this week stood out with items about abuse, rape and violence within the Maltese family − absence of divorce notwithstanding. From the animal world we saw the massacre of storks and a dog being buried alive after being shot in the head. The incident between Pastor Manché and the LBGT community highlighted issues of tolerance that we tend to ignore in this day and age. Pardon my sixties corniness but I have to ask: Where is the love?
The Others
Next week's vote is crucial. A column is way too short to enter the fray of the pros and cons of the arguments − there's the blog for that. We can comment on the style of the debate and its outcomes. There is no doubt that the forthcoming vote is about much more than divorce legislation. It is a moment of truth for the country.
It is a decision that goes beyond even the secular v religion. Basically, we are choosing between emancipation and submission. The YES vote means we want emancipation as freethinking individuals who are ready to take responsibility for their future choices. The NO vote means we accept that there are others who know better than us and, more importantly (and in my opinion more damaging), that we know better for others too.
If the NO vote wins the referendum next Saturday will the last person to leave the country please turn off the light.
I don't subscribe to this point of view
It would be such an ignorant thing to do
If the Others love their children too... (Sting. The Russians)
www.akkuza.com will be travelling on the "cheap flights" sponsored by taxpayers (with special thanks to The Sunday Times of Malta editor) and will be voting YES on Saturday... because I love my neighbour as myself.
It's official. It's no longer about divorce. Saturday's referendum is about rubber-stamping Malta's new Identity Card. Think of it as a visit to the ID Office the next time the authorities decide to renew most expired cards. Think of Lady Malta in the queue waiting to get her photo taken and digitally added to the spanking new card. She's moved on since the last photo and is eager to look her best when the guy behind the camera tells her to say "cheese" − and we get to decide what she'll be wearing for the next few years: will it be Lady Malta in an ghonnella or will we have a Thoroughly Modern Malta?
"Yes, because if marriage is what I have in mind, love has everything to do with it." Those were the words of Millie in the movie Thoroughly Modern Millie back in 1967 when marriage and values were quite the talk at the dawn of the modern era of the western world. Hollywood could still carry the responsibility of present day pageant with a vocation to educate, and 10 years had passed since Cecil B. De Mille's monumental The Ten Commandments. Since 1967, most countries have come to terms with the idea that divorce legislation is "normal" − almost a fundamental right. At least the right to divorce is recognised by almost all states on the face of the earth bar the Philippines and Vatican City. Yep, you read that right. Malta is not included in the list because foreign divorces are recognised in Malta, as you probably already know.
Say cheese
But if it's not about divorce then what? The drumming up of support by the IVA movement is more than a passing clue. The emphasis is not on the divorce question itself (which is important) but on the emancipation of our society. It is about the recognition of the role of free will in our society. As I wrote (and as Bertu pictured the idea perfectly) last week, we are coming to terms with an important decision that is more about ourselves than about others but that at the very same time will have an impact on every other person.
Lady Malta in an ghonnella represents Malta in the nanny state. She is the Malta of "because they told us so". She implies an option where our life decisions are not based on our free will but on the diktat of "those who know better for us". She is the Garden of Eden with the fenced off apple tree. For people like me it implies a moral failure of an abysmal kind. Every person voting for NO and the lady in an ghonnella is admitting that he or she is incapable of making a mature informed choice when faced with a dilemma − whatever code of values they subscribe to. I don't mean to imply that his choice for NO is immature. I mean that his NO translates into a decision to renounce his free will and hand over his right to self-determination to others: the Church, the conservatives, the busybodies − whatever.
Thoroughly Modern Malta scares many people. They have called it a leap in the dark. It is not a matter of courage or machoism. It is a lifestyle choice. The leap in the dark for them means that they are worried that there is a Playboy magazine on the shelves because they cannot resist taking a peek. They are worried that if divorce is available they will succumb to some irresistible urge to destroy their marriage. They are the people who will not allow a play to be performed because they do not like the content (even if they would not watch it themselves). The fear of the leap in the dark is actually the fear of letting go of mummy's hand and venturing out into the adult world. Thoroughly Modern Malta is about emancipation.
Evil v good
I've decided to vote because I cannot let this opportunity go by. This referendum has transcended our obsolete political party system insofar as content goes. It is a choice for the future of our country. Let's deal with the parties after we've dealt with the referendum. Whichever way it goes will be a clear message to both parties − we'll watch them handle the hot potato afterwards. What worries me is that the new trenches that have been formed (see post "After the Dust Settles (I)" on www.akkuza.com) will lose their momentum once the decision is announced. I am worried that a major cause that is crying out for representation and leadership − the cause for change − will allow the PLPN thread to reabsorb them and mollify their needs.
