Times: Rainbow Support Service launched

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20131206/local/rainbow-support-service-launched.497880#.UrwkONKAQ8k
Friday, December 6, 2013, 16:38


Photo: Reuben Piscopo, DOI

The Rainbow Support Service, a service for LGBTIQ people, has been launched by Malta Gay Rights Movement in collaboration with the US Embassy and Aġenzija Żgħażagħ.

The service will be offered from the Youth Information One Stop Shop in Valletta.

Di-ve: May we ask, Your Honour? 009 - Didn't we have enough?

http://www.di-ve.com/blogs/may-we-ask-your-honour-009-%E2%80%93-didn%E2%80%99t-we-have-enough
4.12.2013 by Joseph M. Cachia



Your Honour, can we please now refrain from permitting any more ‘Gay Pride Parades’, though, honestly, I can’t see any ‘pride’ in publicly manifesting one’s personal and private sexual orientation? Though these people should not be demeaned, neither should they be heard! Could we now rest in peace from any ‘gay’, ‘heterosexual’ or ‘anti-gay’ public manifestations, now that our Government has seen fit to grant ‘gays’ the full and equal rights and benefits accorded to the traditionally married couples?

Times: Gay weddings allowed before ruling

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20131203/world/gay-weddings-allowed-before-ruling.497384#.UrwiJtKAQ8k
Tuesday, December 3, 2013, 09:46 by PA

Australia's first same-sex weddings can take place this weekend after the nation's highest court decided to rule next week on the law allowing gay marriage in the national capital.

The Australian Capital Territory government, which administers Canberra, passed legislation in October that allows same-sex couples to wed in ceremonies equivalent to those heterosexual couples are entitled to under federal law.

Times: Duty to speak out for traditional marriage

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20131202/letters/Duty-to-speak-out-for-traditional-marriage.497170#.Urwh7dKAQ8k
Monday, December 2, 2013, 00:01 by Colin Garnett, Sliema

I was disappointed that Martin Scicluna referred to those who take an opposite view of same-sex marriage on grounds of their Christian beliefs as being religious bigots (November 20).

For over 50 years, I have supported the legal inclusion of the homosexual community into the full pattern of our national life, from initially arguing for the decriminalisation of homosexuality until latterly supporting the need to offer legal, financial and social protection to couples living as same-sex partners. Indeed, the civil union legislation does offer similar protection to same-sex couples as marriage does to heterosexual couples.

Indepedent: Croatians vote against same-sex marriage

http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-12-01/news/croatians-vote-against-same-sex-marriage-3353640960/
Sunday, 01 December 2013, 21:27



A majority of Croatians voted in a referendum Sunday to ban gay marriages in what is a major victory for the Catholic Church-backed conservatives in the European Union's newest nation.

The state electoral commission, citing initial results, said 65 percent of those who voted answered "yes" to the referendum question: "Do you agree that marriage is matrimony between a man and a woman?" About 34 percent voted against.

Independent: Refugee Commissioner speaks out on sexual orientation asylum

http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-12-01/news/refugee-commissioner-speaks-out-on-sexual-orientation-asylum-3347152897/
Sunday, 01 December 2013, 09:30



Following last Sunday’s article that highlighted the Refugee Appeals Board’s granting of asylum to a Nigerian in November on the grounds of his sexual orientation, after his first application to the Office of the Refugee Commissioner had been denied in April, Refugee Commissioner Mario Guido Friggieri has clarified that his office has granted asylum on such grounds in the past.

Mr Friggieri explains, “Asylum seekers who substantiate their fear of past or future persecution in their country of origin due to their sexual orientation, are recognised as refugees under the 1951 Refugee Geneva Convention, by this same Office.

Malta Today: Croatians to vote in anti-gay marriage referendum

Church-backed referendum demanding nationwide ban on same-sex marriages

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/world/Croatians-to-vote-in-anti-gay-marriage-referendum-20131201
Sunday 1 December 2013 - 15:33 by a Staff Reporter


A petition backing an anti-gay marriage referendum garnered over 700,000 signatures

Croatians will be casting their votes in a controversial referendum that could ban same-sex marriage in the newest EU member state.

The referendum will decide whether or not to amend the country's constitution to define marriage as a "union between a man and a woman", as at present, the constitution of Croatia does not define marriage.

Malta Today: ‘Gays’ sexual activity does not have a role within society’ – Auxiliary Bishop

Bishop Charles Scicluna insists that parliament has no mandate to implement adoption for gay couples

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/Gay-s-sexual-activity-does-not-have-a-role-in-society-Auxiliary-Bishop-20131128
Thursday 28 November 2013 - 21:13 by Daniel Mizzi


Auxiliary Bishop Charles Scicluna

"While the sexual activity of heterosexual couples has a fundamental role in producing future members of the society, that of same-sex couples does not have a role in society as it does not produce offspring," Auxiliary Bishop Charles Scicluna said this evening, on PBS's Dissett where he was quizzed by PBS Head of News Reno Bugeja.

The uncompromising auxiliary bishop was categorical about his displeasure that parliament was not establishing a clear distinction between marriages and civil unions, in its debate on the civil unions bill.

Malta Today: Malta urged to be firm with Russia against gay discrimination

Maltese government has to enter into bilateral agreement with Russia over adoptions after it enacts civil unions law

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/Malta-urged-to-be-firm-with-Russia-against-gay-discrimination-20131127
Thursday 28 November 2013 - 07:30 by Miriam Dalli


Russia will seek an agreement with Malta before proceeding with pending adoption applications.

The Maltese authorities should take a firm stand with Russia in favour of fundamental human rights and against any forms of discrimination, human rights activist and aditus foundation director Neil Falzon said.

He said that in all its bilateral negotiations, Malta should be open and transparent about its acceptance of same-sex couples adopting children.

Independent: Civil unions bill rushed, opposition MPs insist

http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-11-26/news/civil-unions-bill-rushed-opposition-mps-insist-3305144320/
Tuesday, 26 November 2013, 21:24 (UPDATE 1)



Opposition MPs argued that the Civil Unions Bill has been rushed and avoided directly stating whether they agreed with allowing same-sex couples to adopt or not as debate on the bill continued in parliament.

Debate on the bill continued this evening, roughly a month after it had begun, only to be interrupted by debates on the controversial citizenship bill and the 2014 Budget. Claudette Buttigieg, the opposition’s civil liberties spokesman, resumed where she had left off, and fellow MPs Ċensu Galea and Mario Galea rounded off debate for the opposition.