The Malta Gay Rights Movement would like to applaud all five Maltese members of the European Parliament for their positive vote taken lately on a resolution regarding a discriminatory law proposed in Lithuania. The law sought to render illegal all forms of information regarding sexual diversity, possibly including websites, exhibitions and information booklets.

The ultimate purpose behind this proposed legislation is one which continues to suppress and ignore the dignity of Lithuanian LGBT (Lesbian gay bisexual transgender) people by trying to obscure their existence altogether. The proposed legislation is meant to prohibit, for example, any mention of diverse family forms, any discussions about anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies in schools in public fora, and to outlaw the campaigning for LGBT equality and public demonstrations such as Pride Marches.

Lithuania's answer to sexual diversity is to block it out, refusing to acknowledge the existence of its LGBT citizens and preferring instead to ban all information about an already historically oppressed minority. We thus commend all five Maltese MEPs on their stand opposing any form of legislation which would further undermine the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people as equal citizens in the communities in which they live.

MGRM looks forward to work more closely with the Maltese MEPs to help ensure a Europe where LGBT people live their lives in dignity - free from discrimination, harassment or violence.