There is much that needs fixing in our society. News from the courts this week stood out with items about abuse, rape and violence within the Maltese family − absence of divorce notwithstanding. From the animal world we saw the massacre of storks and a dog being buried alive after being shot in the head. The incident between Pastor Manché and the LBGT community highlighted issues of tolerance that we tend to ignore in this day and age. Pardon my sixties corniness but I have to ask: Where is the love?
The Others
Next week's vote is crucial. A column is way too short to enter the fray of the pros and cons of the arguments − there's the blog for that. We can comment on the style of the debate and its outcomes. There is no doubt that the forthcoming vote is about much more than divorce legislation. It is a moment of truth for the country.
It is a decision that goes beyond even the secular v religion. Basically, we are choosing between emancipation and submission. The YES vote means we want emancipation as freethinking individuals who are ready to take responsibility for their future choices. The NO vote means we accept that there are others who know better than us and, more importantly (and in my opinion more damaging), that we know better for others too.
If the NO vote wins the referendum next Saturday will the last person to leave the country please turn off the light.
I don't subscribe to this point of view
It would be such an ignorant thing to do
If the Others love their children too... (Sting. The Russians)
www.akkuza.com will be travelling on the "cheap flights" sponsored by taxpayers (with special thanks to The Sunday Times of Malta editor) and will be voting YES on Saturday... because I love my neighbour as myself.
Friday, 27 May 2011
Times: God loves LGBT people the way they are
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110522/letters/God-loves-LGBT-people-the-way-they-are.366526
Sunday, May 22, 2011 , by Diane Xuereb, Zwolle, The Netherlands
I have just come back from a wonderful weekend in Berlin, spent with LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual) Christians from all over Europe, feeling renewed and full of God's love.
It was a weekend conference held every year around Ascension tide in a different country and organised by the European Forum for LGBT Christian Groups. I am one of the forum's co-presidents.
The European Forum has over 40 member groups, including Drachma, Malta.
Unfortunately, when I return ed home, the first thing I saw was your report of May 8 entitled 'Pastor has no regrets over gay 'conversions'.'
I reacted with disappointment, anger, disbelief and sadness. I had just experienced so much peace and love with my friends and I was very far away from this train of thought.
I can understand that people have their own beliefs. However, when the Bible is used to support one's convictions (in this case against us), it is being used as a weapon.
I can also use and quote the Bible to substantiate my beliefs; however, I would not like to get into that kind of theological argument because, in doing so, I too would be using the Bible incorrectly. I believe in another kind of reading of Scriptures, a theology that liberates the human person and does not oppress her/him, a theology that is life-giving.
I believe and understand that there may be some LGBT people who might be questioning their sexuality in relation to their faith and may have even left the Church and God because of all the questions and uncertainties. Some may be struggling and are afraid to show themselves for fear of being rejected.
I too had several questions, I too was lonely, for many years I struggled with my sexuality. I tried to change, I tried to change myself into a person that I am not and that I clearly cannot and never will be. Why? I wanted to be loved by God.
After many therapy sessions (to try and change myself) and after many years of struggling, I now find myself in a wonderful place of certainty. I know I am not alone, God is with me, and moreover God loves me. I do not feel like a liar and I certainly do not feel like a sinner.
I feel I can be myself knowing that God loves me not in spite of my sexual orientation but also through it. I sincerely believe my sexual orientation is a gift of God, an aspect of my creation that is normal and good.
One of the last songs that we sang during the conference was We are not alone. The lyrics were very simple but very powerful, giving us a wonderful feeling of God's presence among us and a belief that I cannot possibly describe with words.
[Click on the hyperlink above to view the comments on the Times' website.]
Sunday, May 22, 2011 , by Diane Xuereb, Zwolle, The Netherlands
I have just come back from a wonderful weekend in Berlin, spent with LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual) Christians from all over Europe, feeling renewed and full of God's love.
It was a weekend conference held every year around Ascension tide in a different country and organised by the European Forum for LGBT Christian Groups. I am one of the forum's co-presidents.
The European Forum has over 40 member groups, including Drachma, Malta.
Unfortunately, when I return ed home, the first thing I saw was your report of May 8 entitled 'Pastor has no regrets over gay 'conversions'.'
I reacted with disappointment, anger, disbelief and sadness. I had just experienced so much peace and love with my friends and I was very far away from this train of thought.
