It-Torċa: “Maqtugħin mill-komunità Maltija... għalqulna l-bibien”

http://www.it-torca.com/news.asp?newsitemid=6697
minn Victor Vella

Hawn ġew mhux milqugħin’. ‘Qegħdin tgħixu fid-dnub u ma rridux nitkellmu magħkom’. Aħsbu ftit jiġi xi ħadd jgħidlek dan il-kliem kif tħossok, b’mod partikolari jekk jgħiduhulek nies ta’ nazzjonalità bħalek u li miegħek ikunu qed jgħixu f’art barranija. Tirribella. Tgħid mela ma’ dawn m’għandhix x’naqsam iżjed. Tipprova kemm jista’ jkun tħassar il-memorja ta’ dawn sħabek Maltin u forsi ta’ pajjiżek ukoll. Din hi s-sitwazzjoni li qegħdin jgħixu fiha l-omosesswali Maltin li ‘eżiljaw’ ruħhom minn Malta biex bdew ħajja ġdida f’dan il-pajjiż. Konsegwenza ta’ dikjarazzjonijiet li saru, l-omosesswali Maltin, anki dawk li telqu riċentament lejn dan il-pajjiż, m’għandhom ebda kuntatt mal-Kunsill tal-Kommunità fl-Awstralja. L-omosesswali Maltin jinsabu maqtugħin mhux biss mill-bqija tal-kommunità Maltija fl-Awstralja imma anki minn Malta, hekk kif qed jippruvaw iħassru l-memorji negattivi ta’ kif kienu trattati f’Malta.

F’din is-sensiela fuq l-omosesswali, it-torċa tkellmet ma’ Joseph Chetcuti, attivist omosesswali, li matul din is-sena mistenni jiġi Malta biex jintroduċi l-ktieb tiegħu dwar is-suġġett, ktieb li mistenni jqajjem kontroversji ġodda fuq is-suġġett b’mod partikolari dwar l-ewwel koppji omosesswali f’Malta. Joseph Chetcuti din is-sena se jkun wieħed minn dawk li se jmexxi l-Mardi Gras, parata ta’ l-omosesswali f’Awstralja. Dan minħabba li din is-sena jaħbat it-30 anniversarju mindu 53 attivist omosesswali ġew arrestati fl-ewwel Mardi Gras fl-Awstralja.

Joseph Chetcuti tkellem magħna dwar l-omosesswali li qegħdin jeżiljaw ruħhom mhux biss lejn pajjiżi Ewropej imma anki lejn l-Awstralja.

Qalilna li “ninsab diżappuntat li pajjiż bħal Malta li tgħid li għandha ospitalità qawwija lejn il-barranin, tispiċċa tkun iebsa ħafna mat-tfal tagħha stess sempliċiment għax ikunu jħobbu persuna ta’ l-istess sess tagħhom. Nistaqsi l-Maltin huma ospitabbli daqs kemm jgħidu?. Is-sitwazzjoni f’Malta hi tali li dawk li huma privileġġjati, sinjuri u li għandhom kuntatti barra, jispiċċaw isibu t-triq kif lill-maħbubin tagħhom jġibuhom f’Malta jew jitilqu huma. Qed naħseb fuq każ partikolari dak ta’ John Francia li fis-sebgħijnijiet adotta lil maħbub tiegħu. Kienu jsiru parties formali u informali għall-omosesswali. Issa omosesswali li m’humhiex privileġġjati, sinjuri u li m’għandhomx kuntatti barra, jispiċċaw ikunu mċaħħda milli jgħixu mal-maħbubin tagħhom f’Malta. L-omosesswali ma jitilqu minn Malta biex jgħixu mal-maħbub tagħhom biss. Jitilqu għax barra hemm ħafna aktar opportunitajiet. Huma jkunu jixtiequ li jmorru jgħixu f’pajjiżi li għandhom kultura fejn l-omosesswali jgawdu d-drittijiet tagħhom u huma stmati daqs iċ-ċittadini l-oħra. Malta għadha qiegħda tgħix fl-estrem. F’Malta tispiċċa maħnuq.”

L-omosesswali Maltin fl-Awstralja

Joseph Chetcuti jgħidilna li “fl-Awstralja irrappreżentajt lill-Maltin li emigraw lejha fuq il-bażi tar-relazzjonijiet bejn persuni ta’ l-istess sess. Il-leġislazzjoni Awstraljana għandha proviżjonijiet speċifiċi li mhux biss titratta l-koppji magħmulin minn raġel u mara, imma anke koppji ta’ l-istess sess. L-impressjoni tiegħi hi li ħafna Maltin omosesswali ikunu kuntenti ħafna li jitilqu minn Malta biex jiġu jgħixu fl-Awstralja. Biss jien m’għamilt l-ebda studju fuq dan. Li hu interessanti hu l-fatt li l-ebda omosesswali jew lesbjani Maltin m’huma nvoluti f’xi attivitajiet tal-Maltin emigranti fl-Awstralja. Sfortunatament, ħafna jekk mhux il-mexxejja kollha huma maqtugħin mhux biss mir-realtajiet Awstraljani imma anke mill-kuntatt ma’ Malta. Biżżejjed ngħidlek li l-Kunsill tal-Kommunità Maltija, waqqaf kull diskussjoni fuq l-omosesswalità fiċ-ċentru li huma għandhom f’Parkville. Dan sar minħabba li s-Soċjetà Missjunarja ta’ San Pawl, li għandha l-art li fuqha inbena ċ-ċentru, oġġezzjonat li jsiru taħdidiet simili. Qalu li l-omosesswalità hi dnub u għalhekk ma riedux jitkellmu. Din id-deċiżjoni ttieħdet minkejja li ċ-ċentru u dak li jsir fih m’hux xi għaqda reliġjuża. Dan hu eżempju ċar ta’ l-influwenza insidjuża tal-Knisja.”

Messaġġ lill-Gvern fuq l-eżiljati Maltin

Joseph Chetcuti ikompli jgħid li “rrid nagħmilha ċara li m’għandi l-ebda tama li l-amministrazzjoni ta’ bħalissa immexxija mill-Prim Ministru Lawrence Gonzi, se tagħmel xi ħaġa jew tieħu xi deċiżjoni biex tgħin lill-persuni omosesswali, sakemm ma tkunx imbuttata mill-Unjoni Ewropea. Il-Partit Nazzjonalista fuq kollox hu l-istess partit li kien konta id-dekriminalizazzjoni ta’ l-omosesswalità f’Malta fis-sena 1973, fejn dak iż-żmien għaddiet liġi fil-Parlament mill-Prim Ministru Mintoff u l-Ministru Buttiġieġ. Apparti dan il-liġi Maltija hi siekta għal kollox fuq l-omosesswali, apparti l-avviżi legali 297 tas-sena 2003, 461 tas-sena 2004 u 53 u 54 tas-sena 2007. Dawn jitrattaw diskriminazzjoni fuq il-postijiet tax-xogħol u ġew introdotti wara pressjoni mill-Unjoni Ewropea. Il-messaġġ li nibgħat lill-Gvern u lill-partiti l-oħrajn hu dak li meta jitrattaw l-omosesswali jew meta ma jagħtux każ, huma qegħdin jitrattaw mat-tfal Maltin, mal-qraba u l-ħbieb tagħhom. Min jaf kif iħossuhom il-politiċi kieku huma stess ikunu vittmi ta’ diskriminazzjoni”.

Il-messaġġ lill-omosesswali

Joseph Chetcuti jenfasizza li ‘l-messaġġ li jien nibgħat lill-omosesswali f’Malta hu fuq il-bżonn li dawk iżidu l-kritika tagħhom fuq il-liġijiet eżistenti f’Malta. M’humhiex biss kwistjoni tal-wirt, drittijiet ta’ l-immigrazzjoni, żwiġijiet u trobbija tat-tfal li fihom l-omosesswali m’għandhomx l-istess drittijiet tal-persuni l-oħra. Hemm kwistjonijiet oħra. Per eżempju f’Malta ma tistax titkellem fuq il-mejtin, għax tispiċċa taqla’ libell. Tista’ tara artiklu 543 tal-Kodiċi Kriminali. M’hemmx difiża tal-verità. Dan ifisser li ma tistax tiddokumenta jew tikteb fuq l-istorja ta’ l-omosesswalità f’Malta. Wasal iż-żmien li din il-liġi tinbidel”.

‘Gay drain’ minn Malta

Isostni li tluq ta’ persuni omosesswali minn Malta qiegħed iwassal biex Malta qed titlef ħafna riżorsi umani tajbin. “Ħares lejn l-istat li tinsab fih l-arti u l-letteratura f’Malta u malajr tasal għall-konklużjoni. Malta ma tistax tibqa’ titlef it-tfal tagħhom biex imorru jaħdmu f’pajjiżi oħra. Malta se tispiċċa qisha dar ta’ l-anzjani.

