Gay Rights Movement objects to President's comments

Kevin Cassar

Feb 17th 2010, 16:34

@ Pamela Borg

I'm sure you are a great family and that you will love your child as much as the rest of us.

@ those who are against gay marriages and adoptions

Some are using the argument that gay couples can't have offspring. They say you can't have a marriage if you can't have children. This is PLAIN STUPID and contradictory. This claim would mean that childless couples cannot be families. A marriage is the union between a couple who love eachother - end of!!!

And if you think that a child in a homosexual couple is at a risk of getting the "wrong" idea of a family - you're not thinking hard enough, no wait, you're not thinking at all.

How many gay people are the offspring of gay couples??????? If this is not enough proof that sexuality is not a choice and thus not something which can be against morals, then I don't know what is.

y tabone

Feb 12th 2010, 13:16

yey Pamela.. i wish you and your FAMILY all the best! :D

Pamela Borg

Feb 11th 2010, 20:25

Hi,
I am gay & have my own family. My partner & I used a known doner to have our beautiful daughter. You people think whatever you like but we're a happy family & our family who support our decisions can see with their own eyes what a happy family we are & how we are raising our daughter better than most of man/woman parents out there.
Whether you like it or not & whether you accept us or not, we're here to stay & you'll be seeing more of us in the future.
What ignorant people don't think about is that by not respecting & accepting gays, you could be harming your own children. You don't know that your child won't be gay, do you? So isn't it that by making things difficult for gay people, you could be making things hard for your own child.
Please people, think before you judge & comment as no one knows what the future holds for all.

J Cassar

Feb 4th 2010, 03:21

this is exactly why this discussion becomes so ridiculous (referring to Joe Fenech comment)
Society expects to be able to dictate to people who do not fit into the -married with kids- "norm" (which is actually not as much a norm as people are led to believe) yet when it suits (maybe because of personal family issues) it is suddenly okay for a man and woman to raise kids as a family outside of marriage. And the last time i checked a single mother or lone parent is not a man and woman in a relationship. Nowhere in my comment do I say that a man and woman having kids outside of marriage cannot be a "proper caring family" (your words not mine-define that). Either your English comprehension is lacking or you have purposely ignored all the points I made to make a point on something I did not state.

Joe Fenech

Feb 2nd 2010, 14:19

YES a family IS a man and a woman. One can have legal partnership for gays but nothing else.

J Cassar

The fact that couple bear children out of wedlock doesn't mean that they're not proper caring families!!!

J Cassar

Feb 1st 2010, 00:45

marriage is so successful in the uk that the divorce rate is 1 in 3 marriages. an enormous number of children are born out of wedlock and the number of single teenage mums continues to rise and they continue to get younger. so there must be something making heterosexual marriage of husband, wife and two kids unattractive. maybe when the EU force Malta to legalise divorce the conservative Maltese will be in for a shock... but then Malta has it's own not so small "problem" of teenage mothers, doesn't it...so which parents have failed to instil these family values in their own kids in Malta?? Probably those so busy ranting on about homosexuals and Catholic values no doubt! No matter how tightly people hold on, Malta will change as it already is doing and that is God's will.

C.Zammit

Jan 31st 2010, 09:59

@ To all who are attacking me by their comment because you do not agree with me! First of all you have all the right not to agree with my comments. Secondly if I do not agree with Gay marriage & child adoption it does not mean I am not open minded. Being open minded does not mean that you loose your faith in God and your life values. Minorities must respect the majority. I never ever said that homosexuals don't have the right to live but don't expect marriage life & benifits! For your info I have a homosexual family member but I would never want to see him get married and if in the future they will I will not attend. I still speak to him for your info too. Just because someone is against gay marriage it does not mean that you need to get a life. I can assure you I am very very busy sepecially at the moment. I am in a relationship too and soon thinking of getting married. This does not mean that I have to live in my own world and go with the tide or flow!

Ms P M Graham

Jan 30th 2010, 13:03

M.Pace,wrote: "Many of the commentators have probably never met or talked to gay people. They have strong convinctions based on ideas, impressions and prejudices but not on facts. Min ma jridx jisma' hu l-akbar trux."

Excellent post/point.

It's all well and good having an opinion but surely that opinion has to be based on experience as opposed to, "I was told". to think this way.

