Gay Malta & MGRM: Il-Manifest Elettorali u l-LGBTIQ

Q&A Session between the LGBTIQ Community and the main Political Parties
https://www.gaymalta.com/2017-election


On Saturday 20th May arc & MGRM co-organised a public Q&A session titled "il-Manifest Elettorali u l-LGBTIQ".
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The four main political parties participated in the Q&A session focused on LGBTIQ issues. The Prime Minister Dr Joseph Muscat, Opposition Leader Dr Simon Busuttil, Ralph Cassar (AD) and Dr Godfrey Farrugia (PD) put forward their LGBTIQ electoral proposals and answered any questions from those present.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4oYwCqib5g

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Malta Today: Civil Unions: A historic moment

The introduction of civil unions is a historic moment in terms of social justice and equality

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/comment/blogs/37995/civil_unions_a_historic_moment#.U0wPKlWhk8k
14 April 2014, 3:01pm by Michael Briguglio



Today history will be written in Malta, when Parliament is expected to legalise civil unions. Same-sex couples will have the same rights and obligations as married persons of the opposite sex, including the possibility to adopt children.

When one thinks that until a few years ago, Malta did not even allow divorce, one can only conclude that this is a historic moment in terms of social justice and equality.

When the Malta Gay Rights Movement (MGRM) was formed at the turn of the century, it started to articulate discourse for equal rights in terms of sexual identity. Small progressive movements – Moviment Graffitti being one of them – immediately supported MGRM’s calls.

Malta Today: AD slams Busuttil’s proposed gay adoption impact assessment test

Green Party insists sexual orientation should not play a part in adoption rights

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/AD-slams-Busuttil-s-proposed-gay-adoption-impact-assessment-test-20131215
Sunday 15 December 2013 - 15:02 by a Staff Reporter


"Proposed social impact assessment test fuels discrimination," AD Chairman Arnold Cassola

"Simon Busuttil's proposal for the government to conduct a social impact assessment test prior to introducing the right for gay couples to adopt fuels discrimination against gay couples," the Green party said.

"The assessment test would be reaffirming discrimination based on sexual orientation. Adoptive parents should be judged on their ability rather than on their sexual orientation," Alternattiva Demokratika (AD) Chairman Arnold Cassola said.

Malta Today: The LGBT historic leap forward

The historic leap forward in the LGBT debate should not make us forget other challenges ahead in family policy.
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/blogsdetails/blogs/The-LGBT-historic-leap-forward-20131026
Blog Saturday, October 26, 2013 by Michael Briguglio

The proposed legislation on civil unions is a historic leap forward in Maltese society. Following the introduction of divorce some years ago, it was becoming clearer that the introduction of other civil rights would be on the political agenda for the years to come.

I am sure that activists in the LGBT movement, including MGRM and Green activists and some who since then joined the Labour Party, are proud of their contribution to the current debate. Likewise, on a personal note, I am proud that when I chaired the Green Party, I was both a co-founder of Malta's 'yes' movement in the divorce referendum campaign, and also to be the first party leader in Malta who spoke for the introduction of full equality on LGBT rights including marriage.

Malta Today: AD satisfied with civil unions bill

The Green Party remarked that the bill contained most of the proposals that AD presented in its electoral manifesto.

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/AD-satisfied-with-civil-unions-bill-20131016
Wednesday 16 October 2013 - 10:03by a Staff Reporter


Alternattiva Demokratika expressed its satisfaction at the civil unions bill, which was published yesterday as was presented to the Government by the LGBT Consultative Council.

In a press statement, AD said it was satisfied with its active contribution to the formulation of the civil unions bill, being a member of the same Council.

Independent: AD lables new IVF treatment 'Discriminatory'

http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-09-10/news/ad-labels-new-ivf-treatment-discriminatory-2548170754/
Tuesday, 10 September 2013, 09:42

In light of the tendering process started by the government in connection with IVF, AD - The Green party reiterated its position that IVF treatment should be offered to anyone who needs it without discrimination.

“The law as it stands discriminates against couples of the same sex and against those who would like to have children but are not married or in a stable heterosexual relationship,” AD said.

Malta Today: PN goes LGBT?

The Nationalist Party's parliamentary proposal to include a clause in the Constitution to protect people against discrimination based on sexual orientation is most welcome.
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/blogsdetails/blogs/PN-goes-LGBT-20130621
Friday, June 21, 2013 by Michael Briguglio

So is its apology towards to Joanne Cassar and transgendered persons. Symbolically, the latter is a far cry from its confessionalism of the previous years.

