Independent Gay Forum: A Life Well Lived

http://www.indegayforum.org/news/show/31597.html
30 Aug 2008; by Paul Varnell
First published in the Chicago Free Press, Sept. 3, 2008

The news last Wednesday that pioneer lesbian activist Del Martin had died came as a shock. Not because she wasn't old. At 87, she was. But because she and her partner Phyllis Lyon have been creative forces in the gay liberation and women's movements during all of my own long activist life—and back far earlier as well. They seemed eternal presences. It never occurred to me that either might die.

Dorothy ("Del") Martin was a native San Franciscan, born there on May 5, 1921. She was graduated from what is now San Francisco State University where she became managing editor of the student newspaper. While there she married the paper's business manager James Martin and two years later they had a daughter. But they eventually divorced.

She moved to Seattle to take a job with a newspaper for the construction industry, where she met Lyon and the two became fast friends. One evening in 1952, Lyon wrote, "Sitting on the couch in my apartment, she made what I considered a half pass at me—I completed the other half. We had sex together for the first time." In short order they became partners.

Early in their relationship they tried to imitate male/female heterosexual roles, as did most lesbian couples at the time. Lyon recalled that "we were in the butch/femme bag ourselves. ... We had no other pattern." (Martin once referred to herself as a "sissy butch.") But they eventually abandoned the attempt "because neither one of us really fit into those roles."

Moving back to San Francisco, the two did not know any other lesbians
until a gay male friend introduced them to a lesbian friend of his.

One evening in 1955 the lesbian friend called and said, "Would you like to join me, my partner, and two other couples in starting a secret club for lesbians." Of course they would! They named the secret club the "Daughters of Bilitis," after a small book of lesbian-themed poems, "Songs of Bilitis," by turn-of-the-century French writer Pierre Louys who created Bilitis as an openly lesbian contemporary of Sappho.

When the group decided to formalize its organization, Martin was selected as president. In 1960 she followed Lyon as the editor of the DOB magazine, "The Ladder." The name was chosen to imply that lesbians, as individuals and as a group, hoped to achieve higher social status.

The first issue was mimeographed and stapled by hand. They mailed it to 175 people, everyone the DOB members knew. "There was a fantastic outpouring of gratitude for 'The Ladder,'" Lyon wrote, "beyond anything we expected." After the first issues, letters began coming in from women asking how to meet other lesbians. Invariably Martin and Lyon replied, "Move to a large city." Still good advice today.

When the minister of the progressive Glide Memorial Church formed the Council on Religion and the Homosexual in 1964, he invited Martin to join. The next year Episcopal Bishop James A. Pike invited her to join his new Diocesan Commission on Homosexuality. That began Martin's growing involvement in non-DOB activities, eventually to extend to women's issues generally.

Our of their experience dealing with lesbian issues in a growing number of speaking engagements and requests for information, in 1972 the two women published the important "Lesbian/Woman," a candid, pioneering book, informative for both lesbians and curious heterosexuals. Now in its revised third edition, the book still reads well today. I have bought copies, loaned them to friends, and never gotten them back.

Also in 1972 they helped found the Alice B. Toklas Memorial Democratic Club named after Gertrude Stein's longtime lover. In 1976 San Francisco Mayor George Moscone appointed Martin to his Commission on the Status of Women. In that same year Martin published "Battered Wives," which added impetus to the movement to establish women's shelters across the country.

As Lyon wrote later of Martin, "The number of speeches she gave and the workshops she was involved in at universities and colleges, mental health associations, women's groups of various kinds, and law enforcement agencies increased at a rapid pace." She also continued to write magazine articles promoting her concerns.

In the late 1980s as Martin and Lyon, both then in their 60s, felt themselves aging, the final phase of Martin's activist career centered on the problems of the aging in our society. Most notably, perhaps, both women were appointed to the 1995 White House conference on aging.

Gratifyingly, barely two months before Martin's death, she and Lyon were enabled at long last to legalize their lifelong relationship. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom invited them to be the first couple married after a California Supreme Court ruling declared same-sex marriages were a constitutional right.

It-Torċa: Meta Isqof sar jaf li ħuh kien gay

http://www.it-torca.com (Dan l-artiklu mhux fuq is-sit s'issa)
Minn SAMMY SAMMUT; 31.8.8

• Xi tkun ir-reazzjoni tiegħek jekk bħal sajjetta fil-bnazzi, ħuk jiftaħ qalbu miegħek u jgħidlek li hu gay? X’tagħmel quddiem din l-aħbar, speċjalment jekk it-tagħlim li ħadt fi ħdan il-Knisja Kattolika u d-drawwiet reliġjużi li saru parti minn ħajtek rabbew fik, anke jekk bla ħsieb u kontra x-xewqa tiegħek, omofobija nkallata? Xi tkun it-tweġiba tiegħek għal din l-aħbar meta dejjem ġejt imbumbardjat b’tant dikjarazzjonijiet ‘qaddisa’ li l-omosesswalità hija "perverżjoni u intrinsikament ħażina"? Tiċħdu għax hu midneb? Iżżebilħu għax tikkalkulah bħala mhux normali u inqas uman minnek? X’tagħmel quddiem dikjarazzjoni simili, speċjalment jekk tinzerta li int isqof li tkun qattajt ħajtek kollha taqdi u sservi lill-Knisja Kattolika?



















L-Isqof Thomas Gumbleton

It-tweġiba tiegħek ma nafx xi tkun, għalkemm sinċerament nittama li ma tkunx simili għal dik ta’ xi wħud li jippretenduha li huma spiritwalment ‘imdawlin’ aktar minn oħrajn tant li malajr tarahom jittimbraw lil dak u lill-oħra li huma fid-dnub, u saħansitra jiddikjaraw dan pubblikament fosthom permezz ta’ ittri fil-ġurnali. U agħar minn hekk, waqt li bejn il-linji jagħtu indikazzjoni tat-tniġġiż omofobiku li jkun qed inawwrilhom il-menti tagħhom u lil qalbhom, iwegħdu ‘it-talb’ tagħhom lill-vittmi li disgrazzjatament jinqabdu bejn difrejhom.

It-Torċa: Omelija ta’ l-Isqof t’Għawdex tqajjem kontroversja - Omosesswali u separati jħossuhom offiżi

http://www.it-torca.com/news.asp?newsitemid=7402
31.8.8

Omelija li l-Isqof t' Għawdex, Mons Mario Grech, għamel nhar l-20 ta' Awwissu fl-okkażjoni tas-Sena Pawlina, qajmet kontroversja b'mod speċjali mal-komunità omosesswali f'pajjiżna. Din l-omelija tqieset bħala waħda offensiva u ġabet ir-rabja fost bosta għax anke tinstiga lill-mexxejja politiċi tal-pajjiż biex jilleġiżlaw skond il-fehma tal-Knisja.



