"Think for yourself and let others enjoy the privilege of doing so too."
— Voltaire

Sean Apap

Jan 30th 2010, 10:53

Mr. C Zammit

Lets not degenerate into senseless arguments - I never said that I live without morals or boundaries, I merely showed you a scientific study proving how natural homosexuality is. Whether I believe in god or not doesn't affect the results that were found. I would like to ask you though, your opinion on other minority groups? Black people had received the short end of the stick in this respect for centuries because it was accepted social belief that they were subhuman. Thankfully nowadays (most) people realize this to be untrue, I just wonder when you might consider the same of homosexual people.

Mr D Abdilla

My father left us when I was about 5 and my mother has been raising my brother and I by herself for the past 15 years. In you're definition are we not a family?

M Pace

Jan 30th 2010, 10:48

The President should be the President of all the nation. Sadly he is no longer my President.

I am tempted to reply to some of the online comments but it is not the right forum. Many of the commentators have probably never met or talked to gay people. They have strong convinctions based on ideas, impressions and prejudices but not on facts. Min ma jridx jisma' hu l-akbar trux.

On a happier note: Beyond the cacophony of online diatribes society is evolving to a better place. Yes a better place. Those of us who believe that we are losing our values should look into our recent history - one of poverty misery, domestic abuse and rampant prositution involving underage children. Life is better and morally healthier nowadays than it has ever been. And serioulsy some people who get all worked up about people leading different lives than the majority need to get a life.

C Galea

Jan 30th 2010, 05:18

Dear Mr C Zammit

Lat night I saw this T V Movie called Prayers For Bobby, which in my opinion should be a must televise film on any Maltese public T V station.I strongly recomend that you read all about this movie and the story behind it , watch it, and just as importantly read the reviewr's comments which in my opinion may befit your personality?????????????
I also recomend this movie to all interested, it is simply heartwreching matreial.

click on the links below and the rest speaks for itself.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1073510/

http://www.mylifetime.com/movies/prayers-bobby

J. Grima

Jan 29th 2010, 21:49

@ Julliene Delta

Well, if everyone had the same ideas like you have, the human race would be extinct in no time at all because, and i'd like to quote myself again, i never have heard of 2 gays or lesbians that could produce offspring together.

You can say whatever you like, and come up with any argument you think is right, but facts are facts and gay couples are not able to have children i.e. they are not meant to have children, it just goes against the law of nature.....and before you ask/accuse me, I am not a Catholic or any other religious freak, I just use a little bit more logic than you apparently.

Chris Reiff

Jan 29th 2010, 20:06

@C. Zammit: "God laws are hard but it does not mean that you eliminate the fact that he exsists so we could pass the laws you want." You're just saying that because you apparently passed his not-gay law. I'm pretty sure you wouldn't have said the same thing if you were gay. Also, why do you people always refer to a millenia year old book for moral advice, and hide behind the "God says so" phrase? How come you always know what your God wants, but when we provide you with a good argument that your lovely old God doesn't give an answer to you say "God's ways are mysterious"? You don't know how close-minded you sound and are when you hide behind that book. Grow up, seriously!

rbuttigieg

Jan 29th 2010, 19:11

@joe e.galea... who mentioned promiscuity?? yes i read the article.. twice. all i meant was why should we limit the definition of a family to just two adults ( be it man/woman, man/man etc) why not two women and a man or vice versa for all that matters. if they faithful between three of them there is no promiscuity. surely we cannot deny others who choose to live like this, otherwise its you who can be branded narrow minded

Pule'Carmel

Jan 29th 2010, 17:15

What is normaland perfect in such a diversity of human beings? When a President speaks to the nation he must speak in a way to cover the best values for his nation and so he depicts all that experience has shown to be best for the nation and not for variant individuals. I worked at Dockyards, Industries, taught in schools, colleges and universities, and keep in touch with hospitals and powerstations and ship crews and children and also have heard others talk about the diverse intelligences and physicaland mental incapabilities of different children,men,women, and sport people. On occasions I walk in cemeteries and see the ages and reasons how people died and sometimes I go to Dar Tal Providenza to see the diversities that human being can take. I know of babies being miscarried through the pregnancy and also still born, a daybefore their birth. I spent a lot of time in hospitals listening to surgeons. I know of girls who were accused of being pregnant when all it was, consisted of an accumulation of blood as all passages out of her system were unfortunately closed up, since birth. In many ofthe above, nature was deviated with “unnormal results”. So!!