Jista’ jiġi Malta

Joseph Chetcuti qalilna li “jien kont f’Malta f’Diċembru li għadda. Probabbilment se nirritorna f’Malta biex iniedi l-ktieb ġdid tiegħi dwar l-omosesswalità f’Malta. Il-ktieb jitratta l-issue tad-dekriminalizazzjoni ta’ l-omosesswalità u r-rejazzjoni tal-Knisja, il-liġijiet f’Malta u kif qed jaffettwaw lill-persuni omosesswali, il-letteraturi Maltija u ħajja ta’ l-omosesswalita fi Triq id-Dejqa u f’Balzunetta. Il-ktieb fih madwar 200,000 kelma u fih diversi ritratti”.

victorvella2002@yahoo.com

Interview with Dosmanzanas (Two Apples) in Valencia, Spain

Here is the interview with Dos Manzanas - the biggest LGBT news website in Spain.
Translated (mostly) by Google Translate:

http://www.dosmanzanas.com/index.php/archives/5125

Interview with PATRICK ATTARD / Maltese Politician (AD): "In Malta we need someone like Zapatero, who can stand up to the bullying of the Church"
Written by Nemo 28-04-2008

Patrick Attard, a 28-year old, has become the first gay candidate -"the first openly gay candidate”, he observes with a smile- to stand for a general election in the history of the Republic of Malta (the election was held just one day before the Spanish one, on March 8). He was with the Green Party Alternattiva Demokratika (AD), wich had a clearly pro-LGBT agenda. Dosmanzanas (Two Apples) has taken advantage of his recent stay in our country to interview him.

Dosmanzanas .- What motivated you to enter politics?

Patrick Attard .- In 'An Inconvenient Truth', Al Gore said: "If there is something you would like to change, write to Congress about it, if nothing changes run for Congress." In my country nobody talked about LGBT issues in the months leading up to elections, that was a big taboo, there was a huge vacuum in this regard… so I decided to try and move the agenda a bit forward.

Dm .- How did the election campaign progress?

P.A. - I was invited to speak on television and newspapers. After leaving television for the first time in a discussion program, the day after I ended up in the news, and people stopped me on the street to tell me well done. There were some gays who had lost hope in politics who felt inspired by me, and I think I managed to communicate a few ideas.

Dm .- Alternattiva Demokratika has been the third party in Maltese politics for many years, but the Maltese political system is very bipartisan and you did not obtain parliamentary representation. How do you assess your experience in these general elections?

P.A. - Well, at first I was disappointed at the low number of votes we got, despite being the only party that is clearly positioned in favour of LGBT rights… but I am happy to have been able to help a person who had attempted suicide and having managed to bring to light the plight of gays. In addition, in Malta we have a 'transferable' voting system, which allows us to mark next to the name of each candidate a number that expresses the order of preference of the voter, so if the candidate that I had marked with 1 does not get enough votes to be elected, my vote goes to the one I had marked with 2, and if this one does not get enough votes either, to the one to whom I had given a 3, and so on with the entire list… Well, I was impressed by the fact that over one third of those who voted for me only marked only the 1 next to my name in their ballots, and nothing next to those of the other candidates: that is, they thought that only I could represent them.

Dm .- What are prospects for the future, politically?

P.A. - In June, we have a party general meeting in which we can reflect on the past election and plan the future direction.

Dm .- I see that you speak the political language well…

P.A. – Yo mean that I give you vague answers, right? (laughs).

Dm .- Before you said that you feel happy to have been able to help a person who had attempted suicide. This topic of suicides of gays and lesbians is also high on your blog, along with the LGBT who have to go into exile in search of a place where they can develop their lives in a freer and fuller way… How serious are these problems in the Maltese society?

P.A. - I do not have figures, but I know that these problems exist. It is a fact that in the very devout Christian communities around the world, the incidence of suicide among gays is higher. In my blog I pasted a letter from a guy who tried to commit suicide and, fortunately, the doctors were able to save him. I also pasted a newspaper article of another gay guy who tried to kill himself repeatedly. Both texts are published in the Maltese press.

One week before the election I was in a gay disco and I thought that I could make a small speech, but the music was very loud and I didn’t want to spoil the atmosphere and the owners of the premises did not like the idea of letting politics in the club and at the end I dared not talk. Later I learned that a 23 year old guy who was there had committed suicide the next day: I could not help wondering if I could have helped him somehow, had I dared to speak at the club that night.

Dm .- What about the LGBT who go into exile?

P.A. - Yes, the press in Malta (the newspaper 'It-Torċa', 'The Torch') has also published two articles on this subject. In addition, there is a group that is called 'Malta Gay Exiles', which tries to bring together people who have lived this experience. And many of the hits of my blog come from outside Malta, which, bearing in mind that my blog is mostly in Maltese, suggests that these hits are from Maltese people who are scattered throughout the world.

Dm .- Malta joined the European Union in 2004 and this year has entered the euro… Do you think that these changes will help the LGBT cause in the Maltese islands?

P.A. - Yes, of course. First, there is the issue of discrimination in the workplace on grounds of sexual orientation: The European Commission forced us to prohibit this type of discrimination by law in Malta, even though our Conservative government did not want to. And thanks to being part of the EU, the euro and the Schengen Treaty, it will be easier for people to travel more and have a more open mind –let us hope that people come to Malta from all over Europe and that we travel to other European countries too, and most importantly, let us hope that it will enhance our degree of tolerance toward people who are different.

Dm .- What is your opinion on Spain and on the changes that have recently been implemented in our country regarding LGBT rights?

P.A. - I think that in Malta we need someone like Zapatero, who is able to confront the arrogance and intimidation of the Catholic Church. What I like about Spain is that the Catholics can go to pray in their churches, but people who are not religious have a place in society as well.

Dm .- How much influence do you think has the Catholic Church in Maltese society, and what you think about this situation?

P.A. - Well, in the last election the priests were telling people not to vote for AD during the Mass, since AD was in favour of divorce (which remains illegal in Malta) and gay partnerships. The Church does not want to deal with the harassment of gays in Catholic schools, and when there is a discussion on LGBT topics on television, the Church always sends someone to say that God loves the gays but hates 'the act'. Isn’t it more sinful for a Catholic woman that I know of to claim that, had she knew that her son was going to be gay, she would have preferred to abort (which, incidentally, is illegal in Malta)? I also know of a man, also a Catholic, who said that he would have preferred if his son had cancer than was gay.

Dm .- The wife of the former Spanish President, of Spain’s Conservative Party, expressed her opinion about the access of gay and lesbian couples to marriage with these words, which became famous in our country: “If you add two apples, then you get two apples. And if you add an apple and a pear, you can never get two apples, because the components are different. A man and a woman is one thing, which is marriage, and two men or two women will be another thing, a different thing.” What do you think about this reflection?

P.A. - What can I add to such words of wisdom? (laughs again).

Note: This argument with apples and pears is similar to the one in the Maltese media with electrical plugs and sockets.

Comments

1.
That is what we need here.
by 29-04-2008 at 14:41 wow

2.
I want to say that the origin of this interview with Patrick Attard is also dosmanzanas, and specifically, the column "Tolerance" I published here last April 2, in which I talked about him and quoted him. That is why I –who didn’t know him personally– sent him an email to tell him about my column; he liked the column and posted it, translated into English, on his blog. Then he came to our country for personal reasons, and I took the chance to meet and interview him in my city, València (the photo was made in the Garden of Túria).

I would like to thank Patrick Attard for granting me the interview, and the ‘bosses’ of dosmanzanas for posting it.
by Nemo 29-04-2008 at 19:31

3.
On the blog of Patrick Attard, you can read the English version of "Tolerance"… along with your own comments (the latter in rather approximative English, it has to be said). You are now international and ‘interlingual’, too.
by Nemo 29-04-2008 at 19:37

4.
Congratulations on your interview Nemo:) If I had known you were going to go international, maybe I would have posted some comment on "Tolerance" LOL.
You should now send the contribution to Zapatero: perhaps it’ll inspire him to finally take the separation of church and state seriously. It is about time.
by Rukaegos 29-04-2008 at 19:48

5.
Great interview, Nemo. It was lucky that after publishing your column, Patrick Attard came to Spain. I think the situation they are still living through in Malta is terrible. Even divorce is illegal there! The shadow of the Vatican is very long, that is obvious.
I’m still moved by the fact that we have become a model country for gays and lesbians from other countries.
“Approximative English", you said? Why you are benevolent, Nemo. Machine translators should be banned. LOL
by Fer 29-04-2008 at 20:02

6.
Thank you, Rukaegos, Fer (and wow too, for leaving his comment this morning).
Rukaegos: it would be a good thing if Zapatero decided to do -even more- honour to his fame beyond our borders, of being brave in front of cassock-wearing bullies… I wonder if they read dosmanzanas in the President’s palace.
Fer: the mentality prevailing in Malta is not very different from that which prevailed in our own society not so many years ago… and remains very strong in many areas of our society. If our Catholic reactionaries -and their Protestant or even Agnostic henchmen- should have it their way in the future, I am afraid that we could resemble Malta (today’s Malta) again far more than you and me -and most readers of dosmanzanas- would like.
by Nemo 29-04-2008 at 21:03

7.
You can vote for the interview on Menéame.
by Fer 30-04-2008 at 00:15

8.
Well, then send Zapatero to Malta, it’ll be the only country where they’ll want him, because in Western and democratic countries…
How pitiful:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyQQyUkEndw
by fanfatal 30-04-2008 at 00:22