I can understand that people have their own beliefs. However, when the Bible is used to support one's convictions (in this case against us), it is being used as a weapon.
I can also use and quote the Bible to substantiate my beliefs; however, I would not like to get into that kind of theological argument because, in doing so, I too would be using the Bible incorrectly. I believe in another kind of reading of Scriptures, a theology that liberates the human person and does not oppress her/him, a theology that is life-giving.
I believe and understand that there may be some LGBT people who might be questioning their sexuality in relation to their faith and may have even left the Church and God because of all the questions and uncertainties. Some may be struggling and are afraid to show themselves for fear of being rejected.
I too had several questions, I too was lonely, for many years I struggled with my sexuality. I tried to change, I tried to change myself into a person that I am not and that I clearly cannot and never will be. Why? I wanted to be loved by God.
After many therapy sessions (to try and change myself) and after many years of struggling, I now find myself in a wonderful place of certainty. I know I am not alone, God is with me, and moreover God loves me. I do not feel like a liar and I certainly do not feel like a sinner.
I feel I can be myself knowing that God loves me not in spite of my sexual orientation but also through it. I sincerely believe my sexual orientation is a gift of God, an aspect of my creation that is normal and good.
One of the last songs that we sang during the conference was We are not alone. The lyrics were very simple but very powerful, giving us a wonderful feeling of God's presence among us and a belief that I cannot possibly describe with words.
[Click on the hyperlink above to view the comments on the Times' website.]
KullĦadd: Poplu (in)tolleranti
http://www.kullhadd.com/201105212913/Opinjoni/poplu-intolleranti.html
SATURDAY, 21 MAY 2011 21:06 minn VERONICA BARBARA
Malta u Ghawdex huma zewg gzejjer meraviljuzi li jirrakkontaw storja u zvilupp artistiku u letterarju interessanti immens, rizultat tal-influwenzi barranin kif ukoll ta' reazzjoni interna minn poplu li ghadda minn hafna grajjiet.
B'xorti hazina, din l-istorja mibnija fuq id-diversità qisha m'ghallmitna xejn dwar id-diversità!
In-nuqqas ta' tolleranza li jezisti hu wiehed kbir. Ghad hawn bosta li ma jistghux jaccettaw il-fatt li hemm nies differenti minnhom, li jiddeciedu li jghixu hajjithom b'mod divers jew li qabdu direzzjoni li ma taqbilx mal-morali taghhom.
Ghal xi raguni stramba dawn in-nies intolleranti jhossu li ghandhom xi jedd suprem li jiddettaw il-hajja ta' kulhadd u li jaghzlu huma ghal haddiehor.
Naraw dan in-nuqqas ta' tollerenza tispikka fil-mod kif xi whud jiddiskutu l-omosesswalità.
Forsi dawn in-nies ma jafux kemm iwegga' kliemhom u kemm jistghu jkissru persuna bi kliem bla rispett. Qisu mhuwiex bizzejjed li persuni omosesswali jridu jaghmlu battalja interna biex jaccettaw u jitghallmu jhobbu lilhom infushom kif inhuma. Is-socjetà taghna trid tkompli zzid il-pressjoni u taghmilha izjed difficli biex isibu posthom fis-socjetà.
Forsi mhux kulhadd jaf li sas-snin sebghin l-omosesswalità kienet iggor maghha persekuzzjoni kriminali. Kien biss wara li l-Partit Laburista nhatar fil-Gvern fl-1971 li biddel dan kollu u ma baqghetx offiza kriminali.
Meta thabbar l-abbozz ta' din il-ligi gdida, il-Kurja harget Pastorali fejn stqarret li minkejja li l-omosesswalità titnehha mill-Kodici Kriminali, xorta wahda tibqa' "ksur gravi tal-ordni morali mwaqqaf minn Alla biex jirregola l-imgieba sesswali fil-bniedem." (Lehen is-Sewwa, 6 ta' Jannar, 1973)
B'xorti tajba din l-attitudini bdiet tinbidel ghalkemm xorta wahda ssib min jipprietka bis-sahha kontra min hu omosesswali u ssib ukoll min, anke zghazagh, li jkunu pronti jghaddu kummenti li jweggghu u jitkellmu dwar persuni omosesswali qishom huma xi nies imgarrba b'marda li trid titfejjaq. Marida hija s-socjetà medjevali li qed nghixu fiha – dik hemm bzonn li titfejjaq.
