Times: Transgender Joanne gets national award

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20131213/local/Transgender-Joanne-gets-national-award.498742#.Urw19dKAQ8k
Friday, December 13, 2013, 00:00 by Sarah Carabott



Transgender hairdresser Joanne Cassar yesterday revealed that she will be awarded the Ġieħ ir-Repubblika. Her long battle with the government over the right to marry her boyfriend led to amendments being made to the Civil Code. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi

Joanne Cassar, who won a long battle against the government for the right to marry her boyfriend after having gender reassignment, will today be awarded the Ġieħ ir-Repubblika.

Her case eventually led to amendments being made to the Civil Code under which transgender people are now considered as individuals of the acquired sex with full rights, including the right to marry.

Malta Today: Transgender who challenged government’s intransigence to be honoured

Joanne Cassar, whose battle against Maltese state's refusal to allow her to marry man led to amendments in marriage law, to be honoured for Republic Day.

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/Transgender-who-challenged-government-s-intransigence-to-be-honoured-20131213
Friday 13 December 2013 - 09:56 by a Staff Reporter


Joanne Cassar


Transgender woman Joanne Cassar, who filed a legal challenge against the Maltese government in the European Court of Human Rights for refusing her the right to marry her boyfriend after having had gender reassignment, is to be honoured in today's Republic Day Gieh ir-Repubblika ceremony.

The Labour government relinquished the case in the European Court and presented amendments to the Civil Code under which transgender people re now considered as individuals of the acquired sex with full rights, including the right to marry.

Malta Today: Republic Day • Armed Forces, transgender who challenged State, and face of anti-censorship honoured

Government honours Armed Forces maritime and air wing for role in Lampedusa crisis

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/Republic-Day-Honours-list-20131213
Friday 13 December 2013 - 12:31 by a Staff Reporter
[Excerpt from the article]

Midalji ghall-Qadi tar-Repubblika:
Joanne Cassar

Malta is honouring Joanne Cassar in recognition of her distinguished service towards a fairer society and the common good of the people of Malta.

In February 2007, the Court upheld a challenge against a decision of the Marriage Registrar not to publish the marriage bans of Ms Joanne Cassar on the ground that her female sex was acquired through an operation and not at birth.

The Court, therefore, ordered that the bans should be published. The Government successfully challenged that decision in the First Hall of the Civil Court and in the Court of Appeal which held that the female sex which had been included in a court-ordered change in Cassar's birth certificate was only intended to protect the right to privacy of the individual but did not give rise to a right to marry a person of the male sex. Cassar took her case to the European Court of Human Rights.

Last April, the government and Cassar reached an out-of-court settlement as a result of which proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights ended. Subsequently, the right of persons to marry a person of the sex opposite to their acquired sex was legislated into the Marriage Act.

This is an important development for Malta towards which Cassar contributed through her determination and perseverance.

iNews Malta: Joanne Cassar bi żjara sorpriża lill-Ministru Dalli

http://www.inewsmalta.com/dart/20130425-joanne-cassar-bi-jara-sorpri-lill-ministru-dalli
16:03 | 25.04.2013

Kien mument emozzjonanti meta iktar kmieni llum Joanne Cassar għamlet żjara sorpriża lill-Ministru Helena Dalli. Permezz ta’ bukkett fjuri, Cassar riedet turi l-apprezzament tagħha għal mod kif il-gvern ħa azzjoni konkreta biex hija u nies oħra transgender ikollhom id-drittijiet imħarsa. Cassar kienet akkumpanjata mis-sieħeb tagħha.

Malta Today: Greens welcomes settlement between Joanne Cassar and government

AD - Transgender persons should be given full recognition of their new identity without any requirements which go against human rights standards.
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/Greens-welcomes-settlement-between-Joanne-Cassar-and-government-20130417
Wednesday 17 April 2013 - 10:03 by a Staff Reporter


Joanne Cassar (right) with, from left Attorney General Peter Grech and civil liberties minister Helena Dalli.

Alternattiva Demokratika, the Green Party, has welcomed a settlement between the Maltese government and Joanne Cassar, who retracted her case to the European Court of Human Rights after she was denied the right to marry despite having a change in gender identity legally recognised.

Cassar, a transgender whose identity as a woman was legally recognised by the Maltese courts, was still prevented from marrying by the Maltese marriage registrar.

Times: Marriage law changes coming soon

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130414/local/Marriage-law-changes-coming-soon.465533
Sunday, April 14, 2013 by Claudia Calleja

Joanne Cassar is inching closer to winning her battle for the right to marry. 

Photo: Paul Spiteri Lucas

Marriage law amendments that will grant those who undergo gender reassignment surgery the right to marry have been drafted and will be on the parliamentary agenda “in the coming days”, a Government spokesman has said.

The enactment of the amendments will clear the way for Joanne Cassar – who underwent gender reassignment surgery to become a woman – to withdraw her case against the Government that is pending before the European Court of Human Rights.

