Claudia Calleja
PN candidates meet gay activists
Nationalist MEP candidates would work to combat discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation, Simon Busuttil said yesterday.
However, the MEP said the party was not in favour of same-sex marriage or adoption by gay couples even though it was open to discussion on other issues such as granting rights to cohabiting same-sex couples.
Dr Busuttil clarified the PN's position over gay issues in a meeting with members of the Malta Gay Rights Movement.
"This is a sensitive issue and there are things that we will agree on and others we will disagree about," Dr Busuttil told the movement's members during a meeting yesterday.
The movement's chairman Gaby Calleja said that to her and her movement, the concept of discrimination meant lack of equality.
"Equality is not something that comes in bits and pieces. You are either equal or not," she said.
The first minutes of the discussion were open to the media before the two parties continued in private.
Earlier this year the two PN MEPs, Dr Busuttil and David Casa, voted in favour of amendments recognising the need for laws on cohabitation, including those of gay couples, and the recognition of same-sex marriages performed in other EU member states.
This vote was part of a non-binding resolution to harmonise fundamental EU human rights' laws and showed a marked shift in the position of the party.
Traditionally, the PN - a party rooted in Christian Democratic values - preferred to steer away from these hot social issues. The change was in line with promises made by the PN before last year's general election to legislate on cohabitation, including same-sex couples.
A recent EU report shows that gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual and transgender people in Malta still feel they are victims of discrimination, particularly in areas such as health services and education.
The report, drawn up by the EU's Fundamental Rights Agency, found that many in Malta still conceal their sexual orientation from relatives, fearing a negative reaction. However, the majority of those who decide to be open are generally met with acceptance within their family.
Nearly a third of LGBT people in Malta say they conceal their sexual orientation when accessing health services, again fearing discrimination.
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Paul Bonnici
May 24th 2009, 18:05
It is about time Malta introduced civil-partnership for gay couples similar to the one in the UK.
David Seychell
May 24th 2009, 16:55
@Moses Mula "The best way to combat discrimination suffered by gay people is to grant them equal rights..." Gays already have equal rights. Those that say otherwise are either ignorant or want positive discrimination.
Stephen Peters
May 24th 2009, 15:54
"Nationalist MEP candidates would work to combat discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation, Simon Busuttil said yesterday". and then.... "the MEP said the party was not in favour of same-sex marriage or adoption by gay couples" I might be mistaken - but that seems awfully like discrimination to me.
Eric Gahn
May 24th 2009, 15:47
Is an election approaching?
M Grima
May 24th 2009, 15:44
Too little too late Simon . There is nothing to discuss really,with you and David Casa's voting (and non voting)record I regard your offer to discuss at this late stage as nothing more than pie in the sky,simply to get votes. Sad to say, I don't believe you
a.dalli
May 24th 2009, 15:11
@ M. Mula Do not go far it was Dr. Gonzi who said that gays have no place and will not be welcomed by his party - that is as long as he remains its leader.
Marlene Vella
May 24th 2009, 14:26
Gay relationships are born in society like any other relationships. Get over it. Members of the gay community pay taxes as any other citizen, no one is asking for special treatment but merely equal status. The voting patterns of the Maltese MEPs in the EP speak louder than anything else. The votes of the gay community spoke in the EU referendum. How do politicians dare judge parenting and partnership skills based on sexual orientation? Does one really need to point out the role of gay people in social work involving heterosexual couples' families? Their work in our hospitals, where gay partners are denied the right to support their family in difficult times? Maltese government simply prefers to use the gay community's taxes to fund the existing benefits for other social groups - they accept the tax returns, while not even bothering to collect data about the gay community! So much for your EU credentials Dr. Busuttil and Mr Casa, we lag so much behind! http://www.ilga-europe.org/europe/campaigns_projects/ep2009/map/malta/
Steven Camilleri
May 24th 2009, 12:25
Well Done PN at last -stick to your principles!!! THE RIGHT IS ALWAYS RIGHT
adrian aquilina
May 24th 2009, 11:45
the p.n. are so fundementaly right wing and conservative its sad..their veiws are 40 years out of date.we dont even have cohabiting rights for any genders.
why we have to live in a country with views that are closer to countries like iran then europe i have no clue.just shocked the p.n. wanted to join europe when they have no modern views,no thought for anyone but fundemental catholics and think everyone should be living in the dark ages..time they had some mps with more progressive views rather then a whole group of regressives.grow up
Moses Mula
May 24th 2009, 11:28
Gaby Calleja said it all when she said, and I quote , "Equality is not something that comes in bits and pieces. You are either equal or not". The best way to combat discrimination suffered by gay people is to grant them equal rights as this will help educate the majority of the population that being gay does not mean that you cannot build a strong loving family. But with Dr. Busuttil stating that his party is against same-sex marriage and adoption by gay couples before entering these discussions, it is obvious that giving equality to gay people is out of the question for the government. The concept of discrimination does in fact mean lack of equality, and the fact that the government is responsible for this is rather sick.