Il-gimgha li ghaddiet inkixef kaz tal-misthija fejn pastor tal-Evangelical Church f'Malta allega li "bir-rieda t'Alla" kien irnexxielu "jikkonverti" tliet zghazagh mill-omosesswalità taghhom u qed jorganizza sessjonijiet ghal dawk li jixtiequ huma wkoll "jikkonvertu".
Meta dan kollu hareg fil-berah mal-ewwel bdiet tithejja mixja ta' protesta kontra l-kliem dizpreggattiv u l-attitudni intolleranti ta' din il-persuna.
Sfortunatament din il-protesta ma setghetx tinzamm minhabba kwistjoni ta' permessi mill-Pulizija, kif intqal mil-organizzaturi tal-protesta stess.
Nittamaw li l-istorja ma tiqafx hawnhekk u jittiehdu l-passi kollha mehtiega biex certi messaggi u laqghat li jqanqlu l-mibeghda jitwaqqfu.
Finalment nixtieq nesprimi d-dizappunt tieghi ghall-fatt li f'dan il-pajjiz mhux semplicement ma ssirx distinzjoni bejn Knisja u Stat, izda lanqas biss qed nifhmu d-differenza bejn privat u pubbliku.
Dak li wiehed jaghzel ghall-hajja privata tieghu m'ghandux jigi ddettat minn haddiehor.
Socjetà li tassew trid li l-membri kollha taghha jkunu kuntenti u jghixu f'armonija flimkien hija socjetà li taccetta d-differenzi, tahdem favur id-diversità u tirrispetta l-kapacitajiet ta' kull individwu, minghajr ma taghmel distinzjoni fir-rigward tal-orjentazzjoni sesswali.
Ma ninsewx li nhar it-Tlieta 17 ta' Mejju hija l-gurnata internazzjonali kontra l-Omofobija – biex ikun possibbli li tigi diskussa din it-tema, l-LGBT Labour qed jorganizza seminar dakinhar, jigifieri nhar is-17 ta' Mejju, mis-6 sad-9pm, f'Dar l-Ewropa (Valletta).
Il-kelliema huma varji u gejjin minn sferi differenti tas-socjetà.
Huwa tajjeb li nifhmu li m'hemmx ghalfejn tkun omosesswali biex iddejqek attittudni ta' intolleranza u biex tahdem kontra l-omofobija.
L-omofobija hija attitudni insensittiva u tal-misthija – bl-ghajnuna tieghek, kemm jekk inti omosesswali u kemm jekk m'intiex, tistà tingheleb.
SATURDAY, 21 MAY 2011 21:06 minn VERONICA BARBARA
Malta u Ghawdex huma zewg gzejjer meraviljuzi li jirrakkontaw storja u zvilupp artistiku u letterarju interessanti immens, rizultat tal-influwenzi barranin kif ukoll ta' reazzjoni interna minn poplu li ghadda minn hafna grajjiet.
B'xorti hazina, din l-istorja mibnija fuq id-diversità qisha m'ghallmitna xejn dwar id-diversità!
In-nuqqas ta' tolleranza li jezisti hu wiehed kbir. Ghad hawn bosta li ma jistghux jaccettaw il-fatt li hemm nies differenti minnhom, li jiddeciedu li jghixu hajjithom b'mod divers jew li qabdu direzzjoni li ma taqbilx mal-morali taghhom.
Ghal xi raguni stramba dawn in-nies intolleranti jhossu li ghandhom xi jedd suprem li jiddettaw il-hajja ta' kulhadd u li jaghzlu huma ghal haddiehor.
Naraw dan in-nuqqas ta' tollerenza tispikka fil-mod kif xi whud jiddiskutu l-omosesswalità.
Forsi dawn in-nies ma jafux kemm iwegga' kliemhom u kemm jistghu jkissru persuna bi kliem bla rispett. Qisu mhuwiex bizzejjed li persuni omosesswali jridu jaghmlu battalja interna biex jaccettaw u jitghallmu jhobbu lilhom infushom kif inhuma. Is-socjetà taghna trid tkompli zzid il-pressjoni u taghmilha izjed difficli biex isibu posthom fis-socjetà.
Forsi mhux kulhadd jaf li sas-snin sebghin l-omosesswalità kienet iggor maghha persekuzzjoni kriminali. Kien biss wara li l-Partit Laburista nhatar fil-Gvern fl-1971 li biddel dan kollu u ma baqghetx offiza kriminali.
