Tuesday 24 March 2015

Times: Zebra crossing gets a new look

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150320/local/Zebra-crossing-gets-a-new-look.560610
Friday, March 20, 2015, 08:01



Photo: Paul Spiteri Lucas

The zebra crossing on St Anne Street in Floriana was given a new image yesterday. It was painted with the rainbow colours to promote the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual people. The initiative was taken by the Civil Liberties Ministry to mark the first anniversary of the Civil Unions law being approved in Parliament.

Monday 23 March 2015

Gov.mt: Beyond the binary: Equality for trans, genderqueer and intersex people

23.3.2015 by the Malta Gay Rights Movement

Dear Guest,

The Ministry for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties, has the pleasure to invite you to a half-day seminar entitled:

Beyond the binary: Equality for trans, genderqueer and intersex people

The Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics Bill is in advanced parliamentary stage and expected to become law shortly.

In view of this, Government is holding this seminar to provide information about the vision and scope of the Bill to policy makers, the expected beneficiaries, as well as the general public about the various provisions of the law that aim to guarantee human rights and enact equality in law and practice for trans, genderqueer and intersex people.

The speakers during this event will include Honourable Minister for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties Dr. Helena Dalli, and experts from the European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, Transgender Europe, and the LGBTI Consultative Council. 

Date:                     Wednesday, 1st April 2015
Time:                    09:00 to 13:00
Venue:                 Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta 


Attached please find a seminar programme [link].

Kindly register your attendance in advance via www.socialdialogue.gov.mt/registration

 For further information, kindly call on 20908328/35/36 or send an email to communications.msdc@gov.mt


We look forward to welcome you to this event.
  
   

Reuben Sciberras
Communications Coordinator
MINISTRY FOR SOCIAL DIALOGUE,
CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES
Kindly consider your environmental responsibility before printing this e-mail
BARRIERA WHARF, VALLETTA, MALTA

Friday 20 March 2015

Medical Daily: Functional HIV Cure Step Closer To Reality With FDA Approval Of Clinical Human Trials

http://www.medicaldaily.com/functional-hiv-cure-step-closer-reality-fda-approval-clinical-human-trials-325048
Mar 10, 2015 12:04 PM By Dana Dovey@danadovey


The recent FDA approval was a major step toward the eventual goal of curing HIV. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

A possible “functional cure” for HIV has recently been granted FDA approval for further human testing. The method uses genetic modification to cause a specific mutation in the white blood cells of HIV patients which mirrors those found in the naturally immune. It has so far shown to be both receptive and long-lasting.

The novel therapy involves taking stem cells from HIV-infected patients and using a gene editing tool to cause them to form into white blood cells with a specific mutation. The mutation affects a protein known as CCR5, and interferes with the virus’s ability to latch onto blood cells. The mutation occurs naturally in a small percentage of the world’s population and gives these individuals alife-long resistance to HIV infections. Although the virus may remain in their body, without being able to enter the T cells, it cannot replicate and therefore will stay at low numbers, uncompromising the immune system.

Thursday 19 March 2015

Pink News: Here’s a way for gay men to help save lives, even if you’re banned from giving blood

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/03/13/heres-a-way-for-gay-men-to-help-save-lives-even-if-you-cant-donate-blood/
13th March 2015, 3:57 PM by Nick Duffy  [49 reader comments]

Bone marrow donor Stuart Brooks has urged more gay men to sign up

Young gay men who remain banned from giving blood have been urged to sign up to the bone marrow register instead.

In England, Scotland and Wales at present, men who have sex with men (MSM) are banned from giving blood from 12 months from last sexual activity. In Northern Ireland, men who have sex with men are permanently banned from giving blood.

Tuesday 10 March 2015

News Australia: Mardi Gras 2015: ‘I’m not proud to be gay’

http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/mardi-gras-2015-im-not-proud-to-be-gay/story-fnq2o7dd-1227252721752
MARCH 07, 2015 5:33PM


Gavin Fernando says he doesn’t understand the significance of the Mardi Gras parade. Source: Twitter

OPINION: I’m not proud to be gay.

Out of the closet since grade seven. An unabashed Madonna enthusiast. Currently residing on the corner of Judy Garland Road and Smoulderingly Fierce Beyoncé Gif Lane.

Believe me, I’m not ashamed either. I just don’t understand Mardi Gras — the almighty gay pride parade.

Monday 9 March 2015

Gay Star News: Survivors of 1980s AIDS crisis reveal what happened to them

From the role of lesbians to the vanishing of whole neighborhoods, real LGBTI people share their experiences

http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/survivors-1980s-aids-crisis-reveal-what-happened-them020215
02 FEBRUARY 2015 | BY JOE MORGAN

Photo via Twitter.

Survivors of the 1980s AIDS crisis have shared accounts of their experiences.

As the UK celebrates LGBT History Month, users of Reddit revealed what it was like to be living in what felt like a constant state of tragedy.

Real LGBTI people remember the confusion, the lack of information, the lack of support from the government because of the suffering from the virus known only at the time as GRID (gay-related immune deficiency).

Sunday 8 March 2015

Illum: Jekk surmast ta' skola tal-Knisja jkun gay f'unjoni ċivili jkolli problema bih - Arċisqof Scicluna

Isostni li hu se jivvota LE għal kaċċa fir-Rebbiegħa
http://www.illum.com.mt/ahbarijiet/socjali/40597/jekk_surmast_ta_skola_talknisja_ikun_gay_funjoni_ivili_jkolli_problema_bih__arisqof_scicluna#.VPyse3xbfaL
JOHN BUSUTTIL / 28 TA' FRAR 17:38


Fuq Xarabank l-Arċisċof il-ġdid Charles Scicluna kellu intervista qasira mal-preżentatur Peppi Azzopardi. Intervista 'straight to the point' mingħajr ħafna tidwir mal-lewża u b'mod mill-aktar onest b'ċerta simpatija wkoll u xi battuta ħelwa ma naqsitx ukoll.

Sunday 1 March 2015

SEX 360°: Criminalisation of HIV transmission

1.3.2015 by Mark Josef Rapa (Dip. Notary Public, LL.B (Hons)

This presentation is part of the Conference ‘SEX 360° The multidisciplinary approach to sexuality’ which is going to be held on Saturday 7th March 2015 at Skyparks in Luqa.

For further details and registration follow the link: https://www.facebook.com/events/437305963086326.

Abstract:

Under article 244A, of the Maltese Criminal Code [1] , introduced in 2005, transmission of HIV, be it intentional or arising out of recklessness is a criminal offence. The latter in virtue of the relevant Legal notice [2] published in 2005. To date we had one case law where this law was invoked and used. Our jurisprudence has used the Italian Jurist Antolisei’s commentary on the ‘Lesione personali e percosse’ to justify the inclusion of such a law into our legal system, which has established that; non-disclosure before unprotected sex is considered to be dolus eventualis, -indirect intention-.