Martin Spiteri

Jan 29th 2010, 16:26

I respect gays and lesbians and got nothing against them. As a matter of fact I have homosexual friends and attend some of their parties, and hang around with them as well. It is also a well known fact that homosexuality does not only exist in humans, but also amongst animals, i.e. in nature. Having said that, I still agree 100% with the President, that a family should be formed by a man, a woman and their children. That's how nature intended it to be, irrelevant of religion, believes or culture. There is nothing wrong in stating what is true, and I see no harm in that. People shouldn't get offended so easily neither. These things are facts that cannot be denied. The day two women or two man can have children like a man and a woman can, then yes I'll respect that as well and they can have children. I do not think adoption is a good solution though. It's simply not a natural thing to happen, and no this is not a homophobia.

Jason Borg

Jan 29th 2010, 16:18

Since when, may I ask, has animal behaviour become a reason to justify human behaviour? All of us have one time or other seen a pair of dogs locked together in copulation in busy streets. Does this mean people can do the same in Republic Street, for example?

Joseph A Borg

Jan 29th 2010, 15:58

@ Chris Reiff "And here I was thinking that religion opens minds"

seems also to bring out the 'best' in people…

Arthur Peffers

Jan 29th 2010, 15:08

@ Joseph Schembri

An enlightened comment made by you, inspirational. Thankyou.

GiovDeMartino

Jan 29th 2010, 12:44

Same sex marriage. U tibqghux iddahquna l-ahwa!!!!

C.Zammit

Jan 29th 2010, 11:42

@ S Apap - God Exsists weather you like it or not. The fact that you are still alive and breathing God exsists. You say that because you want to live life the way you like without laws or values. God laws are hard but it does not mean that you eliminate the fact that he exsists so we could pass the laws you want.
If you are against homosexuals it does not mean that I have a problem with my sexuality and could be a homosexual myself. I can assure you that i am sure of my self 100% & in a relationship with a woman. The excuses is science and stupid research that are only harming the world. Homosexuality is unatural. Marriage is between a man and a woman and kids are not to be brought up by homosexual parents. Kids are not toys. They homosexuals stop trying to mess up the world. Just becaused your messed up it does not mean the whole world is like you. You can live your lives they way you are living if your Gay nothing you can do but don't expect marriage & adoption. Don't ruin families leave them alone!

A.Borg

Jan 29th 2010, 10:37

Are any of those GAYS have by chance been born from a GAY couple ( which according to gays , there is nothing un-natural in being gay?)

Am waiting for a simple YES or NO?

Joe E Galea

Jan 29th 2010, 10:15

@Martin Farrugia: Variant does not mean "Not Normal", it means "uncommon". Heterosexuality is not normal it's just common. Nature has it's own ways and reasons to create variants from the common strands. Also answer me this: Why all homosexual people become gay when they are raised by a heterosexual family in a heterosexual environment, in a predominantly heterosexual society.

Here is my last comment but I couldn't resist!!!

To all Catholics sprouting hatred against homosexuals (like C Zammit, RBusuttil, Martin Farrugia, etc.): If I am not mistaken the true God is all about love, compassion, altruism, tolerance, friendship, respect, etc. I think your Catholic Church believes in a God who is full of hatred, intolerance, revenge, pretentions, etc. I thank my God that I don't believe in your God.

yaz tabone

Jan 29th 2010, 10:04

i think J FARRUGIA is living in a fantasy world! what a mentality!! a family is NOT only a mother, father and offspring! i am a single mother, and my son is my family! o but i guess its better for some woman to deal with abuse just to be a "family". how disgusting that this mentality is still around, its degrading and i don't how he isn't embarrassed to say such things.

@ MONICA VELLA - pack up and leave?? because of close minded people?? malta is full of people like that but there are some considerate people aswel who accept people who are different. no "WE" did not approve of his speech, you did! i believe in human rights n equality in the sense of discrimination, he is making us sound like some third world country! - and this is our president?? shocking!