It would be even better if this Saturday, at the Pride March, leaders of all 3 political parties pronounce themselves clearly and unequivically against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in all aspects of social policy. Basically, this would represent clear policy consistency for Arnold Cassola, it would represent a great leap forward for Simon Busuttil and it would represent the logical path for Joseph Muscat.

Malta Today: AD welcomes initiatives, questions why gender identity is not mentioned

AD says private member’s bill is a step in the right direction, but makes no mention of gender identity.

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/AD-welcomes-initiatives-questions-why-gender-identity-is-not-mentioned-20130621
Friday 21 June 2013 - 12:00 by a Staff Reporter


Opposition MP Claudette Buttigieg.

Alternattiva Demokratika, the Green Party, has said it welcomed the recent move by Opposition MP Claudette Buttigieg to present a private member's bill to amend the constitution with regard to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, but has questioned why no mention to gender identity was made.

This was one of the proposals included in the electoral manifesto of Alternattiva Demokratika, which was the only party propagating full equality for LGBT persons in all areas of social life, said AD chairperson Arnold Cassola.

Independent: AD welcomes initiatives against LGBT discrimination

http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-06-21/news/ad-welcomes-initiatives-against-lgbt-discrimination-1876492292/
Friday, 21 June 2013, 11:25


Alternattiva Demokratika, the Green Party welcomes the recent move by the PN to present a private member's bill to amend the constitution with regards to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation but questions why gender identity is not mentioned. This was one of the proposals included in the electoral manifesto of Alternattiva Demokratika which was the only party propagating full equality for LGBT persons in all areas of social life.

Prof. Arnold Cassola, AD Chairperson, said: "It is great that Claudette Buttigieg has taken the initiative to effectively present this private member's bill. The anomaly in the Maltese constitution has been there for years, since Malta signed and ratified the "European Charter of Fundamental Rights" which calls for the eradication of any discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The swift approval of the Hon. Buttigieg's private members bill will serve to finally get us in line with democratic Europe. Protocol 12 of the European Convention on Human Rights should also be ratified, and Malta should take a more active role in the promotion of human rights of LGBT persons at the international level".

Malta Today: TPPI report: Alternattiva Demokratika reiterates full equality stand

Greens: TPPI’s civil unions report takes presumed standpoint of a heterosexual society and disregards the feelings of the gay community

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/TPPI-report-Alternattiva-Demokratika-reiterates-full-equality-stand-20130520
Monday 20 May 2013 - 11:41 by a Staff Reporter

Alternattiva Demokratika, the Green Party, has questioned the main conclusion of the Today Public Policy Institute's report on the civil rights of LGBTI persons, which said the introduction of gay marriage was premature for the Maltese islands.

"Alternattiva Demokratika is sceptical about the main conclusion of this report, which called on the government to take the necessary and long overdue action to remedy the discriminatory position of the gay community, but then it does not believe that the institution of marriage should be extended to homosexual couples because Maltese society is not yet ready for such a bold move," Angele Deguara, AD Spokesperson for Social Policy and Civil Rights, said.

Malta Today: Same-sex marriage deniers: an invitation to resistance

I hope the discursive power of the 'same-sex marriage deniers' gets the resistance it deserves.

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/blogsdetails/blogs/Same-sex-marriage-deniers-an-invitation-to-resistance-20130517
Blog Friday, May 17, 2013 by Michael Briguglio



Just as more and more countries around the world are introducing same-sex marriages, and just as more and more leaders including socialists (Hollande), conservatives (Cameron) and democracts (Obama) are joining progressives for the introduction of this right, Malta's own Public Policy institute has said that Malta is not ready for same-sex marriage, and that it would be 'one step too far' to introduce it. Which reminds me of those who some years ago said that Malta is not ready for divorce, anti-censorship legislation, and so forth.

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.

Malta Today: Transgender marriage victory may lead to wider discussion on LGBT rights

Actual legal change proposed by the Labour administration will not have any direct bearing on same-sex couples hoping to one day achieve full marriage equality for themselves.

