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.

Times: A Christian viewpoint on same-sex ‘marriage’

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20131124/letters/A-Christian-viewpoint-on-same-sex-marriage-.496001#.Urmtj9JDuSo
Sunday, November 24, 2013, 00:01 by George Ebejer, Cospicua

Some believe that gay marriage is a fundamental issue of equality and are determined to enact legislation to make this possible. How they propose that two people of the same sex in a gay marriage relationship can conceive a baby (biologically impossible) is a drastic viewpoint to force on others through the law.

Marriage is the traditional and biblical format for families, mother, father and children – it agrees with science and cannot be refuted, which possibly explains the lack of a proper debate. Having two people in a gay marriage requires their bringing in another person of a different sex to make a family, who is not in the marriage relationship with the first two; how, therefore, can that be marriage?

Times: A civil union made in hell...

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20131124/opinion/A-civil-union-made-in-hell-.496015#.UrmtltJDuSo
Sunday, November 24, 2013, 00:01 by Sylvanus

Sir!

I am appalled! (Oh really, I thought you were that boring old fart who is always writing in to complain... Ed.) Yes sir, appalled, disgusted and revolted, by an article I happened upon in your muck-raking organ. (It’s a good trick if you can do it... Ed.) From it, I see that it is being proposed to legalise, what I can only describe as, conjugal liaison between members of the same... ahem... gender.

How dare they! How dare they attempt to destabilise the delicate balance that exists in society between a man and a... non-man. How dare they imply that the sanctity of wedded bliss can ever be replicated by two people of the same... persuasion.

Independent: Gay man granted asylum in Malta due to persecution in Nigeria

http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-11-24/news/gay-man-granted-asylum-in-malta-due-to-persecution-in-nigeria-3278143490/
Sunday, 24 November 2013, 11:15 , by Jacob Borg



An 18-year-old Nigerian migrant has been granted asylum in Malta due to persecution in his home country over his homosexuality.

Consensual homosexual conduct is punishable by up to 14-years in prison under Nigeria’s federal criminal code.

The man was granted asylum by the Refugee Appeals Board in Malta this month after his initial request had been turned down by the office of the Commissioner for Refugees in April.

Times: Embracing the minorities

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20131121/opinion/Embracing-the-minorities.495611#.UrmotdJDuSo
Thursday, November 21, 2013, 00:01 by Mario Farrugia-Borg

Since my candidature for MEP elections on a Labour Party ticket was announced in the media some days ago, many have asked me what, in my opinion, is a legitimate question: given that the Labour government will be introducing civil unions between persons of the same sex, what is your position regarding this issue? I have therefore decided to make my position official and clear.

First and foremost, I believe in a secular state wherein politicians, although having morals and values which may be guided by their religious beliefs, should not impose those morals and values on others especially on those who do not subscribe to the same religious beliefs.

Times: Same civil entitlements

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20131120/opinion/Same-civil-entitlements.495466#.Urmnu9JDuSo
Wednesday, November 20, 2013, 00:01 by Martin Scicluna

The Government is to be commended on bringing forward the Civil Unions Bill so early in the Parliament, thus ending another glaring social injustice in Maltese society. In an astute political move, it has drafted legislation, drawing on the Danish experience, which has finessed the concerns of both the lesbian, gay and bisexual community, who wanted same-sex marriage, and those – the majority, I suspect – who did not want its introduction. The LGBT community have got a civil union scheme which, though not ‘marriage’ per se, will have as near as dammit the same “corresponding (legal) effects and consequences” under the law as marriage.

MaltaToday: Survey - Majority favour ‘civil unions’ but not gay adoption

Gay adoptions mainly supported by women, the young, university-educated and also Labour voters who switched from the PN.

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/data/Majority-favour-civil-unions-but-not-gay-adoption-20131117
Monday 18 November 2013 - 07:01 by James Debono


Actor Neil Patrick Harris (left) and his fiance David Butka (right) had twins by a surrogate mother – Harper Grace (left) and Gideon Scott (right)


Only 26% of respondents to a MaltaToday survey are opposed to a new law that grants same-sex couples who form a civil union the same rights and obligations enjoyed by married couples.

But 45% of respondents agree with full equality between the two statuses... except in granting adoption rights.

Currently single people, including gays, are allowed to adopt children as long as they are deemed to be good parents by professional social workers. The new civil unions law will now enable same-sex couples in formal unions to adopt as a couple.