9.
I do not think Zapatero has stood up to the Church beyond the issue of same-sex marriage, here is a recent example.
by Armel 30-04-2008 at 00:45

10.
True. Zapatero still has much to prove to many of us regarding the Church issue, but it is true that for foreign countries, he has achieved a dramatic effect. And so they see him as a point of reference.
by metabolic 30-04-2008 at 12:42

11.
Well, it is obvious that in the field of secularism still much needs to be done in Spain, but it not reasonable to minimize the importance of having approved full legal equality for homosexual and heterosexual people as regards access to marriage despite the enraged opposition of the Church hierarchy and all its appendices (media, politicians, associations…).
Let us not forget that the spokesman for the Spanish Bishops' Conference said that that legal reform was nothing less than "the most serious thing which the Catholic Church has had to deal with in its two thousand years of history" (!) And that is why Bishops had to "act with all the consequences" against it. Let us not forget all the manoeuvres, all the demonstrations, all the catastrophic and vaguely threatening statements… and all this for years. So I think that what was adopted on that occasion was more than a mere "dramatic effect": it was a brave and determined move for equality, really standing up to the intimidation of a social sector (which gravitates around the Catholic hierarchy) which is as influential as it is fanatical and arrogant.
by Nemo 30-04-2008 at 14:28

12.
For some the separation of Church and State is the same as the expulsion of religion from the State. The first thing is healthy secularism. The second, totalitarianism. For example, who are you to prevent a Catholic/Christian devotee to run for President, then win and legislate according to his/her own conscience? That is individual freedom, not meddling.
30-04-2008 by yo at 17:49

13.
Provided they legislate according to their own conscience without attempting against oter peoples freedom of others or against the law…. What if the opposite happens, though? Would you the say that "the Catholic Church is being persecuted"?
by Odysseus the Ithacan 30-04-2008 at 18:19

14.
Any ruler in principle, whether Catholic or Atheist or ‘Pastafarian’, can legislate "according to their own conscience." What they can not do in a liberal democracy, though, is to forbid citizens to act, as far as their private lives are concerned, according to their own conscience as well. Therefore, a devout Catholic who has won an election would not (or should not have) the right to ban divorce or abortion, or to exclude certain couples from marriage, on the basis of the gender of their members. Catholics have (and should have) the right not to marry someone of their own sex, not to get divorced, not to get an abortion… if that is what ‘their conscience’ dictates to them. But they do not have the right to forbid other people to do so, because other people have their own consciences too, different from the Catholics’ but equally valid.
All this, I repeat, within the framework of a liberal democracy. Of course I understand that things would be quite different in a theocracy.
by Nemo 30-04-2008 at 20:37

15.

Actually I think that both you and Nemo have addressed the question from the wrong perspective. Of course, a Catholic can stand for election and if they win, they can do any office to which they have been elected.

But "legislate according to their own conscience" is not possible for a ruler, no matter whether they are Catholic or not. Firstly, because consciousness is individual, and a minister, the chairman of a government, an MP or whatever can not be in our system a tyrant or a dictator, who would be the only ones with the ability to legislate according to their will or their conscience. All legislation must be under the Constitution, in accordance with international treaties signed by the Kingdom of Spain, with the present legal system and with a programme that has been submitted to the elections; and laws will be in each case validated by Parliament, according to established procedures.

That is, according to their conscience rulers may propose laws, but these laws will not be passed by their own conscience, but by a formal and objective procedure. But in addition, there would be many legal and constitutional limits to what they can legislate, limits they would not be able to skip under any circumstances.

That's because for better and for worse conscience and politics do not have too much in common. Max Weber proposed precisely to clarify this problem of two ethical models living together in society, each of which has its role. He called them "the ethics of responsibility", which corresponds to politicians in the public sphere, and "the ethics of conviction", each individual's own private sphere. Sometimes these two match, but not always.

Greetings

by Rukaegos 30-04-2008 at 21:51


16.

You're right, of course, Rukaegos, although I think your comment and mine are not incompatible. The ruler’s conscience may inspire them this or that piece of legislation, but in a liberal democratic system they will have to comply with all those legal and formal limits that you explain in your comment, and which are there precisely to protect the rights of the people he rules over (including the right, which I mentioned in my previous comment, to follow one’s own path in personal life, according to one’s conscience and also, of course, to legal limits).

by Nemo 30-04-2008 at 22:17

Mietet tirrakkonta lit-Torċa... Ħarbet minn Malta b’jott għax kienet gay

http://www.it-torca.com/news.asp?newsitemid=6781

minn Victor Vella (victorvella2002@yahoo.com)
23 ta’ Marzu 2008

Kienet il-ġurnata tas-Sibt, 15 ta’ Marzu. Dakinhar jien u l-mara iddeċidejna li nqattgħu ġurnata barra. Kif irritornajna lura, tard wara nofsinhar, insibu messaġġ mir-Renju Unit fuq l-imejl. Kien Antoine. Infurmana li Janice, li l-istorja tagħha qiegħda tidher illum, kienet mietet. Lil Janice kont ikkomunikajt magħha f’nofs il-ġimgħa rigward l-istorja tagħha bħala persuna Maltija b’orjentazzjoni sesswali gay li bħal ħafna oħrajn kellha teżilja ruħha biex tgħix mas-sieħba tagħha li tant kienet tħobb. Janice mietet bil-laptop mixgħul fuq is-sodda, bil-messaġġ tiegħi għadu jidher fuqu. Għalkemm ma laħqitx lestiet l-istorja kollha, qabel ħallietna hi laħqet kitbet dak li għaddiet minnu, kif kellha tħalli Malta u l-esperjenzi tagħha.

L-istorja Janice
Janice tibda r-rakkont tagħha hekk:

"ħallejt din il-gżira tagħna ħafna żmien ilu u qatt ma ħarist lura. Għext ħajja ta’ lussu u privileġġi iżda mhux dejjem kont xortija tajba. L-ewwel snin ta’ ħajti kienu karatterizzati minn traġedji. Jien tlift kemm lill-ġenituri tiegħi kif ukoll liż-żewġ ħuti subien, ftit żmien wara li bdew jindaqqu s-sireni biex juruna li ġejjin l-attakki mill-ajru. Tlifthom fi-x-xahar ta’ Ġunju qabel għabet ix-xemx. Kienet is-sena 1939 u jien kont għadni tifla żgħira.

"Minn dakinhar l-hawn jien spiċċajt ngħix mal-ġirien, li bdew jieħdu ħsiebi f’dawk iż-żminijiet diffiċli. Kienu jittrattawni tajjeb ħafna u jien kont ngħinhom fix-xogħol tad-dar mill-aħjar li nista’. Kull fil-għodu kont inqum ottimista, bit-tama li din kienet xi ħolma kerha. Maż-żmien irrealizzajt li dan ma kinitx ħolma, imma kont tlift lill-membri tal-familja kollha."

Janice tkompli tgħidilna li

"għext iż-żminjiet tat-tieni ġwerra dinjija. Meta spiċċat il-gwerra, kulħadd beda jipprova jibni ħajtu mill-ġdid. Kien fl-ewwel snin ta’ l-erbgħijnijiet meta jien iltqajt ma ma’ mara barranija. Kienet tilbes pulit ħafna u kellha wiċċha ħelu. Iltqajt magħha waqt li kienet qegħda tixtri l-ħobż. L-ewwel kliem li qaltli kienu ‘għandek dehra ta’ waħda li kont l-infern u erġajt lura". Jien irrispondejtha li "kollha spiċċajna hekk, imma issa qed nippruvaw ngħixu mill-ġdid." Qabel telqet tbissmitli u missitli wiċċi bi tmellisha ħelwa. Dak il-ħin ħassejt qalbi tħabbat b’mod differenti. Qatt ma ħabbtet hekk. Ħarist madwari u nnutajt li n-nisa l-oħra li kien hemm għand tal-ħobż baqgħu iħarsu iċċassati lejja, qisni għamilt xi ħaġa ħażina jew inqasthom. Jien kont għadi kif esperjenzajt l-aħjar mument mindu tlift lill-ġenituri tiegħi".

L-imħabba ma’ Zehuva

Janice tkompli tgħidilna li

"kull fil-għodu kont inmur bi ħġari għand tal-ħobż, bit-tama li nara lil din il-mara. Il-mara kien jisimha Zehuva. Hi dejjem kienet puntwali u maż-żmien bdejna ngħaddu ħafna ħin flimkien. Kienet semmietli kif kienet tilfet lill-ommha, meta huma ppruvaw jaħarbu mill-Ġermanja. Hekk kif kienu qegħdin jaħarbu mis-suldati, il-karozza tagħhom kienet il-mira ta’ diversi tiri mill-istess suldati. Ommha ntqatlet. Il-karozza kien qed isuqha z-ziju tagħha u hu rnexxielu jwassal il-karozza f’post il-bogħod mill-periklu. Difnu lil ommha u komplew bil-vjaġġ tagħhom. Id-destinazzjoni kienet il-Messiku. Fl-ewwel parti tal-vjaġġ huma marru l-Italja u wara ġew Malta. F’Malta kienu qegħdin jisennew l-ewwel opportunità, biex jitilqu minn hawn u jkomplu bil-vjaġġ. Meta kienu qegħdin jistennew li jkomplu bil-vjaġġ, iz-ziju tagħha irċieva l-aħbar li ħuh, jiġifieri missierha, kien għadu ħaj u kellu bżonn l-għajnuna. Iz-ziju mar Praga biex jgħinu u jingħaqdu flimkien. Sadanittant, Zehuva jew ‘Z’ kif jien kont ngħidilha, baqgħet f’Malta, tistenna lil zijuha jġib lill-missierha. Qatt ma semgħet f’zijuha u missierha aktar."