Independent: Reassigning transgender rights

http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-04-04/leader/reassigning-transgender-rights-1322680330/
Thursday, 04 April 2013, 08:33

Malta is at long last coming out of the dark woods it has inhabited for the last decades when it comes to the rights of homosexual and transgender rights, as evidenced by yesterday’s announcement that the previous administration’s fight against a transgender person’s right to marry has been dropped by the new government.

The country, as far as the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender (LGBT) people are concerned, has been a cultural backwater and this complete change of tack, including the foreseen introduction of full civil unions for same-sex couples, is moving the country upstream as far as civil liberties as a whole are concerned.

Sunday Circle: In her Shoes

http://www.sundaycircle.com/2013/04/in-her-shoes/
April 2013

Joanne Cassar has courted public controversy in a highly publicised battle in the courts for her right to marry the man she loves. Here she speaks to Philip Leone-Ganado about her childhood struggles and her difficult journey to become the woman she always wanted to be.

As a small child, Joanne Cassar loved playing with dolls and spending time with girls her age. She had a nasty habit of injuring herself every time she played sports, and preferred following her mother, a greengrocer, to work, where she would pretend to set up shop and sell items herself. But many nights before bed, as she diligently thanked God for the day, she would cry herself to sleep, wondering why He had made her the way she was. The reason for her confusion was the very thing that set her apart from any other girl her age: Joanne is transsexual.

Times: Minister sets ball rolling for Civil Union Bill

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130404/local/Minister-sets-ball-rolling-for-Civil-Union-Bill.464167
Thursday, April 4, 2013 by Sarah Carabott


Civil Liberties Minister Helena Dalli (left) alongside Joanne Cassar. Photo: Paul Spiteri Lucas

A consultative committee to establish the best way forward for the introduction of civil unions will be set up, according to Civil Liberties Minister Helena Dalli.

The committee would include researchers and stakeholders from the LGBT community, including parents and NGOs who could provide the best advice on how to draft the Civil Union Bill, Dr Dalli explained.

Malta Today: Jubilation greets transsexual marriage announcement

MGRM and aditus foundation welcome the government’s decision to drop its objection to Joanne Cassar’s claim to the right to marry.
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/Jubilation-greets-transsexual-marriage-announcement-20130404
Wednesday 3 April 2013 - 15:00 by Raphael Vassallo


Joanne Cassar's right to marry brings to an end a seven-year ordeal.

News that government is to amend the Marriage Act - so that transsexuals may marry partners of their choice according to their 'acquired' gender - was greeted with jubilation and relief yesterday.

None, however, was quite as jubilant as Joanne Cassar: a post-op transsexual whose right to marry her long-term (male) partner became the subject of an unresolved seven-year legal wrangle, that ended up in the European Coiurt of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

Independent: Transsexual to be granted right to marry

http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-04-03/news/transsexual-to-be-granted-right-to-marry-1316716547/
3.4.2013; Update 2


Minister Helena Dalli and Joanne Cassar

Joanne Cassar, a 31-year-old hairdresser who underwent gender reassignment surgery to become a woman, will be granted the right to marry. The announcement was made by Civil Liberties Minister Helena Dalli in the wake of the out of court settlement reached with Ms Cassar in recent days.

In 2011, Ms Cassar had instituted proceedings against government in the European Court of Human Rights, claiming breach of human rights.

Pink News: Malta: Transgender woman wins legal right to marry after government drops case

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/04/03/malta-transgender-woman-wins-legal-right-to-marry-after-government-drops-case/
3 April 2013, 1:50pm by by Scott Roberts

Joanne Cassar began legal proceedings in 2011

Campaigners have welcomed a decision to allow a transgender woman in Malta the right to marry.

Joanne Cassar, a 31-year-old hairdresser, began legal proceedings in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in 2011 after she was prevented from marrying on the island.

Although the case is still pending in Strasbourg, on Wednesday, the Maltese Government dropped its objection to Ms Cassar’s claim.

iNews Malta: Aġġornat: “Issa Malta għarfitni bħala t-tifla tagħha” - Joanne Cassar

http://www.inewsmalta.com/dart/20130403-issa-malta-arfitni-ala-tifla-tag-ha-joanne-cassar
10:18 | 03.04.2013

Joanne Cassar - li bl-emenda li se jressaq il-gvern fl-Att taż-Żwieġ issa se jkollha d-dritt li tiżewweġ mingħajr xkiel - qalet li issa hi wkoll tista’ tgħid li hi t-tifla ta’ Malta. “Issa Malta għarfitni bħala t-tifla tagħha,” qalet Joanne Cassar

Cassar tkellmet f’konferenza tal-aħbarijiet mal-Ministru Helena Dalli fejn tħabbru dawn il-bidliet. Dalli qalet li dawn il-bidliet se jkunu diskussi fil-parlament wara t-tieni ġimgħa mill-ftuħ tiegħu. Dan meta se titressaq emenda f’artiklu tmienja tal-att taż-żwieġ biex persuni li jkunu bidlu s-sess ma jsibux xkiel min-naħa tad-direttur tar-reġistru pubbliku biex jinħarġilhom iċ-ċertifikat.