Meta thabbar l-abbozz ta' din il-ligi gdida, il-Kurja harget Pastorali fejn stqarret li minkejja li l-omosesswalità titnehha mill-Kodici Kriminali, xorta wahda tibqa' "ksur gravi tal-ordni morali mwaqqaf minn Alla biex jirregola l-imgieba sesswali fil-bniedem." (Lehen is-Sewwa, 6 ta' Jannar, 1973)
B'xorti tajba din l-attitudini bdiet tinbidel ghalkemm xorta wahda ssib min jipprietka bis-sahha kontra min hu omosesswali u ssib ukoll min, anke zghazagh, li jkunu pronti jghaddu kummenti li jweggghu u jitkellmu dwar persuni omosesswali qishom huma xi nies imgarrba b'marda li trid titfejjaq. Marida hija s-socjetà medjevali li qed nghixu fiha – dik hemm bzonn li titfejjaq.
Il-gimgha li ghaddiet inkixef kaz tal-misthija fejn pastor tal-Evangelical Church f'Malta allega li "bir-rieda t'Alla" kien irnexxielu "jikkonverti" tliet zghazagh mill-omosesswalità taghhom u qed jorganizza sessjonijiet ghal dawk li jixtiequ huma wkoll "jikkonvertu".
Meta dan kollu hareg fil-berah mal-ewwel bdiet tithejja mixja ta' protesta kontra l-kliem dizpreggattiv u l-attitudni intolleranti ta' din il-persuna.
Sfortunatament din il-protesta ma setghetx tinzamm minhabba kwistjoni ta' permessi mill-Pulizija, kif intqal mil-organizzaturi tal-protesta stess.
Nittamaw li l-istorja ma tiqafx hawnhekk u jittiehdu l-passi kollha mehtiega biex certi messaggi u laqghat li jqanqlu l-mibeghda jitwaqqfu.
Finalment nixtieq nesprimi d-dizappunt tieghi ghall-fatt li f'dan il-pajjiz mhux semplicement ma ssirx distinzjoni bejn Knisja u Stat, izda lanqas biss qed nifhmu d-differenza bejn privat u pubbliku.
Dak li wiehed jaghzel ghall-hajja privata tieghu m'ghandux jigi ddettat minn haddiehor.
Socjetà li tassew trid li l-membri kollha taghha jkunu kuntenti u jghixu f'armonija flimkien hija socjetà li taccetta d-differenzi, tahdem favur id-diversità u tirrispetta l-kapacitajiet ta' kull individwu, minghajr ma taghmel distinzjoni fir-rigward tal-orjentazzjoni sesswali.
Ma ninsewx li nhar it-Tlieta 17 ta' Mejju hija l-gurnata internazzjonali kontra l-Omofobija – biex ikun possibbli li tigi diskussa din it-tema, l-LGBT Labour qed jorganizza seminar dakinhar, jigifieri nhar is-17 ta' Mejju, mis-6 sad-9pm, f'Dar l-Ewropa (Valletta).
Il-kelliema huma varji u gejjin minn sferi differenti tas-socjetà.
Huwa tajjeb li nifhmu li m'hemmx ghalfejn tkun omosesswali biex iddejqek attittudni ta' intolleranza u biex tahdem kontra l-omofobija.
L-omofobija hija attitudni insensittiva u tal-misthija – bl-ghajnuna tieghek, kemm jekk inti omosesswali u kemm jekk m'intiex, tistà tingheleb.
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
Independent: Queer no more
http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=125819
22.5.2011 by Daphne Caruana Galizia
Note to Super One and Maltastar: the title is ironic, but you should be told that 'straight' is predicated on its opposites: 'bent' and 'queer'.
The Evangelical pastor Gordon Manche is upset because homosexuals picketed his River of Love chapel, carrying placards with messages like, 'I used to have ginger hair, but now I'm saved' and 'I used to be left-handed but now I am healed'.
This happened after he publicised a 'show and tell' – I believe they're called testimonials – by three unnamed men who described how they were homosexual until God converted them. Because they probably also believe that God made them (mandatory childhood catechism refrain: "Who made me?" "God made me."), they must be wondering why it took God so damned long to realise there was a glitch on the production floor and then go back to undo his mistake.
"There you go, old chap. You can run after girls now. But don't use a condom because I don't like them."
What's more, God hasn't sorted out that glitch yet, either. The factory seconds are coming out at the rate of one in 10, and they're taking over whole cities like San Francisco. Why, there are now more homosexuals per square mile than are there people with ginger hair, even in Glasgow, and God isn't doing anything about it except for the occasional spot of conversion in a chapel above a furniture showroom in Haz-Zebbug.
