Malta Today: Gonzi does not let on as to how he will deal with the Debono bogeyman

Prime Minister boasts of his economic record, but mum on tax cuts and tells gay vote that marriage is for heterosexuals. 
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120919/local/gonzi-dismisses-reports-that-he-will-step-down.437599
Wednesday 19 September 2012 - 21:54 by Miriam Dalli



Lawrence Gonzi deflected questions on how he would deal with Franco Debono's open rebellion.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi steered clear of committing himself to a political position in the face of an open rebellion by Franco Debono, the Nationalist MP who is threatening not to support Gonzi's hamstrung government when parliament is convened in October.

Addressing his audience at the Floriana granaries, Gonzi said he would stay at the helm of the country for as long as he enjoyed support when asked whether he was planning to announce he plans to resign two years into a new legislature, if elected.

Times: Gonzi dismisses reports that he will step down

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120919/local/gonzi-dismisses-reports-that-he-will-step-down.437599
Wednesday, September 19, 2012, 20:51



Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi this evening sought to dismiss reports that he would resign his post of prime minister if the PN won the forthcoming election.

Reacting to the reports, made in the Labour media, Dr Gonzi said at a PN discussion on the Granaries that he would continue to serve for as long as he enjoyed the confidence of the people and the councillors of the Nationalist Party - and he pointed out that the 97% of the councillors had renewed their confidence in him last February.

ABC Australia: Australian Senate votes down same-sex marriage bill

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-09-20/an-senate-votes-down-second-bill/4272428
By chief political correspondent Simon Cullen

19.9.2012

The final vote on the bill introduced by Labor senators was 26 in favour and 41 against.The Australian Senate has joined the House of Representatives in voting down legislation aimed at allowing same-sex couples to marry.

Labor senator Penny Wong, who is openly gay, described the result as disappointing and a failure of the Parliament to remove discrimination.

"Despite the results in both the House of Representatives and the Senate this week, I believe we have achieved a great deal," she said.

Guardian: Australian senator resigns after comparing gay marriage to bestiality

Cory Bernardi quits as opposition leader's parliamentary secretary after 'one mistake too many'

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/19/australian-senator-gay-marriage-bestiality
Haroon Siddique, Wednesday 19 September 2012 11.13 BST

An Australian senator has resigned from the opposition's frontbench team after he provoked outrage by comparing gay marriage to bestiality.

Cory Bernardi also warned that allowing same-sex unions could lead to calls to legalise polygamy, during a debate in the senate on Tuesday.

"The next step, quite frankly, is having three people or four people that love each other being able to enter into a permanent union endorsed by society – or any other type of relationship," he said.

Malta Star: [VIDEO] "Quality of life is vital" - Joseph Muscat

http://www.maltastar.com/dart/20120918-pl-congress-2102-future-of-jobs-family-and-civil-liberties-discussed
Tuesday, 18 Sep 2012, 19:23



On the second day of the Labour Party Congress 2012, the theme of the first ever national congress meeting between the 14 and 23 September will be ‘A future that unites us’. The topics discussed are the Future of Jobs, Family and Civil Liberities at MFCC in Ta' Qali.

The successful congress kicked off on Monday attended by people from all walks of life who went to listen and also voice their opinion and aspirations. Labour president Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi said the congress will be an opportunity for the members to propose ideas and policies for the party's electoral manifesto.

Meanwhile, discussions about Civil Liberties and Family are ongoing. One of the keynote speakers MGRM Coordinator Gabi Calleja said that it is about time that gay families will be recognised as a family unit. She added that as the love between a man and a woman is protected, so must be the love between two men and two women, so as to protect the rights of all the children.

Social worker Carmen Faerne stressed that the family's standard of living should be the priority of the government. She shared various ideas on how to improve the quality of life, especially those of the children.

Di-ve: We were the first to uphold the rights of gay people - PL

http://www.di-ve.com/news/we-were-first-uphold-rights-gay-people-pl
18.9.2012 By Christian Mangion, editorial@di-ve.com

Under the logo 'Searching for that which unites us', the PL today has again opened its doors in a bid to reach out to the general public to lay the foundation of its electoral program through public acclaim.

In his speech, PL Deputy Leader Anglu Farrugia promised those present that all suggestions mentioned by the floor would be taken into consideration by the Labour Party.

Times: Update 2: PL government would be most feminist in Maltese history - Muscat

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120918/local/pl-to-work-on-giving-families-a-better-standard-of-living.437472
Tuesday, September 18, 2012, 20:34



A Labour government would be the most feminist in Maltese history and would break through the glass ceiling many woman were faced with, PL leader Joseph Muscat said this evening.

Speaking at Ta' Qali during the session of the party’s congress which discussed employment and approved the guideline ‘work you deserve for a better lifestyle’, Dr Muscat said that Labour was in favour of the EU women quotas’ proposal.

iNews Malta: Aġġornat (3) /Kungress PL: Ħtieġa ta' soċjetà ħielsa

http://www.inewsmalta.com/dart/20120918-kungress-pl-gabi-calleja-dehra-fil-laqg-dwar-il-familja
21:18 | 18.09.2012

Bit-tieni diskussjoni fil-kungress tal-Partit Laburista llum tkun dwar iktar drittijiet ċivili ħafna kienu qegħdin jistennew l-intervent tal-koordinatur tal-Malta Gay Rights Movement, Gabi Calleja. Iżda, Calleja tkellmet fl-ewwel diskussjoni, dik dwar il-familja. Il-preżenza ta’ Calleja f’din il-laqgħa tista’ tfisser ħafna fid-dawl tad-dibattitu li qam dan l-aħħar f’pajjiżna dwar jekk koppja gay hijiex familja jew le.

Malta Today: Labour congress sounds approval to ‘free society’ and a ‘better standard of living'

Labour congress discusses the future of the family and equality and civil in the second session open to the public.

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/Labour-congress-sounds-approval-to-free-society-and-a-better-way-of-living-20120918
Tuesday 18 September 2012 - 20:46 by  Miriam Dalli

The Labour Congress discussing the future of the family.

The Labour Congress this evening approved two motions calling for a "free society" and a "better way of living".

Discussed in two separate events, the participants in today's congress highlighted the future of the family as stemming from a better way of living and a free society where diversity is respected and celebrated.

While discussing the future of the family, Labour's deputy leader Anglu Farrugia insisted that it was useless having the best policies available if the family wasn't supported and the quality of life improved.

Drachma: "JESUS HAD TWO DADDIES" - An Insightful, Funny and Queer Theatrical Performance by Peterson Toscano

17.9.2012 by Clayton Mercieca

[Click on the image to enlarge.]

I am pleased to announce that tickets for Peterson Toscano's queer & funny theatrical performance 'JESUS HAD TWO DADDIES' at St. James Cavalier, Valletta on the 21/22 September can now be purchased online via this link: http://www.sjcav.org/page.asp?n=Eventdetails&i=4963&z=3

Our facebook event link is: https://www.facebook.com/events/269090609867431/