Janice tkompli tgħidilna li

"ir-relazzjoni tagħna kompliet tikber u fil-bidu tal-ħamsinijiet, jien kont bdejt ngħix ma’ Zehuva. Bl-għajnuna tal-qraba li kien għad fadlilha rnexxielha b’suċċess tiret, parti mill-ġid tal-familja tagħha u għalkemm dan ma ġabx lura il dawk li mietu, għenna biex infiqu flimkien minn dak kollu li għaddejna mingħajr ma jkollna nittalbu l-flus. Imma l-ġlidiet personali f’dan iż-żmien kienu għadhom se jibdew. Konna kuntenti ħafna flimkien, iżda kien qed jidher biċ-ċar li n-nies fil-komunità tagħna ma kinux kuntenti bir-relazzjoni tagħna. Bdiet issir pressjoni mentali fuqna u jien ma bdejtx niflaħ għaliha. Din laħqet il-quċċata meta l-familja li rabbietni fi żmien il-gwerra, kienu qaluli li ma kontx milqugħa aktar id-dar sakemm jien nibqa’ b’relazzjoni u kuntatt max-‘xitan’. Kontiwament kont niġġieled miegħi nnifsi biex nipprova nifhem kif il-familja li tant uriet ġenerożità miegħi meta mietu l-membri tal-familja tiegħi, spiċċaw jarawni daqshekk f’dawl ikrah. Dan kollu għax kont qed ninħabb ma’ mara oħra. Kien diffiċli li nifhem dan, għax jien irraġunajt li huma għandhom ikunu kuntenti li jien kont qed ngħix ma xi ħadd li kien qed jieħu ħsiebi."

Jaħarbu minn Malta
Janice tkompli tgħidilna li

"għexna f’din it-tensjoni għal ftit snin oħra. Kemm Zehuva kif ukoll jien, qbilna li biex ngħixu ħajja normali, kien ikun aħjar għalina li nibdew ngħixu f’kommunità li taċċetta li jkun hemm koppja ffurmata minn żewġ nisa. Ma kinitx deċiżjoni faċli. Ridna għalhekk bil-fors inħallu l-Malta. Konna eskużi mill-bqija tas-soċjetà f’Malta, għalkemm aħna konna kuntenti. Jien kont inħobb lill-pajjiżi, iżda jien ma kontx aċċettata. F’Għawdex qatt ma kont mort.

"Zehuva kienet akbar minni u hi kellha esperjenzi diretti ta’ xi tfisser persekuzzjoni. Hi kienet Lhudija u bħal ħafna Lhud oħra, hi kienet determinata li ma tkunx trattata bħala ċittadina tat-tieni klassi. Hi kienet assiguratni li koppji lesbjani jkunu aktar aċċettati fil-komunità fejn il-familja tagħha kienet tgħaddi s-Sajf. Zehuva għamlet l-arranġamenti kollha biex inmorru ngħixu f’waħda mir-residenzi li hi kienet wirtet fl-iSvizzera.

"Ftit xhur wara ħrabna minn Malta fuq il-jott ta’ kuġinuha. Ma stajtx nemmen li kienu ġew għalina fuq dgħajsa privata. U s-sorpriżi komplew. L-ewwel li morna kien f’Venezja. Hemmhekk ġejna milqugħin mill-kuġina tagħha Yitta u r-raġel tagħha Ismail. Venezja kienet qisha dinja ġdida għalija. Dan kien il-bidu ta’ xi ħaġa ġdida, imma d-dwejjaq bdew ġejjin ukoll. Bdejt inħoss in-nuqqas ta’ Malta. Bdejt kontinwament inġib il-memorji ta’ qraba tiegħi qegħdin imutu. Bdejt nistaqsi għalfejn kelli nitlaq minn pajjiżi.

"Għodwa waħda, dgħajsa żgħira ħaditna minn Venezja lejn post ieħor fejn hemm sibna karozza tistenniena u bdejt vjaġġ twil. Bqajt impressjonata meta dħalna fil-grada prinċipali li kienet tagħti lejn id-dar ġdida tiegħi. Bdejt nieħu l-idea ta’ kemm Zehuva kienet privileġġjata. Ridt tieħu l-isbaħ ħames minuti sewqan biex mill-grada prinċipali tasal fid-dar. Kienet dar stupenda u mill-isbaħ. Kienet qisha Berġa, minn dak li bnew f’Malta il-Kavallieri. Il-ġonna ta’ madwar kienu kkultivati. Kien hemm għadd ta’ ħaddiema, impjegati magħhom, li kienu qegħdin jistennewna. F’dan il-ħin bdejt nibki. Bdejt inħossni qisni prinċipessa. Bdejt ngħix f’dan l-ambjent ġdid u jien apprezzajt ħafna il-ħajja ġdida. Sirna attivi f’dik il-komunità lokali. Konna aċċettati ħafna minn nies u fi ftit żmien sirna l-qalb ta’ dik il-komunità Svizzera".

Ħajja ġdida

"Minn dan il-mument jien u Zehuva bdejna ngħixu ħajja mill-ġdid. Iddeċidejna li ngawdu l-ħajja mill-aħjar li nistgħu. Bdejna norganizzaw diversi parties u attivitajiet soċjali u meta bdiet tiżdied il-popolarità tal-vjaġġi bl-ajru, bdejna nivvjaġġaw u nesploraw id-dinja. Għaddew erbgħin sena u għalkemm konna akbar fl-età sirna aktar naħsbu b’moħħna. Jien kont inweġġa’ meta niftakar li kelli nitlaq minn pajjiżi. Għadni nitnikket sa’ llum b’dan."

Weġgħat ġodda

"Illum għandi weġgħat ġodda. Weġgħat li ma nistax naħrab minnu u li bil-mod il-mod qegħdin jherruni minn ġewwa. Zehuva mietet fl-1993. Jien waqajt f’dipressjoni u ngħalaqt fid-dar għal aktar minn sena. F’dan iż-żmien ma kontx noħroġ mid-dar. L-anġlu kustodju tiegħi kienet mietet. Ftit żmien wara kelli ninħareġ mid-dar, biex ħaduni l-isptar. Kont waqajt f’salt u f’moħħi kont qed naħseb li kien xi attakk tal-qalb. Ma kienx hekk. It-tobba qaluli li kelli Kanċer, u tawni ftit xhur biss ħajja. Dan daqq bħal allarm f’widnejja. Jien kont wegħdt lil Zehuva li meta tmut hi, jien xorta kont se nibqa’ ngħix ħajja kuntenta. B’dan il-ħsieb f’moħħi bdejt naħseb biex ngħix ħajja ġdida. Bdejt nerġgħa nagħmel il-kuntatti mal-ħbieb u nies fil-kommunità u ntfajt b’ruħi u ġismi ngħin lill-komunità. L-intenzjoni tiegħi kienet li fl-aħħar ftit jiem inkompli ngawdi ħajti u ngħin".

Ftit xhur ħajja spiċċaw snin
Janice tkompli tgħidilna

"li l-ftit xhur ħajja spiċċaw kienu snin. Għaddew għaxar snin minn mindu qaluli li kelli ftit xhur ħajja. Jien kont spiċċajt ngħin lil-omosesswali jaħarbu minn reġimi ta’ dittaturi fl-Afrika u fil-Lvant Nofsani. M’iniex se nispeċifika fuq każijiet partikolari, iżda rrid ngħid li dawn l-attivitajiet u azzjonijiet kienu tawni l-ispirtu mill-ġdid. Kont inħossni kburija b’dak li kont qed nagħmel. Il-fatt li kont qed ngħin persuni bi problema jew persekuzzjoni kienet qiegħda ttini sodisfazzjon kbir. Inħoss li l-ħarsa fuq l-uċuħ tiswa ħafna aktar mid-deheb tad-dinja. Dawn kienu nies li anki fid-dinja ta’ llum, fl-istess pajjiżi dittatorjali qegħdin jiġu ppersegwitati u maqtula. Dawn il-persuni huma aħna, l-omosesswali. Aħna il-Lhud il-ġodda. Jekk taħseb li hi esaġerata erġa’ aħseb mill-ġdid. L-Iran pereżempju jagħmel spettakli pubbliċi minn nies bħalna billi jgħallaqhom fil-pubbliku. Fin-Niġerja, jpoġġu tyres tal-karozzi madwar għonq persuni omosesswali, jimlewhom bil-fjuwil u jtuhom in-nar. Jien smajt il-krib u l-weġgħat tagħhom. Smajna b’każijiet fejn rabtuhom ma trakkijiet u kaxkrhom. Dawn kienu l-istess tweżiqiet li l-ħbieb Lhud tiegħi semmewli. F’Malta qatt ma kien hemm dan l-istat. Minkejja l-istatus ċivilizzat ta’Malta, pajjiżkom qiegħed jittraskura l-bżonnijiet tal-persuni omosesswali. M’hemm riżorsi biżżejjed għall-familji omosesswali. Is-suwiċidji fost persuni ‘gay’ ftit li xejn jingħata kashom. Dawk li qegħdin jeżiljaw ruħhom minn pajjiżkom ukoll qegħdin jiġu injorati. Il-politiċi f’Malta m’għandhom il-kuraġġ li jieħdu pożizzjoni biex jgħinu l-kommunità omosesswali. Tlaqt minn pajjiżi aktar minn nofs seklu ilu. Riċentament jien sirt attiva ma’ attivisti Maltin biex dawn jieħdu d-drittijiet tagħhom bħala persuni omosesswali oħra fl-Unjoni Ewropea".