If Pastor Manche and his sheep are going to be consistent with the rest of what they preach, then it's not so much a case of 'I was gay but God converted me' as 'God made me homosexual but then changed his mind.' But let's not go down that road. We're dealing here with people who deny the existence of dinosaurs despite the evidence from fossils and the Malta Labour Party. If they think Tyrannosaurus rex is a hoax, they'll have no problem believing that a couple of magic spells performed in a prayer circle, while men twang guitars and women in bad clothes sway about with their eyes closed, can make Elton John fancy women.
People like Pastor Manche probably think they have evidence that it's possible for homosexuals to live heterosexual lives, because Malta, with its particular cultural and geographic difficulties, has a disproportionate number of homosexuals who are married to heterosexuals, and they're not exactly mariages blancs, because they have issue. The 'dinosaurs didn't exist' brigade think of this state of affairs as conversion, when really it's just a matter of pretending and must be a strange sort of hell for everyone involved.
Homosexuality is more visible now not because God is making more mistakes, which he might or might not correct later at the River of Love Chapel, but because homosexuals are not getting married to members of the opposite sex and pretending to be heterosexuals anymore. They might keep quiet about their sexuality, and decide that it's nobody's business but theirs, but they draw the line at getting married – and not before time, too. Enough lives have been wrecked through enforced covert behaviour.
Pastor Manche spoke on radio yesterday. He said that he feels "unfairly treated" and that the reaction to his stand-up show was "massively out of proportion". "Those three men did not attack anyone. They had a right to say that Jesus converted them, and they did not say that others need to change," he told his interviewer. Well, that's a bit disingenuous, isn't it? When you say that God converted you, it means that you were saved from your deleterious previous state, and again, this implies that all others who are as you were need to be saved, too. That's why people were upset.
Pastor Manche said that he knows of four homosexual men who told him that God converted them, and they are now married (to women). I couldn't help thinking of those side-splitting scenes in Bruno, in which Sacha Baron Cohen's character decides he can achieve success in the film industry only if he turns straight, "like Tom Cruise and John Travolta". He heads off to meet a gay conversion specialist pastor with hot lips, who studiously keeps his eyes averted from Bruno's black leather hot-pants and thigh-high boots, and then tries some straight-man activities, like suburban swingers' parties, boar-hunting and the army, all of which collapse in chaos.
It figures that Pastor Manche brought his gay conversion Evangelist ideas from the United States where, he tells us, he was a professional ballet dancer until he "saw God" ("He spoke to me, but I did not see his face"). Is professional ballet dancer here a cipher for homosexual? Or are we to understand that professional ballet dancers need to be saved, just like homosexuals?
Either way, Gordon Manche was "consumed by God" and "determined to preach" – and so he headed for Malta, an island with a heathen population and no churches, because the climate here is so much better than, say, Papua New Guinea. Besides which, if you try to convert a homosexual in Papua, they boil you and eat you.
Yesterday was much touted as the end of the world, the day of the Apocalypse, by people of Pastor Manche's persuasion. But I couldn't feel it from where I was sitting, and so I was able to type out this piece while keeping an eye open for great balls of fire. The pastor is keeping an open mind, though. The end of the world might not have happened yesterday, but he is convinced that we are "approaching the end of times", and like all other end-of-timers since cheap bibles became available in the vernacular, he points to earthquakes, revolutions, immorality, war and vice as the biblical heralds, the Four Horsemen, of the end of time.
Let's hope for his sake that those Four Horsemen don't turn out to be gay.
22.5.2011 by Daphne Caruana Galizia
Note to Super One and Maltastar: the title is ironic, but you should be told that 'straight' is predicated on its opposites: 'bent' and 'queer'.
The Evangelical pastor Gordon Manche is upset because homosexuals picketed his River of Love chapel, carrying placards with messages like, 'I used to have ginger hair, but now I'm saved' and 'I used to be left-handed but now I am healed'.
This happened after he publicised a 'show and tell' – I believe they're called testimonials – by three unnamed men who described how they were homosexual until God converted them. Because they probably also believe that God made them (mandatory childhood catechism refrain: "Who made me?" "God made me."), they must be wondering why it took God so damned long to realise there was a glitch on the production floor and then go back to undo his mistake.
"There you go, old chap. You can run after girls now. But don't use a condom because I don't like them."
What's more, God hasn't sorted out that glitch yet, either. The factory seconds are coming out at the rate of one in 10, and they're taking over whole cities like San Francisco. Why, there are now more homosexuals per square mile than are there people with ginger hair, even in Glasgow, and God isn't doing anything about it except for the occasional spot of conversion in a chapel above a furniture showroom in Haz-Zebbug.