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/Transgender-marriage-victory-may-lead-to-wider-discussion-on-LGBT-rights-20130406
Sunday 7 April 2013 - 09:41 by Raphael Vassallo



Joanne Cassar's success in her seven-year legal battle for the right to marry a male partner - being herself a post-op transsexual whose reassigned gender was recognized by the State, at least on paper - represents a rare triumph in the ongoing struggle for full equality in LGBT areas.

But while Cassar's victory was welcomed with enthusiasm among Malta's gay community and beyond, the actual legal change proposed by the incoming administration will not have any direct bearing on same-sex couples hoping to one day achieve full marriage equality for themselves.

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.

Malta Today: AD is 'natural choice' on civil rights and liberties - Briguglio

Green Party chairperson Michael Briguglio says AD is at the forefront on divorce, free speech, decriminalisation of drugs for personal use, LGBT rights, minority rights and secularization.
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/elections2013/AD-is-natural-choice-on-civil-rights-and-liberties-Briguglio-20130302
Saturday 2 March 2013 - 11:34 by a Staff Reporter

Michael Briguglio (Photo: MediaToday/Ray Attard)

Alternattiva Demokratika is the natural choice for persons who believe in civil rights and civil liberties, AD Chairperson Michael Briguglio said.

Speaking in a press conference in Valletta this morning, Briguglio said: "AD has constantly been on the forefront for the introduction of civil rights and liberties in Malta. In issues such as divorce, free speech, decriminalisation of drugs for personal use, LGBT rights, minority rights and secularization, AD has a historic role to speak up for such issues".

iNews Malta: Il-PN ma jweġibx lill-MGRM

http://www.inewsmalta.com/dart/20130302-il-pn-ma-jwe-ibx-lill-mgrm
15:17 | 02.03.2013

Il-Partit Nazzjonalista ma weġibx kwestjonarju mibgħut lilu mill-Malta Gay Rights Movement, bħalma jiġri f'kull elezzjoni l-MGRM tibgħat lill-partiti u titlob il-pożizzjoni tagħhom dwar għadd ta' temi marbuta ma' persuni LGBT. Jirriżulta li filwaqt l-Alternattiva Demokratika u l-Partit Laburista wieġbu dan il-kwestjonarju. Il-Partit Nazzjonalista m'għamlux dan.

Fi stqarrija, kif mistenni l-MGRM qalet li l-poiżizzjoni tal-AD tibqa' l-aktar waħda qrib tal-lobby LGBT.

Times: AD's position on LGBT rights closest to MGRM

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130302/elections-news/ad-s-position-on-lgbt-rights-closest-to-mgrm.459852
Saturday, March 2, 2013, 15:09

Alternattiva Demokratika’s position on LGBT rights and issues is the closest to that of the Malta Gay Rights Movement, the movement said in a statement.

It said that as in past elections, it sent a questionnaire to the three main political parties requesting their positions and responses were received from the Labour Party and AD.

Times: Marriage equality for all

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130302/opinion/Marriage-equality-for-all.459827
Saturday, March 2, 2013 by Silvan Agius

Many arguments have been made for and against marriage equality (or, as it is widely known, same-sex marriage). Some people believe that, in view of an absence of a national consensus on the matter, it is still early to attempt to raise the issue on a legislative level.

Others argue that, while there is a need for the State to legislate in this area, registered partnerships should suffice. I disagree and believe that you should too.

Di-ve: AD – Marriage rights for Transgender people

http://www.di-ve.com/elections-2013/ad-%E2%80%93-marriage-rights-transgender-people
2.3.2013; editorial@di-ve.com


Photo: Chris Mangion/di-ve.com

AD calls upon the Maltese government to withdraw its submissions against Joanne Cassar with immediate effect, and remove the legal obstacles against her ability to marry.

AD Chairperson Michael Briguglio said that the Government not only failed to progress the legislation that was tabled through a private member’s bill and fought Joanne Cassar all the way to the Constitutional Court to deny her the fundamental right to marry her male partner, this in spite of clear European Court of Human Rights case-law dating back to 2002.

Di-ve: AD calls on transgender recognition legislation

http://www.di-ve.com/elections-2013/ad-calls-transgender-recognition-legislation
1.3.2013 editorial@di-ve.com

AD Chairperson Michael Briguglio condemned the government for failing to put forward the transgender recognition Private Member’s Bill and for denying Joanne Cassar her fundamental human right to marry her male partner.

The AD called for the Government to withdraw its case against Joanne Cassar and remove any legal obstacles that may hinder her right to marry.