Il-kummenti ta’ Janice jieqfu hawn. Dan hu dak li laħqet kitbet, qabel ħallietna. Dawn instabu fuq il-laptop tagħha, li kien għadu mixgħul, bl-imejl tagħna fuq l-istess laptop.

Titnikktux b’mewti...

minn Victor Vella, 9 Marzu 2008

http://www.it-torca.com/news.asp?newsitemid=6739

Joe bħall-‘gays’ oħra f’Malta kien qed jiffaċċja t-tbatijiet kollha li hawn fis-soċjetà Maltija għall-persuni ‘gay’. Ibda minn nuqqas ta’ drittijiet legali għat-trobbija ta’ tfal, għaż-żwieġ, benefiċċji u spiċċa fil-mentalità. Ħafna ’gays’ Maltin quddiem is-sitwazzjoni f’pajjiżna jgħaddu minn mumenti fejn jikkontemplaw is-suwiċidju b’mod partikolari meta jaraw li l-persuna li huma jħobbu ma tkunx aċċettata u ma jistgħux jibnu futur magħha. Jew meta jaraw li huma stess ma jkunux aċċettati mill-qraba tagħhom. Fl-aħħar snin kellna diversi każi ta’ suwiċidji fost il-‘gays’ Maltin. ‘Gays’ li tkellmu magħna spjegawlna kif f’perjodi partikolari jiġu dawn it-tentazzjonijiet.

Illum it-torċa se tippubblika ittra li bagħtilna wieħed ‘gay’. Ittra li kiteb lill-ġenituri tiegħu, f’mument ħażin li fih ikkontempla suwiċidju. Dave, minn żmien għal żmien jiġuh dawn it-tentazzjonijiet. Ħafna drabi jispiċċa jingħalaq f’kamartu. Il-parir li kien ingħata minn psikologu hu li meta tiġih din ix-xewqa, jaqbad karta u jikteb l-emozzjonijiet tiegħu, dak kollu li jħoss. Meta kiteb din l-ittra nstab mill-ġenituri tiegħu mitluf minn sensih. Fortunatament laħaq kien salvat bl-interventi mediċi fl-isptar.

L-ittra li kiteb kienet tgħid hekk;

“Għeżież ommi u missieri,

Jiddispjaċini għalikom li nħobb. Imma issa ma nistax nissapporti aktar. Se nwaqqaf il-mixja tal-ħajja hawn. Dan hu d-destin tiegħi. Kien miktub għalija. Ma nistax ngħix bħalkom u bħan-nies l-oħra. Jien ‘gay’. Omosesswali. Pufta, jew ‘il-puffy’ kif jgħiduli ħafna hawn fir-raħal. Qatt ma ridt inkun hekk. Dejjem ittamajt li ninbidel, li jiġri xi ħaġa u ma nibqax hekk. Tlabt fuq li tlabt. Imma ma inbidel xejn. Ridt ngħix ħajja normali bħan-nies tar-raħal, bħal sħabi tal-kulleġġ. Imma Alla ħalaqni hekk, għal raġunijiet li jaf hu. Ma nista’ nagħmel xejn biex ninbidel. Ibqgħu ċerti li kieku jiddependi minni kont ninbidel. Twelidt hekk. Emmnuni, kieku stajt, ma kontx se nagħżel li ngħix din il-ħajja. Iebsa wisq. M’iniex aċċettat. Jiddispjaċini li lilkom se nħallilkom dan ma wiċċkom. Imma jien illum ma niflaħx ngħix iżjed din il-ħajja. Wara din l-ittra jien se nkunu qed ngħix ħajja aħjar. Bla biża. Bla agunija. Bla tgħajjir. Se nkun qed ngħix ħajja fil-paċi. Ifhmuni - ma ridtx inweġġagħkom. Ridt li ntemm it-tbatija kbira li kont qed insofri.

“Naf li intom u taqraw din l-ittra forsi se tiddubitaw, taħsbu li qed ngħaġġibha. Il-ġimgħa l-oħra ġie Steve fuqi waqt il-free lesson. Beda jdaħħak klassi u jgħid li nħobb is-subien. Bqajt inħares lejn il-ktieb li kelli, li dak il-ħin kien qed iservini biex ma nħarisx lejh. Qalli, ‘ma tgħid xejn;’ u tajjarli l-ktieb minn idi. Bdejt inħares lejn wiċċ il-mejda. Dar dawra mal-mejda. Stennejt xi daqqa f’għonqi. Dak il-mument bdejt narah ma jispiċċa qatt. Waqaf għal ftit u baqa’ jħares. ‘Kieku pulit jilbes il-puffy ta. Tal-flus. Ajma tirranġahom il-ħbieb int.’ Il-klassi bniet u subien infaqgħu jidħku. Anke t-tnejn ħbieb tiegħi bdew jidħku. Minn Steve kulħadd kien jibża’.

“Kompla jdur mal-mejda. Reġa’ ġie quddiemi. Niżżel subgħajh ma’ wiċċi u qalli, ‘ara tipprovax ma xi wieħed minn sħabi!’ Xi tridni ngħidlu lil dan. Fih darbtejn daqsi. L-iskola vvintawli ħafna laqmijiet. Il-Puffy, iċ-Ċikkulatu. Inkun għaddej mill-kuritur u nisma’ min jgħid ‘armaw il-bumper’. Oħrjan jgħidu ‘ara titbaxxa, għax iċaqqamkom’. Il-kelma waslet ukoll sar-raħal. Sħabi fil-kulleġġ xerduha mar-raħal. Il-ħbieb tar-raħal kollha warrbuni. Ftit li xejn għadhom ikellmuni. Il-Kulleġġ l-istess.

“Nifhem li forsi qed tistaqsu, ‘imma kif saru jafu li inti gay, inti ma wegħdtniex li lilna biss se tgħid;’. Fuq din forsi għandkom raġun. Forsi żbaljajt. Jien imma ngħid li ħadmuni. Kif kontu għedtuli intom, li tħobbuni, jien ma nidhirx iffemminat. Ħadd ma jagħrafni. Sa ftit xhur ilu veru ħadd ma kien jagħrafni. Kelli l-ħbieb. Ngħid id-dritt ma kontx għadni konxju li jien gay. Ħriġt għal ftit ma’ Pauleen. Hemmhekk ikkonfermajt. Ftaħt qalbi magħha. Afdajtha. Xerrditha ma’ kulħadd. Nobgħodha għal dejjem fuq dak li għamlitli’.

“Naf li intom tħobbuni, anki jekk forsi mhux dejjem fhimtuni. Naf li tħobbuni alavolja xxukkjajtkom meta għedtilkom li gay. Fl-iskola imma kont qed ngħix fl-infern. Ma stajtx ngħidilkom minn x’hiex kont għaddej. Ma ridtx ninkwetakom.

“Ma rridx inweġġa’ aktar. Xbajt inkun imżeblaħ Irrid immut. Nitlaq. Noħroġ minn dan il-ġisem. Neħles. Nixtieq li tibqgħu tiftakruni bħala dak il-bniedem li dejjem kont bi tbissima. Aħfruli li ħbejt minnkom dak li kont għaddej minnu fl-iskola. Irridkom tibqgħu tħobbuni. Titnikktux bil-mewt tiegħi. Jien issa qed inħossni aħjar. Naf li ftit ħin ieħor mhux se nibqa’ nsofri. Daqshekk beżquli. La nitlaq minn dan il-post ta’ l-ipokriti se nkun aħjar. Għax fejn nista’ nkun agħar milli hawn;

“Wasal il-mument li nħallikom. Tibkunix u ftakru li jien kont u nibqa’ nħobbkom.”

Tkellimna mal-psikologu, Antoine Spiteri, dwar is-suwiċidji fost il-’gays’ b’mod partikolari f’Malta. Qalilna li “l-isfidi li għandhom it-tendenzi ta’ suwiċidji fuq il-gays f’Malta, jixxiebħu ħafna ma’ l-isfidi li jiffaċċjaw il-’gays’ f’pajjiżi oħra Ewropej. Id-differenzi jinsabu primarjament fil-programm ta’ intervent, trattament, it-tagħrif miġbur minn riċerka fuq din il-materja, l-edukazzjoni, veduti soċjali u politiċi dwar l-omosesswalità u fuq kollox żieda fil-livell ta’ diskriminazzjoni lejn l-omosesswali.”