L-E.T. Mons. Mario Grech, Isqof t'Għawdex

Fl-omelija tiegħu, Grech jikkwota mill-kitbiet ta’ San Pawl dwar il-libertà umana. Huwa jikkwota wkoll dawk li San Pawl isejjaħ bħala “limitazzjonijiet tal-libertà umana” u jgħid li dawn għadhom “attwali għalina”. Meta jitkellem dwar is-sesswalità huwa jsemmi “iż-żina (li għall-Knisja jinkludi persuni f’konkubinaġġ jew separati li jgħixu ma’ ħaddieħor), l-adulterju u l-omosesswalità”, kif ukoll isemmi “l-ħsara li jagħmlu l-ambizzjoni, il-firda u l-partiti”. L-Isqof Grech temm l-omelija tiegħu bil-kliem “Nawgura li fid-dawl tat-tagħlim ta’ Pawlu, ġensna li jiftaħar tant b’San Pawl, jagħraf liema huma l-vera libertajiet u jassiguraho anke b’liġijiet proprji.”

Dan ta’ l-aħħar kien interpretat minn bosta, b’mod speċjali attivisti omosesswali u anke persuni separati, bħala indħil mhux mixtieq fil-ħidma ta’ l-Istat li, bħala stat lajk, għandu l-obbligu li jiggarantixxi d-drittijiet ċivili anke lil persuni li mhux neċessarjament jgħixu fil-parametri stabbiliti mill-Knisja. Huma jsostnu li l-Istat għandu l-obbligu li jara li ċ-ċittadini tiegħu jgħixu ħajja “tajba”, f’sens ta’ komunità, u m’għandhomx ikunu diskriminati għax l-għajxien tagħhom ma jaqbilx mad-duttrina tal-Knisja.

Dwar dan, mill-Awstralja, l-avukat Malti Joseph Chetcuti, li kemm-il darba semma’ leħnu dwar id-drittijiet ta’ l-omosesswali, fi stqarrija sostna li ħadd m’għandu d-dritt jindaħal lill-persuni kif għandhom jgħixu ħajjithom fil-kamra tas-sodda tagħhom. Chetcuti jsostni li fl-omelija tiegħu, Grech jonqos milli jagħraf li l-kitba ta’ San Pawl saret fi żminijiet u ċirkostanzi soċjali differenti minn tal-lum, fejn fost affarijiet oħra kienu għadhom ma sarux ċerti żviluppi xjentifiċi li nafu bihom illum. Huwa jsostni li jekk Mons Grech “irid jevanġelizza, il-priedka li jmiss għandu jagħmilha dwar il-pedofilija, b’mod partikolari fost il-kleru Kattoliku fid-djoċesi tiegħu stess, u kif dan l-abbuż kisser tant familji.”

Fl-istqarrija tiegħu, Chetcuti jsemmi wkoll li l-katekiżmu tal-Knisja jagħmel distinzjoni bejn l-omosesswalità u l-atti omosesswali, għax filwaqt li jsejjaħ bħala “kontra n-natura” dawk ta’ l-aħħar ma jikkundannax il-kundizzjoni ta’ l-omosesswalità. Mons Grech, jgħid Chetcuti, neħħa din id-distinzjoni minkejja li numru kbir ta’ persuni omosesswali ma jieħdux sehem f’atti omosesswali. Huwa jinsisti wkoll li l-Isqof Grech naqas milli jagħraf li relazzjonijiet omosesswali huma fuq kollox relazzjonijiet ta’ mħabba u rispett.

Tista' taqra wkoll l-omelija kollha: http://patrickattard.blogspot.com/2008/08/il-vera-liberta-minn-mon-mario-grech.html

Sydney Morning Herald: Olympics 2008: Out-and-out champion celebrates

http://www.smh.com.au/news/diving/outandout-champion-celebrates/2008/08/24/1219516264750.html
Jessica Halloran; August 25, 2008

Matthew Mitcham dives for gold; (Photo: Tim Clayton)

HE KISSED him briefly in the stands and gave him his Olympic bouquet. Later, outside the glowing blue Water Cube, Matthew Mitcham and his partner, Lachlan Fletcher, firmly embraced, both shedding tears. Next it was his mother Vivien's turn to hold her golden boy, and more tears fell.

A stunning final dive that was awarded the highest score in Olympic history gave Mitcham the gold. She proudly said her son was a man of "firsts".

"Coming out publicly, that was a first," said Vivien. "The highest score awarded to an Olympic dive ever, another first. How many more firsts can this child get? Can you find something else to be first in? He's just done so well. He deserves it."

Just as he has shown flipping around at 10 metres high, Mitcham has shown no fear about disclosing his sexuality. He was the first Australian athlete to go to an Olympics openly gay.

Carefully nursing Mitcham's Olympic bouquet, Fletcher spoke of the incredible journey that

the diver had taken to the top. Fletcher has been the one constant over the past two years.

He was his rock when Mitcham retired in his late teenage years suffering anxiety and depression. He watched him become a stunt diver at the Sydney Royal Easter show, supported his fight back into the sport and now to win Olympic gold.

"It's been so up and down," Fletcher said. "When I first met him, he was pretty unhappy, he wasn't liking the diving in Brisbane at all, he didn't want to do it, wasn't happy being there.

"It took a lot for him to retire and stop doing it because it had been his life for so long. He wanted to try and be happy again. He took time to do normal things that people do.

Matthew Mitcham at the Sydney Aquatic Centre; Photo: Steve Christo

"Then after five or six months he started to really miss it again and he had the opportunity to dive with Chava [Sobrino, his coach]. He started that and loved it ever since, every second of it, which is great to see him happy all the time."

Gay website Outsports.com said he was the only man among 10,500 Olympic athletes to publicly say he is gay. But his mother said while he has always been proud of his sexuality, Mitcham was initially concerned that coming out would affect him financially.

"He was only hesitant because he was worried about that factor of sponsorship," Vivien said. "It was a bit of a worry. But I think everybody has caught up now."

Fletcher said that Mitcham, 20, was concerned that his sexuality would overshadow his diving achievements. He has become a pin-up boy gracing the covers of national gay magazines here and overseas. Gossip blogger Perez Hilton featured a shirtless Mitcham accompanied by the tagline: "Yum. Yum. Yum! Can we have a piece of that????"

But the almost perfectly executed back two-and-a-half somersault with one-and-a-half twists and a 3.8 degree of difficulty, earning 112.10 points, made sure people would be talking about his final dive that gave him gold. The Chinese home crowd gasped as Mitcham nailed the breathtaking dive.

"The biggest thing he was worried about was people paying more attention to that than his actually diving," Fletcher said. "And I suppose that kind of did happen a little bit. Hopefully, now it won't be so much of an issue any more."

Mitcham was 30 points behind top Chinese favourite Zhou Luxin before the last attempt. Fletcher said he felt "stupidly nervous" as Mitcham went for his final dive.

Sobrino, who was instrumental in reviving Mitcham's career, was gobsmacked by the final dive. "It was his best dive and that's why we put it at the end," Sobrino said.

