John C. Micallef, Żabbar
Labour Party's new LGBT network (2)
A piece of local news last week caught some attention - collecting praise from some people and flak from some others. I am referring to the PL's proposed setting up of a section that caters for the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders.
Now, on face value, one would definitely say that this is a positive move for any political party that deems itself to be on the forefront of progress and openness.
I do not know whether the LP feels that those among us who fall into these categories are being prejudiced in some way. It might be. However, any rights that may be denied are the simple, basic human rights that any citizen living in a democratic and just society would expect to have.
Someone applying for a job would expect to be judged on his/her capabilities and certainly not on whether he/she is gay or straight (notwithstanding some may have their reservations if an interviewee turned up dressed as a drag queen!). Similarly, no one has the right to treat a person differently on any basis whatsoever - be it colour, creed, political belief or sexual orientation. Or age, if you would allow me to add something else. Any sort of harassment is also deplored and unlawful - regardless of the sexual orientation of the victim.
So when one expects that he or she has the same rights as anyone else, what is the use of stigmatising people into groups in the name of their rights - which are basically the same rights as anyone else's?
Should a single mother be prejudiced when applying for a job? Certainly not, but I do not recall there being any sections (within any political party) to cater for her needs. Should a 45 or 50-year old person be prejudiced when applying for a job? Of course not, but many are.
I would now invite the PL (and PN and AD for all they could stand for) to set up sections to cater for the rights of the various segments of society that may be prejudiced in some way.
Maybe they could also set up a section for big-bosomed girls who complain that they never get looked straight in the eyes during job interviews.
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Galea. L
Nov 11th 2009, 14:42
J Martinelli
Sour grapes?
Edward Caruana Galizia
Nov 11th 2009, 09:38
@Micallef
" I only wish that in the near future someone belonging to LGBT takes someone to court for harassment and wins the case.That will certainly help."
Why do we need to wait for something like that to happen for a change to be made? This group shows that at least one party actually understands. Plus, as things are, as far as i know, even if an LGBT person does get some sort of harassment, the law won t help much as there are no laws protecting LGBT people. That s what we mean by Gay Rights.
That s why i think this group will make a big difference as it shows that the PL understands that such rights need to be introduced.
Ageism is wrong. As is racism and any other form of discrimination. But luckily the law already protects the rights of these people.
J C Micallef
Nov 10th 2009, 17:33
@ Ramon Casha
Thanks for reading & commenting.
If anyone is being discriminted against continually, then the law must be there to protect him/her/them. (please also refer to my other comments for me to avoid repetition)
@J Martinelli - in perfect agreement.And thank goodness for that, as I have met with some extremely gifted and talented people who also happened to be gay.In our society, everyone must be given the equal opportunity to contribute.
@B Galea - good thing bringing up civil partnerships. But why are so many people so keen on having a 'taditional' (!) marriage? So a change in mentality is required in that direction.
What about people who take care of others (without having any emotional and familiar ties)? Are they being disciminated against? Yes they are.
So the issue, as I see it at least, is that we need a revamp of the way we see things around us, and the less we label people the better. Suppose I need to take care of lonely neighbour of mine - should I be discriminated against if I went to see him/her at hospital? I need not be a family member to be responsible for someone.
J C Micallef
Nov 10th 2009, 17:22
@ Edward Caruana Galizia.
Thank you for reading my letter and commenting. We are here to understand each other.
I believe that legal protection from descrimination should be there for everyone. I was bullied at school, and sometimes even at work. And know how it feels.
I was shoocked and really upset when I heard the story of a maltese transsexual who was humiliated at the local prison before entering to visit a friend of hers (it was on a local tv program). That should never happen, but will this 'group' help? No. It's the enforcement of proper laws and education in general that will help.
We all have our dignity and that's it. I made the 'silly' comparison with a big bosomed girl because a big bosomed girl (just for example) could face a life like hell if she is bullied at school and/or harassed at work, and I personally have had to work hard to get this 'macho' thing out of the minds of men who believe they are God's gift to women.
I only wish that in the near future someone belonging to LGBT takes someone to court for harassment and wins the case.That will certainly help.
Ramon Casha
Nov 10th 2009, 16:24
I agree that discrimination is wrong whether it targets gays, or single mothers, or any other group of individuals. The question is, are single mothers being discriminated against on a consistent basis? You said they are not in your own letter. Gay people are, hence the need for this issue to be addressed explicitly. Eventually these measures would become unnecessary - which is what gay people are striving for.
Edward Caruana Galizia
Nov 10th 2009, 15:12
@ Mr JC Micallef
The problems that a homosexual faces in life have nothing to do with the problems big bosomed girls face. What a silly comparison to make. How dare you. Do these girls run the threat of being beaten up when they are teenagers? Are they denied legal protection from discrimination?