Antoine Spiteri sostna li “mir-riċerka jidher li żgħażagħ ‘gay’ huma f’riskju akbar għal tentazzjoni ta’ suwiċidju. Riċerka li tidentifika u tindirizza l-bżonnijiet ta’ l-omosesswali Maltin hi ineżistenti iżda mir-riċerka li saret f’pajjiżi Ewropej jidher li l-’gays’ f’dawn il-pajjiżi huma bejn tnejn jew tliet darbiet aktar suxxettibbli li jagħmlu suwiċidju. F’ċerti pajjiżi Ewropej, is-suwiċidji minn żgħażagħ ‘gays’ jitilgħu sa 30 fil-mija ta’ dawk li jagħmlu suwiċidju. Minn studji jirriżultà li 50 fil-mija taż-żgħażagħ ‘gay’ għandhom ċans aktar serju li jikkonsidraw suwiċidju, fejn ħafna minnhom jirrimarkaw li dawn ix-xewqat suwiċidjali huma marbuta ma’ l-orjentazzjoni sesswali. Dan hu minħabba diversi fatturi fosthom depressjoni, użu ta’ sustanzi, vjolenza u vittimizzazzjoni. Apparti dan hemm kunflitt fil-familji, problemi fl-iskejjel, stigma soċjo-kulturali kif ukoll l-omofobija. Tajjeb jingħad li nofs iż-żgħażagħ ‘gay’ li għamlu attentat ta’ suwiċidju rrapurtaw li missirijiethom m’aċċettaw-homx.”

Dwar is-sitwazzjoni f’Malta, Antoine Spiteri isostni li “f’Malta hawn bżonn programmi, politika u riżorsi biex ikunu ta’ għajnuna u appoġġ għall-adoloxxenti ‘gays’. Dawn iż-żgħażagħ jinsabu f’riskju konsiderevoli. Aktar għaqda u aċċettazzjoni fil-familji, għajnuna minn adulti u sigurtà akbar fl-iskejjel, kollha juru li jistgħu jwasslu biex jitnaqqsu x-xewqat suwiċidali fost iż-żgħażagħ ‘gay’. Apparti dan, ir-riċerka u programm ta’ interventi huma meħtieġa f’Malta biex titnaqqas l-istigma li teżisti, stigma li twassal biex individwi u l-qraba ma jmorrux għall-għajnuna li jkollhom bżonn”.

victorvella2002@yahoo.com
antoine@antoinespiteri.com

Why gay voters cannot vote for GonziPN

I always voted PN. I always went carcading waving the flags with pride, feeling an adrenaline rush for supporting the party I truly believed in.

Why am I terrified of GonziPN?

Malta overhauled its labour law in 2002. The new Employment And Industrial Relations Act introduced provisions against discrimination at work covering a number of factors such as, gender, religion and race. Lawrence Gonzi, then Minister for Social Policy, refused to insert the last one covered by an EU Directive on discrimination in employment: sexual orientation. He refused to protect gays at work. It was only after the EU Commission was alerted, that Gonzi was forced to implement this important section in the law.

What does this mean?

A very good Italian friend of mine is a brilliant doctor specialised in emergency medicine. He is the type of doctor who will try to save your life after a terrible car accident. He is gay. His parents took a large number of years to accept it and he still suffers from severe depression. He can sleep only a few hours a day, and at times he thinks of committing suicide. Is Lawrence Gonzi afraid of protecting the job of a man like this?

An other friend of mine is a German engineer. He is gay. We worked together at Mercedes-Benz. He specialises in the car safety systems. He makes sure that in case of a severe car accident, the car crumples in such a way that the doors can still be opened easily, thus reducing the rescue time, and people’s lives. Is Lawrence Gonzi afraid of protecting the job of such a man too?

What are you afraid of? If you don’t want gays and lesbians in the Catholic Action (Azzjoni Kattolika) of which you were the leader, it’s up to you, but not taking a stand on these critical employment issues, is an outrageous and unworthy of someone who describes himself as leader.

Why is it that Lawrence Gonzi refused to consider giving the right to urgent family leave to gays whose partner is, for example, severely ill in hospital? Isn’t this cruelty? Shouldn’t society help you when you are most in need so you can recuperate quickly and be productive again instead of having to suffer the anxiety of having an ill partner without benefiting from that support that is so readily extended to straight couples by this state? Isn’t this a severe mental trauma at the most difficult time in life?

Why is it that David Casa and Simon Busuttil object to motions in the EU parliament condemning the killing of gays?

Why are young gays committing suicide in this country? Why are gays exiling themselves from this country? What is so bad about being gay?

Do you really believe the PN will give gays any rights? They have been promising a law on cohabitation since 1998. Look what’s been done!

We are drowning in hypocrisy.

Let’s put a halt to all this.

Vote 1 Alternattika Demokratika.

Dr. Ing. Patrick Attard

University Debate for Young Candidates

Part 1/6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFnAGFv8gs0

Part 2/6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GefvxuEV1Lo

Part 3/6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GefvxuEV1Lo

Part 4/6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPbw6Tk0Wdc

Part 5/6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bDLhQbOcFY

Part 6/6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGPa_9DFA_A

Malta Gay Exiles

http://www.it-torca.com/news.asp?newsitemid=6648

Nitkellmu ma’ l-omosesswali minn Malta....
Il-Mascot ta’ l-eziljati

minn Victor Vella

Boghod minn art twelidhom imma b’talbiet kontinwi biex jghinu huthom Maltin li ma jistghux jghixu hajjithom bid-drittijiet bhal nies u familji tradizzjonali f’Malta, omosesswali li spiccaw refugjati f’pajjizi Ewropej b’mod partikolari fir-Renju Unit, iddecidew li jwaqqfu dik li qieghda tissejjah bhala l-”Malta Gay Exiles’.

L-ghajnuna tvarja kemm f’dawk li huma proceduri ta’ xoghol, biex isibu università u anke appogg morali u psikologiku biex johorgu mit-trawma li jkunu ghaddew f’Malta. Il-Malta Gay Exiles, ghandhom ukoll il-maskot taghhom, Antoine Spiteri, omosesswali li ezilja ruhu minn Malta ta’ 15-il sena. Illum mizzewweg b’mod legali fir-Renju Unit, kuntent u ‘l quddiem hu l-hsieb taghhom li jadottaw it-tfal.

Il-hajja ta’ Spiteri fir-Renju Unit, kif gara bhal fil-kaz ta’ Chris Borg, li trattajna l-istorja tieghu l-gimgha li ghaddiet, inbidlet mill-lejl ghan-nhar. Spiteri mhux biss zviluppa lilu nnifsu u hareg mit-trawma li kellu bil-hajja f’pajjizna, izda llum il-hidma ta’ Spiteri fejn jidhlu c-Chimpanzee’s u r-ricerka li ghamel fuqhom hi maghrufa ma’ l-erbat irjieh tad-dinja.



Antoine Spiteri dwar il-hajja f’Malta

Hu jiddeskrivi s-socjetà Maltija bhala li ghandha strutturi inaccettabbli. Spjega li “meta nghid hekk inkun qed nirreferi ghal-limitazzjoni li membri ta’ gruppi ta’ minoritajiet jiffaccjaw b’mod personali, socjalment u anke politikament. Meta tqabbel lil Malta ma’ xi pajjizi ohrajn Ewropej, il-limitazzjonijiet li jiffaccjaw l-omosesswali f’Malta huma sproporzjonati. Fost dawn hemm nuqqas ta’ servizz ghall-komunità ta’ omosesswali, lesbjani, bisesswali u transesswali f’Malta. Hemm barrieri kulturali biex tghix il-hajja ta’ omosesswali u limitazzjonijiet fuq opportunitajiet edukattivi ghall-membri ta’ gruppi ta’ minoranzi. Hemm ukoll il-limitazzjonijiet politici bejn l-eterosesswali u l-omosesswali, fosthom l-gharfien ta’ relazzjoni bejn koppji omosesswali, il-ligijiet ta’ l-immigrazzjoni u l-gharfien ghall-familji omosesswali”.



L-ezilju lejn Los Angeles ta’ 15-il sena

Antoine Spiteri spjega li “kont qed inhoss li kont qed nikber f’ambjent politiku u religjuz li kien konservattiv ghall-ahhar. Il-Patrijiet Dumnikani kienu qeghdin jghiduli li “m’hemm xejn hazin li nkun ‘gay’, izda tipprattikax”, waqt li l-Gvern kien qed jghid li “m’hemm xejn hazin li jien omosesswali izda tistenniex li se naghrfuk bhala bniedem komplet”. “Ghal hafna snin kont inhossni kkonfrontat mill-istrutturi qawwija tas-socjetà li kienu jiggudikaw u jittimbraw certi attitudnijiet u certu stil ta’ hajja bhala inaccettabbli. Din poggietni f’pozizzjoni kerha u b’hekk kont imgieghel nahseb mill-gdid fuq il-valuri tieghi, dak li nemmen u dak kollu li kien hemm madwari. Iddecidejt li nhalli Malta

Jenfasizza li l-punt li l-aktar li ghafsu biex ihalli lil Malta kienet is-sistema edukattiva. Qalilna li “s-sistema edukattiva ma kinitx taghmilha facli ghall-individwi minn gruppi li gejjin minn minoritajiet biex ikunu success. Ma kien hemm l-ebda ligijiet dwar l-ibbuljar, ma kien hemm l-ebda appogg ghall-vittmi ta’ l-omofobija u ebda rikonoxximent li jezistu omosesswali adoloxxenti. Kien difficli ghall-individwi li ma kinux kompatibbli mat-taghlim u testijiet standard u ma kien hemm l-ebda appogg ghall-istudenti li jsofri minn marki baxxi sempliciment ghax is-sistema edukattiva hi eterosessista”.