"The expectancy of that dive was around 106 to 108 points. But not 112, never. He did it at the right time, at the right moment, in the right pool with the right crowd, so I'm pretty happy and we got the right medal."

It was the eighth and last medal in a sport that China dominates and was expected

to sweep. Mitcham cried and bounced around the pool deck before climbing up to the stands to embrace Fletcher.

"It's going to take a while to sink in," Mitcham said. "My cheeks hurt from smiling. My face hurts from the chlorine. My legs are sore from jumping up and down. I'm in pain and I'm tired. But I'm so happy."

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Related Links:

SMH: Out, proud and ready to go for gold; 24 May 2008
SMH: 10,500 athletes, and only 10 of them gay; 18.8.8
Courier Mail Australia: Matthew Mitcham the only openly gay male athlete at Games


YouTube: Matt Mitcham 5255B Lin Yue 5255B Zhou Luxin 307C


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Youtube: Matthew Mitcham Gold (final dive); 26.8.8

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YouTube: Interview with Matthew Mitcham after the gold medal; 24.8.8

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Kullħadd: Il-mara maqbuda f’ġisem ta’ raġel

http://www.kullhadd.com/?task=2&sectid=&articleid=11857
http://kullhadd.blogspot.com/2008/08/il-mara-maqbuda-fgisem-ta-ragel.html
24.8.7; Ramona Portelli

Sa ftit zmien ilu li ragel jilbes ta’ mara jew li mara tilbes ta’ ragel kienet xi haga ta’ barra minn hawn. Maz-zmien bil-mod il-mod din bdiet tindara u tigi accettata mis-socjetà, l-istess ukoll hawn f’Malta. Fil-fatt illum il-gurnata m’ghadux aktar dak iz-zmien fejn l-irgiel jilbsu ta’ nisa jinhbew u ma jithalltux mas-socjetà. Anzi ghall-kuntrarju dawn illum saru jghixu hajja normali jew almenu kwazi normali bhall-kumplament tan-nies l-ohra.

Ghazilt li nitkellem ma’ Maxine Attard - transesswali ta’ 25 sena u li dan l-ahhar qed tghix Marsascala. Maxine hija persuna single u ma tahdimx. L-isem Maxine mhux l-isem proprju li twieldet bih. Ghalkemm ma riditx ittini informazzjoni ta’ x’inhu isimha fil-verità, xorta wahda rrispettajt id-decizjoni taghha. Kif spjegatli hi stess hija tiddeskrivi ruhha bhala mara maqbuda go gisem ta’ ragel li xi minn daqqiet ma tkunx tista’ tesprimi l-vera karattru taghha dak li veru hu!!!

Maxine qaltli li minn dejjem kienet thoss li hi mhux verament tifel kif fil-verità twieldet. Sa certu punt kienet thossha l-istess kif ihossuhom il-bniet.

“Qabel kont nghid li jien gay, imma xorta kont inhoss li hemm xi haga nieqsa u wara rrealizzajt li jiena transesswali”, bdiet tesprimi ruhha Maxine.

Bhala passatempi Maxine thobb tisma’ hafna d-diski u tghid ukoll li huma hajjitha ghax tismaghhom minn x’hin tqum sa ma torqod.

“Nimmagina li kieku fil-hajja m’hemmx diski, hajti tkun monotona. Inhobb nuza l-internet, nara dvds u nhobb infaddal affarijiet li ghandhom x’jaqsmu mal-kantanti Madonna u Kylie Monigue. Fil-fatt kull haga li ghandha x’taqsam maghhom ghandi kamra mimlija affarijiet taghhom. Inhobb hafna l-hwejjeg u l-make-up u nimxi mal-moda. Minbarra dan, inhobb hafna l-qtates. Fil-fatt ghandi erbgha u dawk ghalija qishom it-tfal tieghi. Inhobb nimxi, nohrog u nibbazzja ma’ shabi u nhobb nidhaq hafna u gieli nsajjar xi haga”.

Appogg familjari

Ghaliha l-familja hija l-priorità ta’ hajjitha. Maxine hija z-zghira nett minn fost hutha bniet l-ohra.

“Huti huma l-imhabba li ma naqset qatt, huma s-sapport li dejjem sibt u li qatt ma naqas. Huma jghinuni f’kull decizjoni u sibthom dejjem kemm jekk fil-hazin u anke fit-tajjeb. Fil-fatt nixtieq nahtaf din l-okkazjoni sabiex nirringrazzjahom minn qalbi ta’ kemm ikunu mieghi. Huti kollha mizzewgin u bil-familja taghhom u jiena nigi zija ta’ hames neputijiet. Ommi ghalija hija l-isbah don. Inhossni ffortunata li baqghet thobbni u tirrispettani. Ghalija hi l-ikbar u l-iktar habiba sinciera tieghi li l-imhabba taghha hija mhabba li ma nista’ niddiskriviha qatt. Missieri hu ta’ ftit kliem imma b’harsa minn ghajnejh jurini kemm infisser ghalih u li dejjem lest li jghini u li jhobbni bhalma jhobb il-kumplament ta’ huti. B’wicci minn quddiem nista’ nghid li l-familja tieghi jharsu lejja bhala binthom u ohthom u dejjem jghinuni biex inkompli nimmatura u nikber f’hajti u meta nhares lura naf li dejjem kienu hemm biex ituni kull sapport u ghajnuna li ghandi bzonn”, qaltli kburija Maxine dwar il-familja taghha.

Tfulija ta’ Maxine

Tlabtha tirrakkontali dwar it-tfulija taghha. Fil-fatt iddiskrivitha bhala tfulija sodisfatta.

“L-iskola kont iktar infittex u nilghab mal-bniet u anke bhala hbieb kelli aktar bniet. Gieli kont nigi bullied ukoll. Imma l-izjed zewgt ihbieb li kelli huma l-iktar zewg kugini li jien inhobb - Nadia u Daniel. Dejjem kienu hemm ghalija imma sfortunatament Daniel kien miet f’incident tat-traffiku. Hassejtha hafna u dak iz-zmien hajti xtaqtha tieqaf. Sal-lum il-gurnata Daniel ghadu mieghi u jghini f’kull problema li jkolli. Meta nkun imdejjqa naqbad ir-ritratt tieghu li ghandi mwahhal fis-salott u mieghu niftah qalbi”.

Bhala gugarelli Maxine kkonfermatli li minn dejjem kienet tfittex il-pupi. “Allahares xi hadd kien iressaqli karozza jew xi ballun quddiemi ghax vera kienu jdejjquni!!”, kompliet tghidli Maxine.

Dwar il-fatt jekk illum tikkunsidrax li taghmel l-operazzjoni sabiex tibdel is-sess taghha, Maxine wiegbet, “Iva dik hija l-holma ta’ hajti. Nixtiqha hafna hafna. Xi darba inkun kompluta minn kollox. Imma ghalkemm Malta huwa pajjiz fl-Unjoni Ewropea, xorta l-pilloli li ghandi bzonn irrid nixtrihom u huma gholjin wisq. Xi minn daqqiet inhossni qed naqta’ qalbi u noqghod nghid li pajjizi ohra li qedghin fl-Ewropa jsibu l-ghajnuna kollha li ghandhom bzonn u hawn Malta hlief jaghlquli l-bibien f’wicci ma sibtx ghal din il-bicca xoghol”, qaltli ddispjacuta Maxine.