If Pastor Manche and his sheep are going to be consistent with the rest of what they preach, then it's not so much a case of 'I was gay but God converted me' as 'God made me homosexual but then changed his mind.' But let's not go down that road. We're dealing here with people who deny the existence of dinosaurs despite the evidence from fossils and the Malta Labour Party. If they think Tyrannosaurus rex is a hoax, they'll have no problem believing that a couple of magic spells performed in a prayer circle, while men twang guitars and women in bad clothes sway about with their eyes closed, can make Elton John fancy women.
People like Pastor Manche probably think they have evidence that it's possible for homosexuals to live heterosexual lives, because Malta, with its particular cultural and geographic difficulties, has a disproportionate number of homosexuals who are married to heterosexuals, and they're not exactly mariages blancs, because they have issue. The 'dinosaurs didn't exist' brigade think of this state of affairs as conversion, when really it's just a matter of pretending and must be a strange sort of hell for everyone involved.
Homosexuality is more visible now not because God is making more mistakes, which he might or might not correct later at the River of Love Chapel, but because homosexuals are not getting married to members of the opposite sex and pretending to be heterosexuals anymore. They might keep quiet about their sexuality, and decide that it's nobody's business but theirs, but they draw the line at getting married – and not before time, too. Enough lives have been wrecked through enforced covert behaviour.
Pastor Manche spoke on radio yesterday. He said that he feels "unfairly treated" and that the reaction to his stand-up show was "massively out of proportion". "Those three men did not attack anyone. They had a right to say that Jesus converted them, and they did not say that others need to change," he told his interviewer. Well, that's a bit disingenuous, isn't it? When you say that God converted you, it means that you were saved from your deleterious previous state, and again, this implies that all others who are as you were need to be saved, too. That's why people were upset.
Pastor Manche said that he knows of four homosexual men who told him that God converted them, and they are now married (to women). I couldn't help thinking of those side-splitting scenes in Bruno, in which Sacha Baron Cohen's character decides he can achieve success in the film industry only if he turns straight, "like Tom Cruise and John Travolta". He heads off to meet a gay conversion specialist pastor with hot lips, who studiously keeps his eyes averted from Bruno's black leather hot-pants and thigh-high boots, and then tries some straight-man activities, like suburban swingers' parties, boar-hunting and the army, all of which collapse in chaos.
It figures that Pastor Manche brought his gay conversion Evangelist ideas from the United States where, he tells us, he was a professional ballet dancer until he "saw God" ("He spoke to me, but I did not see his face"). Is professional ballet dancer here a cipher for homosexual? Or are we to understand that professional ballet dancers need to be saved, just like homosexuals?
Either way, Gordon Manche was "consumed by God" and "determined to preach" – and so he headed for Malta, an island with a heathen population and no churches, because the climate here is so much better than, say, Papua New Guinea. Besides which, if you try to convert a homosexual in Papua, they boil you and eat you.
Yesterday was much touted as the end of the world, the day of the Apocalypse, by people of Pastor Manche's persuasion. But I couldn't feel it from where I was sitting, and so I was able to type out this piece while keeping an eye open for great balls of fire. The pastor is keeping an open mind, though. The end of the world might not have happened yesterday, but he is convinced that we are "approaching the end of times", and like all other end-of-timers since cheap bibles became available in the vernacular, he points to earthquakes, revolutions, immorality, war and vice as the biblical heralds, the Four Horsemen, of the end of time.
Let's hope for his sake that those Four Horsemen don't turn out to be gay.
It-Torċa: Il-liġi tal-koabitazzjoni u l-Knisja
http://www.it-torca.com/news.asp?newsitemid=11661
22.5.2011 minn Osservatur Kattoliku, Valletta
Mill-kitba ta' Dun Joe Borg, jidher li qed juża opinjoni differenti dwar id-divorzju hawn Malta u barra minn Malta. Jidher ukoll li għandu tagħ-rif dwar il-leġiżlazzjoni dwar il-koabitazzjoni. Difatti daħħal il-kunċett ta' koabitazzjoni bejn aħwa, missier u iben, eċċ. Dawn qegħdin jissemmew għall-konvenjenza biex ma jkunx ikkundannat Gonzi u l-partit tiegħu meta jridu jdaħħlu l-liġi tal-koabitazzjoni.
Il-liġi tal-koabitazzjoni ma tidħolx fejn hemm ġenituri u aħwa, eċċ. Dawn hemm il-liġi tal-familja biex tmexxihom mhux il-liġi tal-koabitzzjoni.