Joe E Galea

Jan 29th 2010, 09:58

@R Buttigieg: If you read the article well the main point made by MGRM is about the wrong definition of family stated by narrow-minded people. They voiced themselves in favour of other forms of families not just homosexual ones. MGRM never advocated promiscuity and makes many campaigns against it. Also MGRM never promoted more than one partner relationships, it's just you who imagined it.

I want to ask the follwoing questions:
Why homophbic people are afraid of homosexual people? Why is sexuality so scary for them? Why do they feel threatened? Do they have a sexual identity problem? Why do they make such matter an issue? .....I have my own conclusions but I am sure The Times will censor it.

Joe E Galea

Jan 29th 2010, 09:49

@C Zammit: Who do you think you are? Why don't you get a life. You are again contradicting yourself. Did God talk to you directly and illuminated you about the sexes and told you what is normal or not? With your logic I conclude that you believe in a faulty God who creates faulty beings.....and please stop quoting the Bible and presenting yourself as the Super Catholic Hero.

Stephen Vella

Jan 29th 2010, 08:20

I suggest that readers such as J.Farrugia, C.Busutill, Victor Vella, Clare Spiteri, C.Zammit, Monica Vella and Martin Farrugia google the name MATTHEW SHEPARD before coming over here spouting their old conservative right wing rhetoric! Just for the record Mr.Shepard was 22 years old when he was brutally beaten uo and tied to a fence in freezing conditions because guess what ?! His murderers did not like gays.

@ Victor Vella ......Sir I do hope that your heart and soul find some love and light because you are obviously very bitter.
@ Martin Farrugia....I have been in a loving and committed relationship for six years now do you expect me to take your statements about what is natural and what is not seriously ???!!!

C.R. Taliana

Jan 29th 2010, 08:08

WHy not make a movement for Heterosexuals now? We seem to be the racists just for being hetero nowadays. We'll soon be a minority because we don't follow the trend!

C Galea

Jan 29th 2010, 04:43

Mr C Zammit, it is difficult to avoid getting personal here and one should not go there as we are all entitled to our opinion and of course view it reely in a democratic country. I seem to remember your views re gay issues in the past and somehow you seem to be so obsessed, misinformed and with hints of a hatred touch. Could one suggest to you to please give this subject a let go as you do not seem fit to educate anyone with your views. I feel So Sorry for you.

J Xuereb

Jan 29th 2010, 01:35

Every human being feels the instinctual need to procreate, independently of their sexuality. Homosexual people only want the same rights as other people and they surely want people to procreate, they want to be uncles, aunts and maybe parents. Man + woman + children = family DOESN'T make human achievements and miracles just because the church decided that family has to be that way. This is all just a social/religious construct like straight and gay categories are. The human being is intrinsically attracted to both sexes. A lot of people fail to see and think laterally. I'm sure a lot of you know of so-called facade-perfect families which are completely rotten on the inside where kids are borne from 'straight' parents who aren't surely raising healthy children. What family is that? On the other hand I know of children who despite having separated parents or a gay parent or only a mother or only a father who have been raised and nourished by love, emotional stability, care, tolerance, acceptance and taught to understand diversity & other values. The aforementioned is all that a child/human being needs and all that most of you are failing to see.

A.Gauci

Jan 28th 2010, 22:04

when will everybody let everybody live there own lives!

Franco Farrugia

Jan 28th 2010, 21:51

Well, I think we must thank President Abela. A fine piece of work he did, honestly. And I am not being sarcastic. He has brought out one of the worst characteristics of the Maltese - their homophobia. Roll on, President! Fine job you're doing, uniting the country with your beautiful words.

Chris Reiff

Jan 28th 2010, 20:49

And here I was thinking that religion opens minds.

D.Abdilla

Jan 28th 2010, 19:58

I wish to make a note regarding this matter, it's not that I (and along with many others) don't accept Homosexuality, but the fact that they wish to be called a Family and Adopt kids as they can't Procreate them.
Many Homosexual Activist & Profs will tell you "Homosexuality is found also in animals and many other species. Thus it's a Normal thing."
I'll Gladly ask them: "How Many of these animals have procreated kids? How many of them have adopted kids from other animals?"

And I think President Dr Abela never intended to included Families (man & woman) who cant have kids because of health problems in this situation.

The same goes for single parent's. It's in the name!! it's not a Family its a Single Parent raising a Kid, it gets beneficial aids from the government aswell since it's not a family and the father cant help the mother with his income....
When then they marry each other and live together, then they are a family.