In-nies ta’ madwarha jiddeskrivu lil Maxine bhala persuna ferhana, ta’ qalb tajba li lesta dejjem tghin lil kulhadd u fuq kollox in-nies ihobbuha hi kif inhi bid-dahqa taghha. Maxine fuq kollox hija persuna li lesta dejjem li taffronta l-affarijiet difficli u ma taqta’ qalbha qatt.

Peress li fuq il-karta ta’ l-identita taghha hija mnizzla bhala persuna ta’ sess maskili, dan il-fatt idejjaqha hafna. Fil-fatt meta tigi biex tuza l-karta ta’ l-identità taghha ma tiehux pjacir. “Li nuri l-ID card tieghi meta naf li ser nigi bzonnha ma nihux pjacir ghax iddejjaqni hafna dik il-haga li naf fic-cert li l-affarijiet ser jigu fit-tul u n-nies ser jippruvaw minn kollox biex jaraw kif ser iwaqqghuk ghac-cajt u jhammguk. Din il-haga ggalghni nhossni skomda hafna biha, anzi meta nkun naf li wasalt ghal xi qadja li jikkonsistu l-ID card ingieghel lili nnifsi nigi f’sitwazzjoni verament hazina”, spjegatli Maxine.

Min-naha l-ohra meta tmur tixtri minn go xi hanut tal-hwejjeg ovvjament tan-nisa, Maxine tispjega li dejjem giet moqdija tajjeb u dejjem sabet l-ghajnuna necessarja.

Problema li thoss ghadha diffikultà sal-gurnata tal-lum hija x-xoghol. “Meta mmur biex napplika ghal xi xoghol dejjem insib xi diffikultà ghall-fatt li jittimbrawni li minix persuna normali u li jiggudikaw l-apparenza tieghi. Dejjem jghiduli li se jibaghtu ghalija u minn dan kollu ma jsehh xejn. Ghalija hajti bla xoghol hija difficli wisq”, kompliet tistqarr Maxine.

Tirbah it-titlu Ms Klozet 2008

Ghall-ewwel darba din is-sena stess, sar konkors tas-sbuhija differenti minn dawk li normalment insegwu. Dan il-konkors b’tema rigward id-diversità ssejjah Miss Klozet 2008. Numru sostanzjali ta’ transvestiti hadu sehem f’Marzu li ghadda, fejn Maxine rebhet dan il-konkors bit-titlu ta’ Miss Pearl.

Maxine tghid, “f’hajti dejjem xtaqt niehu sehem f’konkors bhal dan u inkurunajt il-holma tieghi billi kelli l-privilegg li nilbes il-kuruna fuq rasi. Miss Klozet fethitli hafna bibien u qed tghini hafna billi nkun nista’ nesprimi iktar min jien u qed inkun ukoll ta’ ghajnuna ghal hafna nies ohra.

Hawnhekk nixtieq nirringrazzja hafna lil Simone, Albert u Eduardo ta’ kemm imxew mieghi tajjeb u ghal din l-opportunità”.

Hajja personali

Dwar kif tqatta’ l-granet ta’ kuljum taghha, Maxine qaltli li ta’ kuljum taghti l-attenzjoni taghha lill-qtates. Ta’ spiss tmur ghand ommha.

“Mal-gurnata nkun fil-kumpanija ta’ shabi, fil-fatt iktar kemm inkun f’kumpanija, aktar hajti tkun inqas monotona ghax jiena persuna li jdejjaqni l-kwiet. Il-kumplament tal-gurnata noqghod nizvoga mad-diski ta’ Madonna u Kylie Monigue”, qaltli Maxine.

Dwar jekk tmurx tisma’ l-quddies kull nhar ta’ Hadd, Maxine wiegbet, “Il-knisja ma mmurx però jien dejjem nibqa’ nemmen u nafda f’Alla ghax dak huwa t-taghlim li tghallimt fuqu, ghalkemm il-qassisin u certu nies jinfluwenzaw b’lenti hazina lin-nies bhalna. Jien nemmen li Alla jhobbni kif jien!!!“, ziedet tghid Maxine.

Dwar relazzjonijiet ta’ imhabba, Maxine qaltli li ricentament ma kellix fit-tul, però stqarret mieghi li kienet f’relazzjoni u li damet tmien xhur ma’ persuna straight.

“Ghall-bidu kollox deher sabih, però wara ftit zmien qbadtu jaqlibhieli. Batejt hafna imma jiena pesuna niggieled hafna mal-hajja u nibqa’ nhares dejjem lejn il-futur u ‘l quddiem. Jiena naf f’liema sitwazzjoni qieghda u naf ezatt xi rrid. Nixtieq hafna li nkun f’relazzjoni ma’ ragel li jhobbni u jaccettani kif jien u li ma jaghtix kaz x’jghidu n-nies. Fil-hajja tieghi naf li mhux possibbli li jkolli familja bi tfal, izda bhalma digà ghedt il-qtates huma t-tfal tieghi”, sostniet Maxine.

Qlibt is-suggett ghal make-up u z-zraben tat-takkuna. Ridt inkun naf minn fejn tghallmet tapplika l-make-up fuqha nnifisha. “Minn dejjem kont inhobb nesperimenta bil-make-up u nista’ nghid li dan l-ahhar zmien tghallimt naghmlu minghajr l-ebda ghajnuna u nista’ nghid ukoll li tghallimt wahdi”, wiegbet sodisfacenti.

Dwar it-takkuna kkonfermatli li minn dejjem kienet thobbha ghax meta kienet zghira kienet tilbes ta’ ohtha. “Illum il-gurnata ma noqghodx minghajr takkuna pencil, jekk ma jkollix takkuna ma nhossnix mara 100%. Nammetti li tghajjini xi ftit imma go saqajja tibqa’ ghax inhobbha.”

Dwar l-ilbies taghha minn filghodu sa filghaxija, Maxine stqarret mieghi li hadet decizjoni li hajjitha minn issa sal-futur taghha timxi ta’ mara u li l-hajja tal-passat ta’ ragel waqfet ghal kollox.

Fan kbira ta’ Madonna u Kylie

Maxine tiddeskrivi lilha nnifisha bhala litteralment mitlufa fuq il-kantanti Madonna u Kylie Minogue.