What is your point exactly? Don't introduce gay rights because gay people are going to face discrimination whether they like it or not?
J Martinelli
Nov 10th 2009, 14:54
Without getting into any political agendas, may I point out that Gays and Lesbians have, for decades, begged to be considered as part of the mainstream and have recently made momentous gains in that direction.
By isolating them and forming any such 'groups' even if well intended, by necessity will cause their separation from the mainstream. Therefore such a move may very well be regarded as discriminatory. This is a backward move.
J C Micallef
Nov 10th 2009, 13:24
@B Galea - It's a pleasure being able to communicate, explain to & understand the views of others. If we do not do so, how can we ever progress?
Further to your comments, I think that:
- A person's orientation need not be made public, but neither should it be taken for granted. Personally I think it is no one's business. (I never take my partner to work-related functions, and often people ask if we were separated!)
- The example of the teachers you mention is precisely what I am saying - it's descrimiantion and should be treated as such - it could have been anyone.
The rights that we should all enjoy should be embedded in every civilised brain, but grouping people in 'brackets' is not the way to do it, I believe.
B Galea
Nov 10th 2009, 13:17
(cont)
I'm not sure what incidents in the Italian media you're referring to, but I would consider Italy to be homophobic too. A society that aspires to be equal must measure itself against the most equal of societies (e.g. the Nordic states) and not the least (Italy is amongst Europe's most unequal and discriminatory countries).
The very fact that the vast majority of the Maltese population is against the possibility of same sex civil partnership (not marriage) is proof that homophobia is deep-seated. Why would they be against civil partnership? It doesn't carry the same religious connotations as marriage, and it would have no effect on heterosexual couples - so what reason, other than homophobia, could there be for the vehement opposition to it?
B Galea
Nov 10th 2009, 13:02
@JC Micallef - First of all, thanks for your reply. It's always nice when authors contribute below the line.
I think Malta's homophobia is undeniable - all you have to do is walk into a kazin and listen in on a conversation. Colloquial spoken Maltese is littered with homophobic words (as is Italian and Spanish) in a way that English, for example, no longer is. As with divorce and contraception, the Catholic church's influence still holds a great deal of sway.
That a number of presenters, executives etc are gay/lesbian is undeniable, but why is it that not a single one choses to even hint at their sexual orientation in public (e.g. even simply mentioning their partner in an interview)? And while it is admirable that you personally have no issue with GLBT people, you cannot simply juxtapose your lack of prejudice onto the major population. Remember the furore in 2007 when a number of parents vociferously demanded that gay teachers at Church schools be ousted and fired? That was just 2 years ago - how much could have changed? (cont)
J C Micallef
Nov 10th 2009, 12:24
@ B Galea
In a country where for some reason or other divorce is considered as some sort of holocaust - despite the thousands of broken marriages - I am not surprised that LGBT couples feel their rights are not equal, and in this I agree.
However, that there straighforward descrimination may not be correct. There are plenty of gays strutting their stuff as TV presenters. No problem with that. I also do know people in top places at work who are gay or lesbians, and I have no problem with that either.
Any discrimination made against LGBT should be unlawful because it is discrimiantion - and that's it. There are legal ways to get around certain things, while others may take a bit longer.
But we cannot call the Maltese as homophobic, and the recent incidents reported on the italian news prove precisely that.
B Galea
Nov 10th 2009, 12:09
How facetious Mr Micallef. Gay, lesbian and transgender couples SHOULD have the same rights as straight people, but in Malta at least, they clearly do not. And I'm not just talking about the elephants in the room (marriage, adoption etc) but very simple things like straightforward discrimination.
Mention one openly gay Maltese politician. Mention one openly gay Maltese 'celebrity'. We have none - not, as many would like to think, because they don't exist, but simply because Maltese society is still a homophobic one, and people believe (rightly or wrongly) that their career may suffer if they come out publicly.
Initiatives such as PL's are essential in normalising the status of LGBT Maltese people, because they provide people who have been marginalised with a forum in which they can practice their citizenship and voice their opinions.
One day, Maltese society may no longer treat LGBT people as 'inferior', and when that happens, then I'd agree with you, there would no longer be any need for a specialised LGBT section within political parties. But that day is a long way away.
J C Micallef
Nov 10th 2009, 12:04
Some readers may consider my contribution as lacking in sensitivity - well, it's not.
Unmarried couples, including separated people living with their new partners, also have different rights than others.
As regards will - even family members find their rights jeopardised in the absence of a proper will.
Or is this all an exercise of money on the one side and votes on the other?