Dak li aħna nifhmu b'koabi-tazzjoni huma raġel u mara mhux miżżewġin u jgħixu bħal koppja mhux miżżewġa, jew ukoll persuni tal-istess sess li jgħixu flimkien. Qegħdin nirreferu biss għal dawk li qegħdin jgħixu flimkien bħalma qed jiġri fi Franza u jissejħu PACS: patt ċivili ta' solidarjetà. Il-liġi tal-koabi-tazzjoni għal dawn hi ntiża u mhux għal aħwa jew ġenitur u iben jew bint; dawk ma tistax issejħilhom ħlief familji u l-liġi tal-familja treġihom. Kważi kważi anke lill-koppja miżżewġa jridu jirreferu. Tal-biki jekk mhux tad-daħq.
Bħal donnu li Rev. Joe Borg ta xi parir lil Gonzi biex jimxi
kif qed jgħid hu biex ma tindaħalx il-Knisja u tikkundannah bħalma qiegħda tagħmel għad-divorzju.
Inzerta li l-Maltin m'humiex ċwieċ bħalma jsibhom il-Ministru tal-Finanzi.
Tassew li lesti jmorru f'kull estremità biex jingħoġbu ma' Gonzi u l-PN.
Miżien b'żewġ piżijiet u żewġ qisien.
Tal-mistħija li wieħed jasal s'hemm. Ma ninsewx li l-liġi tal-koabitazzjoni ilha mħejjija 13-il sena minn żmien Fenech Adami. Iżda l-Knisja ma qanqlet l-ebda storbju.
Ara kif Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando semma d-divorzju mingħajr ħadd ma kien jaf kif se jkun propost, mill-ewwel qabżet il-Knisja tixlih b'abbuż. Mentri dwar il-ko-abitazzjoni ma ntrefa' l-ebda subgħa.
22.5.2011 minn Osservatur Kattoliku, Valletta
Mill-kitba ta' Dun Joe Borg, jidher li qed juża opinjoni differenti dwar id-divorzju hawn Malta u barra minn Malta. Jidher ukoll li għandu tagħ-rif dwar il-leġiżlazzjoni dwar il-koabitazzjoni. Difatti daħħal il-kunċett ta' koabitazzjoni bejn aħwa, missier u iben, eċċ. Dawn qegħdin jissemmew għall-konvenjenza biex ma jkunx ikkundannat Gonzi u l-partit tiegħu meta jridu jdaħħlu l-liġi tal-koabitazzjoni.
Il-liġi tal-koabitazzjoni ma tidħolx fejn hemm ġenituri u aħwa, eċċ. Dawn hemm il-liġi tal-familja biex tmexxihom mhux il-liġi tal-koabitzzjoni.
Dak li aħna nifhmu b'koabi-tazzjoni huma raġel u mara mhux miżżewġin u jgħixu bħal koppja mhux miżżewġa, jew ukoll persuni tal-istess sess li jgħixu flimkien. Qegħdin nirreferu biss għal dawk li qegħdin jgħixu flimkien bħalma qed jiġri fi Franza u jissejħu PACS: patt ċivili ta' solidarjetà. Il-liġi tal-koabi-tazzjoni għal dawn hi ntiża u mhux għal aħwa jew ġenitur u iben jew bint; dawk ma tistax issejħilhom ħlief familji u l-liġi tal-familja treġihom. Kważi kważi anke lill-koppja miżżewġa jridu jirreferu. Tal-biki jekk mhux tad-daħq.
Bħal donnu li Rev. Joe Borg ta xi parir lil Gonzi biex jimxi
kif qed jgħid hu biex ma tindaħalx il-Knisja u tikkundannah bħalma qiegħda tagħmel għad-divorzju.
Inzerta li l-Maltin m'humiex ċwieċ bħalma jsibhom il-Ministru tal-Finanzi.
Tassew li lesti jmorru f'kull estremità biex jingħoġbu ma' Gonzi u l-PN.
Miżien b'żewġ piżijiet u żewġ qisien.
Tal-mistħija li wieħed jasal s'hemm. Ma ninsewx li l-liġi tal-koabitazzjoni ilha mħejjija 13-il sena minn żmien Fenech Adami. Iżda l-Knisja ma qanqlet l-ebda storbju.
Ara kif Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando semma d-divorzju mingħajr ħadd ma kien jaf kif se jkun propost, mill-ewwel qabżet il-Knisja tixlih b'abbuż. Mentri dwar il-ko-abitazzjoni ma ntrefa' l-ebda subgħa.
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