“Rigward Madonna nista’ nghid li kbirt maghha u nikkonsidra lili nnifsi bhala fan kbira taghha minn età ckejkna ta’ tliet snin. Minn dejjem kont insegwiha u ghadni sal-lum. Madonna dejjem tatni l-kuragg li nimxi mad-diffikultajiet li niffaccja jien u nipprova dejjem niehu ftit mid-determinazzjoni u l-kuragg li turi u ma taghtix kaz dak li jintqal fuqha u dik hija l-haga li tghallimt u wasalt fejn wasalt illum. Kylie hija l-mera ta’ karattru li hija jiena li hafna minn nies ixebbhuni maghha bhala simpatijia u l-mod li timxi u l-femminilità. Dawn iz-zewg divas ghadhom u jibqghu l-unici idoli tieghi. Nemmen hafna u nibqa’ dejjem nimxi bil-mod taghhom u nibqa’ dejjem insegwi u affaxxinata lejn il-moda taghhom li jien toghgobni hafna.

Jien u nkun qed inlesti ghall-harga ta’ kull Sibt nilbes dejjem bid-diski taghhom ghaddejin li ghalija jkunu ta’ kuragg u naf fic-cert li l-harga tieghi tkun ser tkun wahda memorabbli”, sostniet Maxine.

Fil-fatt tant hi ffissata li sostniet mieghi li anke gieli taghmel shows ta’ drag queens u li dawn jigu milqugha tajjeb. Thossha komda hafna li tesprimi ruhha b’dan il-mod. Fil-fatt issostni li minn età zghira kienet toqghod taghmel ix-shows ta’ Madonna quddiem il-mera.

Holma unika

Il-holma ta’ Maxine hija wahda semplici hafna - li xi darba tkun mara kompluta u tkun kif dejjem tixtieq li tkun fil-futur.

“Nixtieq li xi darba insib dik l-imhabba li ili nfittex, ragel semplici u umli u mimli mhabba li lest ihobbni ghas-semplicità tieghi u l-vivacità li mimlija jien f'hajti u ma jaghtix kas li jghidu n-nies”.

Fl-ahharnett tlabt lil Maxine tghaddi xi kummenti u pariri lil dawk li forsi bhalissa jinsabu ghaddejjin minn xi diffikultà rigward l-orjentazzjoni sesswali taghhom.

“M’ghandhom jaqtghu qalbhom qatt, anzi jaffrontaw il-problema taghhom, ma jiqfux u ma jaghtux kas ta’ xi kummenti negattivi u ma jigux influenzati b’li jghidulhom. F’din id-dinja kulhadd normali u kulhadd ghandu dritt li jghix il-hajja tieghu minghajr diskriminazzjoni. Bhala ideat u approaching nahseb li s-socjetà Maltija qed taccetta aktar lill-omosesswali, però xorta wahda baqa’ iktar xoghol dwar kif ghandhom iharsu b’lenti differenti lejn l-omosesswali u transesswali. Ghal kull min jafni nixtieq nirringrazzjah minn qalbi ta’ kemm jaghmlu u ghadhom jaghmlu mieghi, ta’ l-appogg u l-imhabba li juruni, naf dejjem fic-cert li qeghdin lesti biex ituni bicca minnhom. Ghal dawk li ghadhom ma sarux jafuni nispera li ghad jigi dak iz-zmien fejn inkunu nistghu nkunu haga wahda u nesprimu lilna nfusna”, ghalqet Maxine bi tbissima.

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http://maltastar.com/pages/msrv/msfullart.asp?an=23513

Trapped in a male body: Maxine about her life as a transsexual

maltastar.com team Sat, 23 August 2008

Maxine’s dream is to have a complete sex change so that one day she starts living her life as a woman, the way she felt since she was born. In a full interview, to be published in Sunday paper Kullhadd, Maxine Attard, 25, who won the first edition of Ms Klozet 2008, speaks about how difficult it is to get a sex change in Malta. “To have a sex change is my life’s dream. I want it so that one day I can say I am myself. But despite Malta being an EU member, I still have to buy pills which are too expensive. Sometimes I feel that everybody is closing the door in my face, especially when I know that in other European countries they [transsexuals] find help,” says Maxine. Maxine describes herself as a woman trapped in a male body, and that at times she cannot express her real self, “what I really am.” “I always felt, since when I was young, that I wasn’t a boy. When I was young I felt a girl. I used to believe I am gay, yet that wouldn’t explain my feelings… until I realised I am transsexual,” she says. Her life was not simple, as she explains that since schooldays she used to play with girls and most of her friends were girls. Maxine says that she always played with dolls and that she hated playing with cars and balls. “I was bullied [at school] as well,” she tells Kullhadd. Maxine’s life was not only a difficult one when she was young, even now, she still finds difficulty especially when trying to find a job. “When I apply for a job I always find difficulties. Employers tend to put a stigma on me as soon as they see me. All of them say they would call me back, but none of them ever did. It is very difficult for me to cope without a job,” says Maxine. Another problem she faces in her day to day life is when she has to use her identity card. She is still listed as a male because she hasn’t as yet made her full sex change. “I hate it when I have to show my ID card, because I know people will try to make fun of you and make you feel uncomfortable,” Maxine explains. But not all is bleak in her life. Earlier this year, Maxine Attard won the first ever diversity beauty contest in Malta, Miss Klozet 2008. She won the title of Miss Pearl. “This was a dream come true. The Miss Klozet contest has opened new avenues in my life and I can express myself better and help more people,” said Maxine. She explains to Kullhadd that she has a very close relationship with her family, especially her mother and sisters who always helped her in any possible way. “I am the youngest one among my sisters and their love for me never desisted. My mother is the greatest gift, she respects me and loves me… I am very lucky, she is my greatest and closest friend,” she says.

L-Orizzont: Rapport li se jintuża bħala bażi għal liġi Ewropea

http://www.l-orizzont.com/news.asp?newsitemid=46800
23.8.8; minn Victor Vella

Rapport li ħareġ mill-Aġenzija tad-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem tal-Unjoni Ewropea (FRA), qiegħed jintlaqa’ tajjeb ħafna mill-komunità ta’ omosesswali f’Malta. Dan hekk kif l-istess rapport isejjaħ biex ikun hemm regoli għall-pajjiżi Ewropej li ma jagħmlux differenzi bejn żwiġijiet tradizzjonali u dawk bejn persuni ta’ l-istess sess.

Din l-istess aġenzija fir-rapport tagħha qiegħda tirrakkomanda li għandha tingħata spinta l-promozzjoni ta’ kwistjonijiet marbuta ma’ l-omosesswalità u identitajiet oħrajn. Ir-rapport jitlob ukoll li l-omofobija tiġi dikjarata bħala reat kriminali permezz ta’ leġislazzjoni.

Ir-rapport inkiteb minn grupp imsejjaħ ‘FRALEX’. Il-Parlament Ewropew talab lill-Aġenzija tad-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem (FRA) biex tħejji opinjoni għal liġi ġdida Ewropea, biex finalment tkun projbita d-diskriminazzjoni bbażata fuq l-orjentazzjoni sesswali fl-impjiegi, l-edukazzjoni, sigurtà soċjali, saħħa, u aċċess għal servizzi.