Ir-religjon f’Malta u l-omosesswali

Antoine Spiteri jghidilna li “minhabba l-influwenza kbira li r-religjon ghandha fuq is-socjetà u l-kultura Maltija, din l-istess influwenza ghandha implikazzjonijiet kbar fuq kif is-socjetà thares lejn l-omosesswalità u fuq kollox kif l-omosesswali jharsu lejhom infushom. It-tbatija u s-sofferenza li l-omosesswali jesperjenzaw, minhabba rizultat dirett ta’ pregudizzjoni religjuz, ghandhom ikunu rikonoxxuti, u mistharrgin biex jinhargu mizuri biex jaraw li l-omosesswali ma jibqghux aktar mhedda, oppressati u ppersegwitati fizikament u psikologikament. Ghal dawk li weggghu minn dawn il-pregudizzji u azzjonijiet, inhoss li ghandu jkun hemm riparazzjoni u anke appogg biex il-vittmi jkunu mghejjunin. Ghalliema omosesswali ghandhom ikunu protetti bil-ligi u l-ghalliema kollha kemm eterosesswali kif ukoll l-omosesswali, ghandu jkollhom l-istess limitazzjonijiet u libertajiet meta jigu biex jinfluwenzaw lill-istudenti fuq dak li jemmnu u jghixu huma personalment”.



Il-kuntatt ma’ Malta u l-familja nzamm

Antoine Spiteri qalilna li “meta nuza l-kelma ezilju, jien inkun qieghed nirreferi ghat-tluq tieghi b’mod volontarju minn pajjizi u ghad-distakk b’mod psikologiku minn kultura li jien naraha bhala li hi ta’ detriment ghall-omosesswali. Minn Malta tlaqt lejn Los Angeles, belt liberali. Mort hemmhekk biex nghix f’belt, li kienet tqis li l-omosesswali ghandhom jithallew jghixu fil-libertà u meqjusa bhala mem-bri validi ghas-socjetà t’hemm-hekk. Ghalkemm nghix barra, ghad ghandi rabtiet qawwijin ma’ Malta. Ta’ kuljum incempel lil ommi u membri ohrajn tal-familja. L-assi tieghi jinsabu kollha f’Malta. B’mod generali nhossni Malti u nigi Malta regolarment. Nghix fir-Renju Unit mas-sieheb tieghi. Hawnhekk sar progress socjali fejn jidhlu d-drittijiet ta’ l-omosesswali u l-ugwaljanza bejn l-eterosesswali u l-omosesswali. Jista’ jkun li xi darba, l-omosesswali li hallew Malta jhossu li huma ukoll ghadhom post fis-socjetà Maltija u b’hekk ikunu jistghu jergghu jigu lura. Sakemm isehh dan, hafna zghazagh se jkunu qeghdin iharsu lejn sistema socjali aktar tolleranti”.



Daqt jaghlaq sena u nofs mizzewweg

Antoine Spiteri spjegalna li “fit-8 ta’ Settembru se nkun ghalaqt sena mindu jien u s-sieheb tieghi David izzewwigna bic-civil taht il-ligi Ingliza. F’dan il-mument ninsabu ferhanin u kuntenti hafna u qeghdin nippjanaw li jkollna t-tfal fil-futur qrib”. L-omosesswali jistghu jrabbu t-tfal billi jadottaw.

Antoine qalilna li “kienet preferenza tieghi li jkolli t-tfal f’Malta u li jikbru hemm, boghod mill-perikli li jezistu fi bliet kbar. F’dan il-mument izda ma nhossx li l-ambjent f’Malta hu ideali ghall-familji omosesswali. Nara izda li xi darba, l-familji omosesswali se jkunu jistghu jirritornaw lejn Malta minghajr ma jhossuhom li qeghdin f’sistema legali zbilancjata kontrihom.”



Il-hidma fil-Malta Gay Exiles

Ricentament twaqqfet il-Malta Gay Exiles u ghalkemm Antoine mhux wiehed minn dawk li jmexxuha, hu gie maghzul bhala l-mascot ta’ din l-ghaqda.

Antoine Spiteri qalilna li “l-Malta Gay Exiles hi ghaqda ta’ persuni, li konna sirna nafu l-xulxin permezz tal-Facebook. M’inix involut fl-organizazzjoni ta’ din l-ghaqda, izda infurmat li l-ghan taghha hu li ggib nies qrib xulxin u li ghandhom problemi jew thassib fuq is-sitwazzjoni fejn jidhlu drittijiet u ugwaljanza ta’ l-omosesswali f’Malta. Din l-ghaqda fiha nies li bhali kellhom jeziljaw ruhhom minn art twelidhom. Wiehed mill-ghanijiet hu li noholqu kuxjenza f’Malta fuq l-omosesswali. Ahna hrigna mit-trawma, izda ghad hemm hafna li minhabba nuqqas ta’ opportunitajiet jew restrizzjonijiet ohra ghadhom qeghdin ibatu fis-silenzju. Primarjament l-ghan tal-Malta Gay Exiles hu dak li jkun vuci favur l-ugwaljanza.”



‘Lest li nghin b’kull mod’

Antoine Spiteri maghruf ghall-karattru dhuli tieghu, qalilna “jien lest li nipprovdi l-ghajnuna kollha li nista’ lil din l-ghaqda u l-dawk li jitolbuha. L-ghajnuna tieghi hi f’appogg morali, dikjarazzonijiet pubblici, pariri lill-ohrajn. Aktar tard lest li noffri parti mill-hin tieghi biex nipprovdi pariri personali bla hlas permezz tal-Malta Gay Exiles, lil dawk iz-zghazagh Maltin li qeghdin isibuha difficli kemm biex jghixu f’Malta jew biex jiddikjaraw fil-berah li huma omosesswali. Bi hsiebni niehu sehem f’tahdidiet pubblici li jqajmu kuxjenza fuq is-sitwazzjoni f’Malta. Staqsewni biex inkun il-mascot ghall-eziljati Maltin, u jien accettajt bil-ferh u ghalissa se nkun anke qed nehdilhom hsieb il-websajt”.



Kemm hu l-ammont ta’ eziljati Maltin?

Ghal din il-mistoqsija, Antoine Spiteri qalilna li “n-numru ezatt mhux maghruf. Biss b’mod regolari niltaqa’ ma’ nies li kellhom jitilqu minn Malta biex jghixu mas-sieheb taghhom. Issibhom f’kull sezzjoni tan-negozju jew servizzi. Issib dawk zghar fl-età u ohrajn kbar, sinjuri u fqar. Issib min hu wahdu u hafna ohrajn bis-sieheb. Hawn diversi li zzewgu ukoll u qeghdin irabbu t-tfal. Naf nies Maltin bhal danw fi New York, Texas, California, l-Awstralja, l-Kanada, l-Olanda, Brussels, Franza, Spanja, l-Italja u l-Germanja fost ohrajn. Hafna minn dawn ghadhom ma jafux bil-Malta Gay Exiles, biss dawn kollha ghandhom haga wahda komuni...’kellhom jitilqu minn pajjizhom’”.

victorvella2002@yahoo.com

L-Orizzont: Il-'gay drain' minn Malta biex imorru jghixu vera suret in-nies Fl-ezilju… imma kuntent hafna

http://www.l-orizzont.com/news.asp?newsitemid=37971

Il-'gay drain' minn Malta biex imorru jgœixu vera suret in-nies Fl-eÿilju… imma kuntent œafna