Joseph Schembri

Jan 28th 2010, 19:44

C.Busuttil. I assure you that it is no hoax - it is a solid piece of research. Perhaps we are referring to different pieces of research.

Man and other animals do lots of things which might seem to be odd to outside observers.

In Bonobos for example (our closest living primate species) there is prostitution, war, incest and adultery apart from the values that we humans say that we value such as compassion, altruism and love.There is also of course homosexuality.

Evolutionary theory states that if a trait is a disadvantage it will be 'weeded out' through natural selection. For some reason, that is still as yet unclear, homosexuality keeps appearing. So the only conclusion that one can draw is that there is some evolutionary advantage to it. It is now up to us human animals to demonstrate our best values and show compassion and understanding by making the lives of homosexuals as trouble free as possible. In the same way that we do to heterosexuals.

Ray Buttigieg

Jan 28th 2010, 19:18

Whom are the gay rights movement trying to impress. Malta does not need such movements. They do more harm than good. What do they expect the President to say. Marriage and family is a heterosexual institution and thats the way it should remain. I know a lot of gay people who lead normal fruitful lives in private without problems because the Maltese people are more tolarent and liberal than many would ever think. They find MGRM as an emberressment to their sexuality with their demands and claims.

S Apap

Jan 28th 2010, 19:10

I'm curious Mr C Busutill, where you find this information. Are you a scientist per chance? A professor or doctor related to medical or biological fields?

If so I'm sure this official, documented article will prove most enlightening:

http://www.news-medical.net/news/2006/10/23/20718.aspx

And just in case you can't bring yourself to click it (it isn't really intended for the closed minded or ignorant in any event):

"No species has been found in which homosexual behaviour has not been shown to exist"

Homosexuality exists in EVERY LIVING ORGANISM.

With the exception of organisms that do not have sex (abomination!)

S Apap

Jan 28th 2010, 18:55

Ajma Mr. C Zammit, can't challenge what doesn't exist ey?

Also little note: homosexuality is found everywhere in nature, especially in higher mammals - unless your god did that just for fun too

D. Scerri

Jan 28th 2010, 18:43

Without going into the morals of homosexuality when it comes to what constitutes a family one should state what the facts are. In order to produce offspring by nature one needs a male and a female counterpart. And that is what constitutes a couple and eventually a family irrespective of what gays/lesbians say. Thus whilst one should appreciate there are people with homeophilic attractions these should not pretend everybody forgets what is right by nature and give them all the rights a true couple can have.

C.Busuttil

Jan 28th 2010, 18:34

@Joseph Schembri

the gay gene story is a hoax. Besides, homsexuality in animals does not give any valid substance to your argument. What a great example you mention but you forget that Animals eat their offspring too, should we also start to imitate them ?
Homosexual behaviour in animals has a reason domination over the other.

PS- Keep in mind that even liberal states in the USA are banning gay marriages.

victor vella

Jan 28th 2010, 18:17

We might need the same laws as Ethiopia 14 years in prison for gay men

clare spiteri

Jan 28th 2010, 18:16

Quite right Mr C. Zammit. I too voted PN the last time, but if there was a serious rightwing party contesting the election next time. I would vote for that. Many important issues have been muddled. This is simply another one.

Josette Vella

Jan 28th 2010, 18:09

It seems we need to fill the top places and re teach people the true facts of life.

rbuttigieg

Jan 28th 2010, 17:12

while we are at it why should we limit definition of marriage/legal partership only between two adults ( be it man&woman, man&man etc). Why don 't we grant also marriage status to those who choose to have more then one partner ( consensual). why MGRM is limiting a union for only two people ?

manuel lia

Jan 28th 2010, 16:43

jien nirrispetta lill gayes kollha ta malta bla distinzjoni ta xejn...dik lewwel haga li rrid namila cara...pero issa too much ta....xqal hazin il president bdak li qal?mhux vera li koppja mizzewga bit tfal trid tkun mara u ragel...mela tridu tizzewgu?tridu jkollkom it tfal ukoll mhux hekk....ma nistax nimmagina tarbija tigi mrobbija bejn zewg irgiel...il mummy ragel u id daddy ragel ukoll....issa la joseph ikun fil gvern..xi darba....ghidulu xi tridu u jtikom kollox...anke trabbu tnejn jew tlieta np....open menu......minalikom....