Bħalissa l-liġijiet Ewropej jestendu protezzjoni fuq orjentazzjoni sesswali fil-qasam tal-impjiegi, waqt li tħalli l-oqsma l-oħrajn suġġetti għal-leġislazzjoni nazzjonali.

Ir-rapport li fih 165 paġna imur lil hinn mid-direttiva proposta. Tant li fih analiżi tal-possibilitajiet tal-liġijiet Ewropej u tal-pajjiżi ta’ l-Unjoni Ewropea li qegħdin jew jistgħu jkunu qegħdin jiddiskriminaw kontra l-omosesswali. Dawn jinkludu liġijiet fil-qasam tal-impjiegi, fil-moviment ħieles tal-persuni, fil-qasam tar-refuġjati, riunifikazzjoni tal-familji u fil-liġi kriminali.

Ir-rapport mill-Aġenzija tad-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem (FRA), jargumenta li l-liġijiet Ewropej għandhom jisfurzaw lill-istati membri, li fihom m’hemm ebda leġislazzjoni li tippermetti żwieġ bejn koppji omosesswali, biex titratta lil dawn il-persuni li jkunu f’arranġament simili bħala koppji miżżewġin.

L-estensjoni ta’ privileġġi għall-koppji omosesswali hu ġustifikat fir-rapport minħabba l-prinċipju fundamenti tal-UE fosthom dak ta’ trattament ugwali. Koppji omosesswali f’Malta f’kummenti lil l-orizzont qalu li “la koppja omosesswali ma tistax tiżżewweġ, tispiċċa li jekk wieħed ikun f’relazzjoni u jmut, is-sieħeb l-ieħor mhux intitolat għall-leave li koppji tradizzjonali huma intitolati għalih. Anke fejn jidħol il-wirt ta’ dik il-koppja omosesswali, is-sieħeb li jibqa’ ħaj ma jiritx l-assi jew id-dar jekk ma jkunx hemm testment. Fejn jidħol id-dejn, il-fatt li m’għandniex dritt legali li niżżewġu, iwassal biex ikun baqa’ ħaj ma jkollux responsabbiltà tad-dejn li tkun għamlet il-koppja. Fejn jidħol il-leave mediku biex nieħdu ħsieb membru tal-familja li jkun marid serjament, naraw li dan ukoll m’aħniex intitolati għalih”.

L-istess persuni qalulna li “fejn jidħol il-qasam tad-djar, skemi miftuħin għall-persuni miżżewġin jew inċentivi għalihom, għalina ma jgħoddux. Nistgħu napplikaw għal ċertu skemi, imma hemm ħafna każi fejn diversi allegaw li twarrbu sempliċiment għax huma omosesswali. Fuq l-immigrazzjoni hawn sitwazzjoni kerha ħafna. Is-sieħeb ta’ persuna omosesswali ma jitħalliex jingħaqad mas-sieħeb tiegħu ma jitħalliex jgħix f’Malta sempliċiment għax għandu sieħeb Malti. Dan meta fil-każ ta’ koppji tradizzjonali, dawn għandhom id-dritt li dak li jkun ġej minn pajjiż ieħor jingħata l-permess li jgħix f’pajjiżna u jrabbi l-familja”.

Jenfasizzaw li “koppji omosesswali ma jistax ikollhom assigurazzjoni konġunta fuq id-dar jew fuq il-karozza. Fuq il-postijiet tax-xogħol, is-sidien ġieli jispiċċaw jagħmlu assigurazzjoni lill-ħaddiema u l-familja tiegħu kollha f’każ ta’ familja tradizzjonali. Hemm ukoll il-każ tat-taxxi, fejn ma nistgħux ingawdu minn benefiċċji soċjali diretti għall-familji”.

IL-VERA LIBERTÀ minn Mons. Mario Grech Isqof ta' Għawdex

L-E.T. Mons. Mario Grech; Isqof ta' Għawdex

Il-bieraħ filgħaxija [20.8.8], fl-okkażżjoni tas-Sena Pawlina, id-djoċesi t'Għawdex organizzat pellegrinaġġ djoċesan quddiem il-gżejjer ta San Pawl. L-Isqof Grech mexxa quddiesa u għamel din l-omelija:

"F'epoka meta huma ħafna dawk li qed jissiltu biex jiddefendu diversi libertajiet, huwa interessanti li l-Knisja matul din is-sena Pawlina qed tagħmel stedina biex nixtarru t-tagħlim ta' Missierna San Pawl li huwa msejjaħ "l-appostlu tal-liberta". Jekk l-istorja ta pajjiżna ġustament tagħraf diversi ġrajjiet li permezz tagħhom ġensna rnexxilu jikseb libertà politika u ċivili, in-nawfraġju ta San Pawl f'Malta ukoll huwa ġrajja mportanti għax permezz ta' Pawlu ksibna liberta' esistenzjali.

"San Pawl jgħallem li "Kristu ħelisna biex ngħixu ta' nies ħielsa" u li "Kristu fdiena mil-jasar". Kristu mhux biss ħelisna mid-dnub, fis-sens li ħelisna mill-gidba, mid-dlam ta l-injoranza u minn kull forma ta' ħażen; imma ħelisna biex ngħixu ħajja ħielsa biex il-bniedem ikun jista' jgħix ħajja dinjituża billi l-atteġġjamenti u l-imġieba tiegħu jkunu tassew ħielsa.

"Pawlu kien qed jitkellem f'kultura fejn b'libertà kienu jifhmu li wieħed jista' jagħmel dak kollu li jrid mingħajr indħil u restrizzjoni ta' ħadd. Il-kultura ta żmieniietna mhix tant differenti. Kontra dan il-kunċett ta' libertà individualista u egoċentrika, Pawlu jipproponi kunċett differenti ta' llibertà. Billi l-bniedem li huwa dak li hu għax jinsab f'relazzjoni ma' l-oħrajn, Pawlu jisħaq li l-bniedem huwa ħieles meta jagħraf iħobb lil dawk ta' madwaru – "ħobb li għajrek bħalek innifsek".

"Huwa liberu min jaċċetta li jkun skjav għax iħobb u jiddedika lilu nnifsu għall-oħrajn. Fl-istess waqt, jekk fis-soċjetà l-membri jħobbu lil xulxin b'dan il-mod u jkunu disponibli għal xuxlin, fil-gruppi soċjali jkun hemm parita u ħadd ma jaħkem fuq ħadd.

"Dan kollu japplika fil-kuntest tal-ħajja miżżewġa u tal-familja fejn il-bniedem ifittex li jagħmel esperjenza ta' l-imħabba. F'kuntrast ma' min isostni li l-libertà fiż-żwieġ tfisser li tnejn jistgħu jħallu lil xulxin x'ħin ifettlilhom, iż-żwieġ li huwa esperjenza ta' l-imħabba li twassal lil miżżewġin biex jingħataw għal xulxin, huwa ġinesium tal-libertà vera.