minn Victor Vella

Immaġinaw ftit. Żagħżugħ jinduna li l-ġibdiet tiegħu huma lejn is-sess maskili – omosesswali. L-atteġġjament tiegħu u forsi l-mod kif jaħseb, jibda' jwasslu biex sħabu jemarġinawh. Iċ-ċajt goff jipprovawh fuqu l-ewwel "għax hu mhux bħalhom". Ħafna drabi jispiċċa vittma ta' bbuljar, mgħajjar u insulentat. Appoġġ fl-iskola jew servizzi ta' appoġġ għalih ma jsibx. In-nies fit-triq u s-soċjetà inġenerali ukoll titkaża bih. Il-patrijiet jgħidulu "xejn ħażin li inti omosesswali, imma tippratti-kahiex". Kull fejn imur jinduna li jkun diskriminat, li m'għandux id-drittijiet daqs l-eterosesswali. Kull fejn imur mit-toroq sal-knejjes, ħafna jippontaw subgħajhom lejh. Ta' ġewwa wkoll jinħasdu meta jgħidilhom li omosesswali. Ikun hemm min jgħidlu li "se tħassrilna l-unur tal-familja" jew li hu "n-nagħġa s-sewda tal-familja". Din hi s-sitwazzjoni li jgħixu fiha ħafna omosesswali f'Malta. Il-mistoqsija hi x'tista' tagħmel jekk int omosesswali u trid verament tgħix ħajtek bi drittijiet daqs in-nies l-oħrajn. Is-soluzzjoni, għal ħafna omosesswali, hi waħda – dik li teżilja ruħek, għax sa issa f'Malta għadna wisq lura biex l-omosesswali jingħataw drittijiethom kif għandhom f'pajjiżi Ewropej. Meta tagħmel hekk tibda tgħix ħajtek, skond l-emozzjonijiet tiegħek, fil-kuntentizza u mingħajr ma tkun iġġudikat. Għadd ta' omosesswali imxew fuq dawn il-passi u ħallew jew qegħdin jitilqu minn Malta, f'dak li qed jissejjaħ il-'gay drain'. Wieħed minn dawk li ma felaħx u ma setax jgħix aktar f'Malta, kien Antoine Spiteri, li eżilja ruħu minn Malta, fl-età żgœira ta' 15-il sena. Illum Spiteri, mhux biss żviluppa l-karattru tiegħu tant li għamel riċerka interessanti fuq iċ-'chimpanzees', iżda qiegħed jgħix ħajtu kif dejjem xtaq, miżżewwġġ u l-quddiem bit-tfal ukoll. Antoine u David issa ilhom sena miżżewæin, bir-rispett u l-imħabba lejn xulxin fl-aħħar sena qatt ma naqsu. Huma tant jinsabu kuntenti jgħixu ħajjithom, li qegħdin jippjanaw li jkollhom it-tfal fil-futur qrib, billi jadottaw. Ix-xewqa ta' Antoine dejjem kienet li jkollu tfal f'Malta, iżda fiċ-ċirkostanzi preżenti din ma tistax isseħħ. l-orizzont ikkomunika ma' Antoine Spiteri u staqsejnieh dwar id-deċiżjoni li jeżilja ruħu minn Malta. Tkellimna miegħu ukoll fuq il-ħajja miżżewġa fir-Renju Unit.

Hu jiddeskrivi s-soċjetà Maltija bœala li gœandha strutturi inaççettabbli. Spjega li "meta ngœid hekk inkun qed nirreferi gœal-limitazzjoni li membri ta' gruppi ta' minoritajiet jiffaççjaw b'mod personali, soçjalment u anke politikament. Meta tqabbel lil Malta ma' xi pajjiÿi oœrajn Ewropej, il-limitazzjonijiet li jiffaççjaw l-omosesswali f'Malta huma sproporzjonati. Fost dawn hemm nuqqas ta' servizz gœall-komunità ta' omosesswali, lesbjani, bisesswali u transesswali f'Malta. Hemm barrieri kulturali biex tgœix il-œajja ta' omosesswali u limitazzjonijiet fuq opportunitajiet edukattivi gœall-membri ta' gruppi ta' minoranzi. Hemm ukoll il-limitazzjonijiet politiçi bejn l-eterosesswali u l-omosesswali, fosthom l-gœarfien ta' relazzjoni bejn koppji omosesswali, il-liæijiet ta' l-immigrazzjoni u l-gœarfien gœall-familji omosesswali".



L-eÿilju lejn Los Angeles ta' 15-il sena

Antoine Spiteri spjega li "kont qed inœoss li kont qed nikber f'ambjent politiku u reliæjuÿ li kien konservattiv gœall-aœœar, ambjent li ma kienx possibbli li ÿagœÿugœ omosesswali jiÿviluppa u jimxi 'l quddiem. Il-Patrijiet Dumnikani kienu qegœdin jgœiduli li "m'hemm xejn œaÿin li nkun 'gay', iÿda tipprattikax", waqt li l-Gvern kien qed jgœid li "m'hemm xejn œaÿin li jien omosesswali iÿda tistenniex li se nagœrfuk bœala bniedem komplet". "Gœal œafna snin kont inœossni kkonfrontat mill-istrutturi qawwija tas-soçjetà li kienu jiææudikaw u jittimbraw çerti attitudnijiet u çertu stil ta' œajja bœala inaççettabbli. Din poææietni f'poÿizzjoni kerha u b'hekk kont imæiegœel naœseb mill-ædid fuq il-valuri tiegœi, dak li nemmen u dak kollu li kien hemm madwari. Iddeçidejt li nœalli Malta."

Jenfasizza li l-punt li l-aktar li gœafsu biex iœalli lil Malta kienet is-sistema edukattiva. Qalilna li "s-sistema edukattiva ma kinitx tagœmilha façli gœall-individwi minn gruppi li æejjin minn minoritajiet biex ikunu suççess. Ma kien hemm l-ebda liæijiet dwar l-ibbuljar, ma kien hemm l-ebda appoææ gœall-vittmi ta' l-omofobija u ebda rikonoxximent li jeÿistu omosesswali adoloxxenti. Kien diffiçli gœall-individwi li ma kinux kompatibbli mat-tagœlim u testijiet standard u ma kien hemm l-ebda appoææ gœall-istudenti li jsofri minn marki baxxi sempliçiment gœax is-sistema edukattiva hi eterosessista".



Ir-reliæjon f'Malta u l-omosesswali

Antoine Spiteri jgœidilna li "minœabba l-influwenza kbira li r-reliæjon gœandha fuq is-soçjetà u l-kultura Maltija, din l-istess influwenza gœandha implikazzjonijiet kbar fuq kif is-soçjetà tœares lejn l-omosesswalità u fuq kollox kif l-omosesswali jœarsu lejhom infushom. It-tbatija u s-sofferenza li l-omosesswali jesperjenzaw, minœabba riÿultat dirett ta' preæudizzjoni reliæjuÿ, gœandhom ikunu rikonoxxuti, u mistœarræin biex jinœaræu miÿuri biex jaraw li l-omosesswali ma jibqgœux aktar mhedda, oppressati u ppersegwitati fiÿikament u psikoloæikament. Gœal dawk li weæægœu minn dawn il-preæudizzji u azzjonijiet, inœoss li gœandu jkun hemm riparazzjoni u anke appoææ biex il-vittmi jkunu mgœejjunin. Gœalliema omosesswali gœandhom ikunu protetti bil-liæi u l-gœalliema kollha kemm eterosesswali kif ukoll l-omosesswali, gœandu jkollhom l-istess limitazzjonijiet u libertajiet meta jiæu biex jinfluwenzaw lill-istudenti fuq dak li jemmnu u jgœixu huma personalment".



Il-kuntatt ma' Malta u l-familja nÿamm

Antoine Spiteri qalilna li "meta nuÿa l-kelma eÿilju, jien inkun qiegœed nirreferi gœat-tluq tiegœi b'mod volontarju minn pajjiÿi u gœad-distakk b'mod psikoloæiku minn kultura li jien naraha bœala li hi ta' detriment gœall-omosesswali. Minn Malta tlaqt lejn Los Angeles, belt liberali. Mort hemmhekk biex ngœix f'belt, li kienet tqis li l-omosesswali gœandhom jitœallew jgœixu fil-libertà u meqjusa bœala mem-bri validi gœas-soçjetà t'hemm-hekk. Gœalkemm ngœix barra, gœad gœandi rabtiet qawwijin ma' Malta. Ta' kuljum inçempel lil ommi u membri oœrajn tal-familja. L-assi tiegœi jinsabu kollha f'Malta. B'mod æenerali nœossni Malti u niæi Malta regolarment. Ngœix fir-Renju Unit mas-sieœeb tiegœi. Hawnhekk sar progress soçjali fejn jidœlu d-drittijiet ta' l-omosesswali u l-ugwaljanza bejn l-eterosesswali u l-omosesswali. Jista' jkun li xi darba, l-omosesswali li œallew Malta jœossu li huma ukoll gœadhom post fis-soçjetà Maltija u b'hekk ikunu jistgœu jerægœu jiæu lura. Sakemm iseœœ dan, œafna ÿgœaÿagœ se jkunu qegœdin iœarsu lejn sistema soçjali aktar tolleranti".



Jagœlaq sena miÿÿewweæ mas-sieœeb

Antoine Spiteri spjegalna li "fit-8 ta' Settembru se nkun gœalaqt sena mindu jien u s-sieœeb tiegœi David iÿÿewwiæna biç-çivil taœt il-liæi Ingliÿa. F'dan il-mument ninsabu ferœanin u kuntenti œafna u qegœdin nippjanaw li jkollna t-tfal fil-futur qrib". L-omosesswali jistgœu jrabbu t-tfal billi jadottaw.

Antoine qalilna li "kienet preferenza tiegœi li jkolli t-tfal f'Malta u li jikbru hemm, bogœod mill-perikli li jeÿistu fi bliet kbar. F'dan il-mument iÿda ma nœossx li l-ambjent f'Malta hu ideali gœall-familji omosesswali. Nara iÿda li xi darba, l-familji omosesswali se jkunu jistgœu jirritornaw lejn Malta mingœajr ma jœossuhom li qegœdin f'sistema legali ÿbilançjata kontrihom."

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