C.Zammit

Jan 28th 2010, 16:31

Also when I meant that right-wing is gaining power not as a goverment but in council elections such as the uk, italy, netherlands. Once France was close to elect Le pen & Austria too had the right in power for some time. Lega Nord in Italy is in power together with Berlusconi's Forza Italia party! The right-wing parties have members of parlament in countries like Italy & holland and many more countries. So why not in Malta maybe one day there will be a right wing party in a local council at least 1 town or city in Malta. At the moment I am a PN supporter but if they don't fight against these issues they will loose my vote! for sure!

C.Zammit

Jan 28th 2010, 16:20

@ The Story of David & Jonathan was in the old testament! God then gave his commandments! Then there is the new testament after christ was born. He was send to explain to the people what God wanted from them & try and help people understand more. The sacreament of marriage was given to us to be between a man & a woman gods nature. Not secular freaks definition of nature! We can't mess our Country just because of a minority of homosexuals & atheists roaming our street. Malta is catholic & learn to accept it! God in a way is denied many times in the old testament & that's why christ came to help people understand & even died for us on the cross! Like it or not thats they way it is. I will continue to fight against this particular 'Gay Right' as I don't want my country to be ruined by minorities!

C.Zammit

Jan 28th 2010, 16:03

@ Juliette Delta - Are you mentioning the lutheran state church of sweden? As they are the only church that allows gay marriage! Never I want to form part of it! Thank God I was born Catholic and not some freaky religion invented by ''modern'' humans! Whatever you say or any homosexual say you are not right & that's it! Your trying to make it look as if homosexuals are normal and they are not. God created a man and woman & in order to have kids a man has sex with a woman! Two men doing this does not produce anything & even two women. So as you can see Gay is not normal AT ALL! Yes I agree no one has the right to insult them in the streets or hurt them as they are humans after all. One thing they can't do is to say that they are normal and pretend to have same marriage rights as others man& woman couples.
Science is not greater than God.God is greater than science!!! So whatever modern decovery no one can challenge GOD! No one can offend the public & homosexuals are doing so by asking for these rights!

monica vella

Jan 28th 2010, 16:02

Whoever objected to The President's comments, should pack up and leave these island.Well done Mr President. We approvrd of your speach. Well done Sir.

Daniel Vella

Jan 28th 2010, 15:57

@Martin Farrugia
"Crass contradiction of terms, a variant can never be 'normal' "

So according to you, the majority of Europeans (us included, and especially Nordic people) are all abnormal, since the "normal" (and by normal I mean the original) skin and hair colour of humans was a dark brown.

"By the same argument we should all eat dung because a billion flies can't possibly be all wrong. "

This is just laughable... Qed thallat il-hass mal-bass. Besides, we can't even agree within our own species, let alone cross-species

Juliette Delta

Jan 28th 2010, 15:53

@Jgrima "one can only imagine what those children will go through while growing up!"
of course they'll have to take a lot of gratuitous and unnecessary hell - as long as there are people like you, who will also poison their children with this kind of attitide, around.so thoughtful of you!

O Farrugia

Jan 28th 2010, 15:19

Such prejudice and intolerance in 2010! Scary!

All those who in 2010 think that homosexuals are freaks of nature, simply do not UNDERSTAND (or do not want), what happened to the 'Y' chromosome's function at conception. How can you EVER take it against your own child or anyone else's!

Evolution teaches the open minded of the human species something else. Those who do not evolve with nature become EXTINCT! The narrow minded are today's dinosaurs.

Homosexuality has been around since the beginning of time because it is Natural! When something goes wrong with Nature, it is another natural living survival of the species! The fact that reproduction in humans still requires a man and a woman, is only because so far Nature has not found another way! And that is why human children still need both male and female roles to identify with. Not because the Maltese President says so!

Science is what always tries to make sense of human NATURE! So when it comes to state, religion, culture and tradition, please save the talk because these do not conform neither with evolution nor with science!

J. Grima

Jan 28th 2010, 14:45

As far as I'm concerned it takes a man and a woman to have children, and till now I have never heard of 2 gays or lesbians having intercourse and producing children...