"Meta jitkellem dwar il-limitazzjonijiet tal-libertà umana, Pawlu ta' Tarsu jagħti xi eżempji li huma ħafna attwali għalina. Fil-qasam tas-sesswalita, jindika ż-żinà, l-adulterju u l-omossesswalita; fil-qasam reliġjuż isemmi l-idolatrija u s-seħer u f'dak li għandu x'jaqsam mal-ħajja komunitarja, Pawlu jiġbed l-attenzjoni dwar l-ħsara li tagħmlu l-ambizzjoni, il-firda u l-partiti.

"Nawgura li fid-dawl tat-tagħlmi ta' Pawlu, ġensna li jiftaħar li tant b'San Pawl, jagħraf liema huma l-vera libertrajiet u jassigurahom anke b'liġijiet proprji."


Nota minn P. Attard:
Il-kelma żinà, fornication b'Ingliż sa fejn naf jien, tfisser meta nies li mhumiex miżżewġin jagħmlu sess. Naħseb li l-koabitazzjoni u l-masturbazzjoni jaqaw taħt dan id-dnub. (ikoreġuni jekk żbaljat).
Hu interessanti kif l-Isqof, fil-messaġġ tiegħu ma jsemmix atti omosesswali imma l-omosesswalità in ġenerali. Ma naħsibx li dan hu kliem addattat biex il-Knisja tibni pontijiet ma' persuni gay. Anzi l-Isqof għandu jinżamm 'accountable' tal-messaġġ li qed iwassal u tad-dbatijiet fil-familji Għawdxin fejn hemm persuni gay.

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Tista' taqra wkoll:

It-Torċa: Omelija ta’ l-Isqof t’Għawdex tqajjem kontroversja - Omosesswali u separati jħossuhom offiżi

Independent UK: A revolution in the boardroom: Why it pays to be gay - Homosexuals are being courted by employers – from spooks to the city

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/a-revolution-in-the-boardroom-why-it-pays-to-be-gay-901851.html
Homosexuals are being courted by employers – from spooks to the city

By Jerome Taylor
Tuesday, 19 August 2008

David Sandison

Sir Michael Bishop turned BMI into the UK's second largest airline after BA

When Angela Mason began her 10-year directorship of the Stonewall gay lobby group in 1992, she had a friend in the corporate world who had two phones in his house. One he used to take personal calls for him and his partner. The other was for the office. When it came to being out and proud in the workplace, few and far between was the employee who would happily step out of the closet and declare: "I'm gay, let's do business."

"People used to genuinely fear that they would lose their jobs if they were outed, and many did," Mason remembers. "If you were found out it was absolutely the end."

It was with some sense of satisfaction, therefore, that Ms Mason read the news this week that MI5 was finally going to step out of the closet itself and begin openly recruiting people from within the gay community.

One of the last bastions of the British establishment, a place that, until the early 1990s, had actually banned hiring gays because of fears that outed spies could be blackmailed, had finally capitulated and realised that if you want to hire the best talent, you have to look at all sections of society. The days of the Oxbridge don giving white, male graduates a tap on the shoulder and a nod towards Thames House were truly over.

The domestic intelligence service is now not only going to start actively employing openly gay recruits, it is also hiring Stonewall (a group once associated with, and run by, former radicals such as Ms Mason) to advise the security services on how to encourage its spies to be more open about their sexuality and how to persuade more gay applicants to apply for jobs there.

But as dramatic as MI5's announcement seems, it is part of a much wider silent revolution that Stonewall has been pursuing for much of the past decade – persuading the corporate world to love gays. And in the past few years it finally seems to be working.

In the late 1970s, Ms Mason, a young member of the anarchist Angry Brigades group, was tried and acquitted for planting bombs on the doorsteps of Conservative politicians. She divorced in the 1980s to live with her lesbian lover and, by 1992, had been appointed director of Stonewall.

With such an anti-establishment figure heading Britain's foremost gay lobby group, Stonewall might have been expected to continue with the sort of tactics that had made its new director so notorious. Instead, Ms Mason, and Ben Summerskill, her successor as chief executive, did something far more radical – they took Stonewall mainstream and began charming, rather than confronting, the corporate world.

The outcome of that tactic is that MI5 has now joined more than 430 companies, representing more than four million employees, who have signed up to Stonewall's list of "gay-friendly employers". Those on the list actively recruit gay people and monitor the sexual orientation of their staff to ensure against silent discrimination.

Many encourage their gay and lesbian staff to take part in Pride events as well as supporting the events financially. They are also expected to have clear and publicised policies for dealing with cases of sexual discrimination and encourage the promotion of openly gay staff on to the board or senior management team.

With 15,000 gay students leaving university every year and an estimated 1.7 million gay men and women of working age, Stonewall began persuading companies that discriminating against gay employees was simply bad for business.

The corporate world began to see sense. Where once people were fired for their sexual orientation, major corporations now jostle with each other to prove their equalitarian credentials.

To provide an incentive, Stonewall began producing an annual list of "top gay employers". Local authorities, charities and the voluntary sector all scored well but, every year, more and more mainstream corporations began appearing on the list.

By 2007, IBM, LloydsTSB, KPMG and Goldman and Sachs all came in the top 10 and the pro-pink feeling is spreading. This year, Pinsent Mason became the first law firm to be included in the Top 100 gay employers and next year Stonewall expects to have at least 16 more.

"The trick is to present the business case to corporate employers," says David Shields, director of workplace programmes at Stonewall and the man who has spearheaded their campaigning in the corporate world.

"It simply doesn't make good business sense to have a reputation for being a workplace that is not open to gay and lesbian employers. Graduates who were out and proud at university are simply not willing to hide away once they get into the workforce. They'll simply take their skills to another company."

For Mr Summerskill, persuading MI5 to become a gay-friendly employer was proof that even those organisations not historically thought to be friendly towards the gay rights movement are, in fact, coming in from the cold.

"I think what's really interesting about our corporate approach in the past three years is the sheer variety of companies we have attracted," he says. "Many of them are not the usual suspects you would have signing up, and I think what we did with MI5 is an example of that. These are very counter-intuitive organisations. Even though the ban on recruiting gay spies was lifted more than a decade ago, the message had trouble sinking in.

"But MI5 is so focused on recruiting the very best talent that they realised it was critically important to hire staff from all walks of life."

Ashley Steel is the only known lesbian on the board of a Square Mile company. She came out five years ago after spending some time working for KPMG's offices in San Francisco.

"I think once I'd fully come out I knew I couldn't go back in," she says. "I've been at KPMG for more than 23 years now and it is a completely different place to what it used to be."

She says major corporations are so keen to harness the best talent that former prejudices have had to be dropped.

"If there is a war of talent going on, then why on earth would you want to put people off who are gay or black or female? It simply doesn't make business sense. And I think clients want to see a diverse workforce."

She believes there is still some way to go – after all, there is no openly gay person on the board of a FTSE 100 company. "Groups like Stonewall were originally set up to change the law and they did. We have thing like the equalities bill and civil partnerships. But changing a law doesn't change a person's behaviour, and that is what they are trying to do with the corporate sector."