MGRM & aditus: Joint Statement on Joanne Cassar case

3.4.2013 Press Release; 

Gabi Calleja (Malta Gay Rights Movement Coordinator)

Dr. Neil Falzon (aditus foundation Director)

The MGRM and aditus foundation welcome the Maltese Government's decision to drop its objection to Joanne Cassar's claim to the right to marry.

The case of Joanne Cassar versus Malta is currently pending before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, where she is claiming that when Malta prevented her from marrying her fiancée, her fundamental human rights were violated.

Times: Updated: Committee to establish way forward for civil unions being set up

Joanne Cassar welcomes changes to Marriage law after general reassignment casehttp://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130403/local/committee-to-establish-way-forward-for-civil-unions-being-set-up.463943
Wednesday, April 3, 2013, 10:18

[Click on the hyperlink above to watch the video.]

A consultative committee is to be set up shortly to establish the best way forward for the introduction of civil unions, Civil Liberties Minister Helena Dalli said this morning.

The minister said civil unions were promised in Labour’s electoral programme and the committee will include stakeholders, such as LGBT people, their parents and researchers.

Malta Today: Government to amend Marriage Act for transgender people

Government reaches out of court settlement for Joanne Cassar

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/Government-to-amend-Marriage-Act-for-transgender-people-20130403
National Wednesday 3 April 2013 - 10:14


Government has reached an out of court agreement with Joanne Cassar over her preclusion from marrying as a transgender
Government has reached an agreement with Joanne Cassar to drop proceedings in the European Court of Human Rights against the Maltese government over her preclusion from marrying.

Cassar was recognised by the state as a woman after gender reassignment, but she was not allowed to marry under Maltese laws.

Malta Today: Government hours away from agreement on transsexual marriage rights

An agreement between government and Joanne Cassar is understood to be “imminent” following several meetings between the two sides.

http://maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/Government-hours-away-from-agreement-on-transsexual-marriage-rights-20130402
Tuesday 2 April 2013 - 13:16 by Raphael Vassallo


Joanne Cassar

An agreement between government and Joanne Cassar - the aggrieved party in a European court case against Malta over the rights of transsexual persons to marry according to their reassigned gender - is understood to be "imminent" following several meetings between the two sides.

Cassar filed a case against Malta in the European Court of Human Rights, after unsuccessfully suing the Registrar of Marriages for refusing to issue the banns necessary for her to marry her long-term (male) partner.

Times: ‘I fought Government on transgender issue’

Woman angered by Gonzi’s reference to her marriage battle
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130303/local/-I-fought-Government-on-transgender-issue-.459927
Sunday, March 3, 2013 by Claudia Calleja


Joanne Cassar has been fighting for her right to marry for seven years.

Joanne Cassar, who had a sex change, is “angry and upset” that the Prime Minister said he would address transgender issues when his government had been contesting her right to marry for the past seven years.
Actions speak louder than words

The 31-year-old hairdresser has a pending case against the Government, before the European Court of Human Rights, for breaching her rights by refusing to issue marriage banns after her gender was changed to female on her birth certificate.

Times: AD presses government to withdraw European Court submissions against Joanne Cassar

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130302/elections-news/ad-presses-government-to-withdraw.459847
Saturday, March 2, 2013, 13:02

Alternattiva Demokratika’s Michael Briguglio and Silvan Agius this afternoon reiterated their call to the government to withdraw from the European Court of Human Rights case against transgender Joanne Cassar.

They were speaking during a visit to Ms Cassar at her salon in Fgura following a promise by the Prime Minister two days ago that he would address transgender issues.

An angry Ms Cassar, 31, said the government had been contesting her right to marry for the past seven years.

TVM: Transgender: AD calls on government to withdraw Malta’s submission against Joanne Cassar in Strasbourg

http://tvm.com.mt/news/2013/03/transgender-ad-calls-on-government-to-withdraw-maltas-submission-against-joanne-cassar-in-strasbourg/
2.3.2013; TVM News / Elections 2013 / Featured Videos / Malta / News

[Click on the hyperlink above to watch the videos.]

A delegation of AD representatives, including Chairperson Michael Briguglio, AD candidates Silvan Agius, Robert Callus and Angele Deguara, and Pascal Aloisio.

Following a question received from Celine Falzon during a meeting earlier today, Prime Minister Gonzi stated that PN will introduce gender recognition legislation for transgender persons during the next legislature should it be re-elected in government. He also stated that the reason for which parliament never discussed the transgender recognition private members bill was lack of time.