Apart from that it is a bit selfish of these gay rights groups if they are going to fight for the right to adopt children cause one can only imagine what those children will go through while growing up!

Martin Farrugia

Jan 28th 2010, 14:36

'"The implication is that a union between two people of the same sex is of course unnatural.'
Of course it is!

'Homosexuality is simply a natural and normal variant in human nature as well as in other species'.

Crass contradiction of terms, a variant can never be 'normal'

'"His question of whether same-sex unions could possibly be called marriage is surely a moot point, since this is already the case in at least five Council of Europe Member States, namely Holland, Sweden, Norway, Belgium and Spain.'

Right he is! By the same argument we should all eat dung because a billion flies can't possibly be all wrong.


Why can't just live by the rules that Mother Nature gave us? - nothing that goes against the laws of Nature will ever last.

Daniel Vella

Jan 28th 2010, 12:35

@ C.Busuttil

"Please leave the history of these islands alone, abortion, gay marriages and especially the worst aberration of all adoptions by gays will find it very very difficult on these islands to gain ground. "

So what you are saying is that adoption by two loving homosexual men or women is worse than abortion.... Wow... we have hit a new high here...

Edric Micallef Figallo

Jan 28th 2010, 12:30

"The first address of the day was delivered by President George Abela. One of his first misguided statements..." - MGRM

The President is misguided, here comes the MGRM to guide him accordingly.

Joseph Schembri

Jan 28th 2010, 12:29

A decade or so ago there was much fuss about the 'discovery of a 'gay gene'. I have a book here called the 'science of desire' written by the geneticist who claims to have discovered this gene and that it is passed on from the mother's side. His evidence is not universally accepted but that is beyond the point. In nature homosexuality is rife. There are consistently gay lions and gay giraffes. And I am speaking here about animals in the wild not some frustrated creature in a zoo. So please stop saying that there is something unnatural about being gay. In nature too these gays do bring up offspring, very often of deceased parents. Therefore even for animals in the wild there are cases of children adopted by homosexual animals. Usually these animals are aunts or uncles. There seems to be no relationship between offspring adopted by homosexual parents and the orientation of the offspring.

For a brief overview of researched human studies go here: http://malta-exposed.blogspot.com/2010/01/lesbian-mothers.html

C Farrugia

Jan 28th 2010, 12:07

Dear President,
i was present for the speech and it was really remarkable. leave all these comments behind. some people are never happy an always ready to attack anybody. Very well done.

Juliette Delta

Jan 28th 2010, 12:04

@C. Zammit ever heard of David and Jonathan?that's a gay love story for your info.and it's in the bible, lover's lament and all :O ! did you know that the church held blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples during its first century?do you know why there's always less people opting for priesthood? it's because TODAY being gay does not mean you'll have to spend your life either alone or in secret relationships.

Jeremy Zanmmit

Jan 28th 2010, 11:41

Guys google " malta-exposed " and read about the hypocrisy of this government and so many of the Maltese Catholics where for example porn is involved!

Andre Attard

Jan 28th 2010, 10:08

guys ,gals and now gays too lets not be too cocky about this whole thing on what the president said about marriage... I mean what do you guys expect him to say ? we live in a catholic country called Malta and not on a the greek island of Lesbos (btw even the islanders of this island have certain issues regarding the name),so if you dont like it I suggest you stop whining .Keep also in mind nobody has ever proven that gays are born gay.

Joe E Galea

Jan 28th 2010, 09:12

@ N Calleja: Can you tell me who created gays and lesbians please? I need illumination by a person who still believes in Adam and Eve.

Joe E Galea

Jan 28th 2010, 09:00

@Chris Mifsud: You know what is a joke all those irresponsible parents and single mothers who bring children into this world and treat them as if they were objects and in many cases they are neglected or brought up in a hell environment. Why are there so many problems in schools? Why children behaviour is deteriorating..and these come from heterosexual "families". The problem with people like you is that you prefer having children suffer big time becuase of having the misfortune of being born by irrsponsible, socially poor, mentally unstable, drug & alcohol abusing, promiscuous, etc.,...but HETEROSEXUAL parents.