Angela Eagle, the first lesbian MP to come out while still in the House of Commons, agrees. "What we have is legal equality in theory, but that does not necessarily eliminate the discrimination that continues to exist," she says.

But for Ms Mason, who now works at the heart of government advising local authorities on equalities and cohesion with the Improvement and Development Agency, the corporate change of heart could hardly be more stark.

"Those companies that have positive employment practices do it precisely because it signifies modernity," she says. "It's cutting edge and glamorous. There's still lots to do but when I look back, we have come miles and miles."

Six pioneers in the corporate world

Ashley Steel, KPMG

A vocal and openly gay director at KPMG, Ashley Steel is the only known lesbian on the board of a Square Mile company. She has regularly spoken out about how the corporate world needs to do more to promote gay people in the workplace. She came out only after working for KPMG in San Francisco. In 2005, she became KPMG's first board champion on sexual orientation.

Paul Tanner, 90TEN

The owner of the PR agency 90TEN, Paul Tanner specialises in public relations for the gay and lesbian communities. He has launched numerous health initiatives to encourage gay men to vaccinate themselves against hepatitis A and hepatitis B as well as being hired by a number of prominent NHS trusts to improve their sexual health services.

Sir Michael Bishop, BMI

A former baggage handler at Manchester airport, Sir Michael, above, turned BMI into the UK's second largest airline after BA. Not known for speaking out about gay rights, his presence at the head of BMI proves being out and gay shouldn't stop you getting ahead in business.

Robert Taylor, Kleinwort Benson Private Bank

One of the City's best known openly gay movers and shakers, he earnt his stripes at Coutts & Co where he was head of private banking. Is now chief executive of Kleinwort Benson Private Bank.

Angela Mason, activist

Radical campaigner turned government insider, Angela Mason began her political career as an anarchist with the Angry Brigades in the 1970s before coming out in the 1980s and taking up the gay rights cause. Served as director of Stonewall throughout the 1990s, making it more mainstream, charming corporations and leading the fight for the repeal of Section 28. She now chairs the Fawcett Society, a women's rights campaigning organisation

Charles Allen, Global Radio

A former chief executive of ITV, the openly gay Charles Allen is now one of the most powerful figures in the world of radio. His company, Global Radio, is the UK's largest radio provider and includes the popular Heart, LBC and Galaxy radio stations.

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CNN: Argentina grants gay couples partner pensions

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/08/19/argentina.gay/

19.8.8

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- In a nationwide measure, Argentina has granted gay couples the right to collect the pensions of their dead partners.

The Axel Hotels, aimed at the gay community, is shown in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The National Social Security Administration's director is to sign the resolution on Tuesday, and it will become law upon publication the following Wednesday. It requires that same-sex couples show they have lived together for at least five years.

Maria Rachid, president of the Buenos Aires-based Argentine Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Trans, said she has been fighting for this change for a decade. She credited the government of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner for creating the environment in which such a change could take place.

"Now we have a government that's more open, that's disposed to listening to our demands, and that's beginning to generate some changes," she said in a telephone interview from Buenos Aires.

But Hector Timerman, Argentina's ambassador to the United States, told CNN in Atlanta that it was not so much the influence of the current president as it is the changes that have occurred since Argentina emerged from the dictatorship years of 1976-1983.

"For a Latin American country, it's an amazing story," he said, noting that things have become much more open in the past quarter century.

Argentina has been reaping benefits from its stance, including serving as a popular destination for international gay and lesbian visitors, he said. "Nobody bothers them," he said. "Not even the church."

Still, the Catholic Church has long been the main opponent of granting partner rights to gays and lesbians.

But church officials had muted their opposition to divorce after the former president, Raul Alfonsin, suggested holding a plebiscite on the matter in the 1980s, and realized they had little chance of winning this battle either, Timerman said.

Rachid agreed. "We pay little attention to the Catholic Church," she said, citing a poll that found most residents of the capital city of Buenos Aires favored allowing gays and lesbians to marry, despite the church's opposition.

But plenty of work remains, Rachid said, citing her desire for gays and lesbians to be allowed to marry and the fact that civil unions for gays and lesbians are allowed in only a few cities in the country.

Andres Duque, director of New York-based Mano a Mano and a blogger on Latino gay issues, credited Argentina with being "the first one to jump to the gate in Latin America in terms of providing rights to same-sex couples." He cited the civil unions bill of 2002 in Buenos Aires -- the first Latin American city to pass one. But he criticized the effort as incomplete, citing the fact that the law does not allow for gays to adopt.

As a number of Latin American countries have elected socialist leaders, the political landscape has become more favorable on a continent often associated with machismo and Catholicism, Duque said.

For example, Ecuador is considering a change in its constitution that would grant rights to same-sex couples, including pension rights, health benefits and social security, he said. And leftist President Evo Morales is pushing for a prohibition against discrimination based on sexual orientation.

In some districts of Mexico, including the capital, civil unions are allowed.

"The nascent movement of LGBT rights in Latin America is just flowering right now," he said.

Even Colombia, still among the most conservative countries in Latin America, is considering a same-sex civil-unions bill, he said.

Spiegel Online: Germany: Berlin Mayor Condemns Attack on Gay Memorial

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,572829,00.html
19.8.8

Berlin's memorial to the thousands of homosexuals persecuted and killed by the Nazis was damaged over the weekend, less than three months after its unveiling. Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit condemned the attack and joined a demonstration at the site on Monday.

The mayor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit, condemned an attack that damaged the city's monument to homosexuals persecuted by the Nazis and joined a demonstration at the scene on Monday afternoon.

"An attack against this memorial is clearly directed against homosexuals -- that can be said without waiting for further police investigations. We must show our condemnation of this act of intolerance and homophobia," said Wowereit, who is himself openly gay.

A viewing window in the concrete monument through which a video of two men kissing can be seen was smashed in the attack. The damage was reported by a passerby on Saturday, police said, adding that they had launched an investigation.

Germany's Association of Lesbians and Gays said in a statement: "Everything suggests that this attack was motivated by a hatred of homosexuals."

"The attack shows in a drastic way how necessary this monument is. Hostility to homosexuals remains virulent. The kissing scene shown in the monument evidently hit the mark. Even in a democratic society there are people who can't stand the sight of men kissing in public."

The monument was unveiled at a ceremony on May 27 and commemorates the thousands of homosexual men who died in concentration camps because of Nazi laws persecuting them for their sexual persuasion.

There were more than 50,000 convictions of homosexuals in the Nazi era, and authorities in some cases ordered men to be castrated.

Rudolf Brazda, a homosexual survivor of Buchenwald concentration camp, said in a statement: "I had feared something like this would happen. People don't learn, they're much too stupid unfortunately. Because they don't want to understand that there is such a thing as homosexuality. Because they don't want to accept that there are people who are naturally different from them."

Brazda spent three years in Buchenwald, from 1942 until the camp was liberated in April 1945, and had to wear a pink badge during that time under Nazi rules identifying him as homosexual.