To all: I want to make a point clear here. Homosexuals never asked for recognition from the church, they want recognition (of same sex marriages) from the state because since they are taxpayers, they expect to have the same rights as hetero couples. I am single and amongst others I am paying more tax than a married couple and for what? ...for their children allowance, widows' pensions, single parents relief, free social housing to them...what do I get?...nothing.

j.micallef

Jan 28th 2010, 09:00

I honestly cannot understand some people how they comment on gay people, I ask one question who had the choice in this life to choose before he was born what he /she would be a female/ male/ gay/ handicapped/ born in a rich family/ poor family it about time we accept whatever they are as equal

I.Debattista

Jan 28th 2010, 08:22

To all those that are against this statment by MGRM..
Are you all perfect ??..let me pose you some questions..
If you were in an abusive marriage you have children, wouldn't you do your best to take your "FAMILY" away from all of that?
If the Mother or Father died as many the cases, in your eyes wouldn't that be still a FAMILY?
If your son or daughter turns around and says they are gay , do you think as a Mother and Father you wouldn't support that child within your FAMILY.?
What about if you son or daughter has gender dysfunction? would you shun them from your FAMILY?
FAMILY for me means being brought up with love, care and respect...My sons have been brought up by their Single Mother, in a caring loving "FAMILY" with values.
To all those here on the blog that feel they are perfect and holier then thou, let me remind you this from the Bible.."LET HIM WHO IS WITHOUT SIN, CAST THE FIRST STONE". and this was Jesus , son of GOD.
Love, care and respect all human kind.. only then you will find peace in your heart.

Y. Sammut

Jan 28th 2010, 06:54

Quote: "The implication is that a union between two people of the same sex is of course unnatural. "

I take the term Natural to implicate something that is the rule and occurring freely in nature. Presuming nature to somehow turn homosexual as a rule, all species would become extinct in one generation.

The law dictates that Gays have the right to exist; granted, but I request they do not abuse my intelligence.

gaffarena joseph

Jan 28th 2010, 06:26

My God,only you can explain all this.
You created a man and a woman.
I, hope that these two paragraphs will explain all what our president had in mind.

Ramon Casha

Jan 28th 2010, 05:58

Besides, didn't Jesus have two fathers?

rbuttigieg

Jan 28th 2010, 02:06

why should we stop at granting only couples to form a family? i feel that polygamy should be allowed also, be it two woman with a man or vice versa. after all as some had said here if its a loving relation it should be considered a family. so lets be liberal progressive in all aspects and allow anything imaginable possible.

C Pace

Jan 28th 2010, 00:11

1) the most sinful and promisquous person i know is as straight as they get.
2)I was braught up by a man and a woman and i have no intention to ever consider them my primary family now that they have refused who i am.
3)You should really do some research about the natural world because yes there are animals that reproduce without the need of both sexes, or two individuals for that matter. Though most of the time it's many women, many men and many babies.
4)(i'm a woman) when being with a man makes me so disgusted with myself, how dare you tell me it's natural for me?
5)When we talk about love we are refering to the emotion, not as some of you want to imply, sex.(yeah i said it)
6)tell me one way in which civil union between same sexes effects the rights of married couples?
7)finally, i'd like to introduce you to evolution. look it up. it's hilarious. there was no adam and eve and god only started beign God when a bunch of people invented religion to make some kind of social order.

Get a life and let us fight for ours.

Joseph A Borg

Jan 27th 2010, 23:28

C.Mifsud: It takes a women's egg and men's seed to make children, not two eggs or two seeds. It is not people who are prejudiced (only) with gays but so is nature.

From the rest of your comment, you come across as being a very nice person. May I recommend you refine your views on this part though as there's no between making eggs or 'seed' and actual parenting. I assume social services will take their time to fit in a gay couple within their assessment metric and adjust it according to actual performance.

Franco Farrugia

Jan 27th 2010, 22:54

@ E Muscat: How do you know that gays are only10% of society? Who told you? Why not 9 or 11 percent? And does this take into account the innumerable number of married men and woman who are secretly gay and lesbian? As well as those who are in self-denial?
An American study suggests that themore homophobic you are, the more careful you should be to ask yourself whether you are gay or not. That's a good point, dear Mr J Farrugia.
My second point: so, because you have, let us allow for the sake of argument, a 10% minority, you expect them 'to keep quiet'? Is this the extent of your values of love for democracy? Is this the tolerance that you preach through your so-called tradional values? You are nothing but hypocrisy personified in you.
What 'inclination' are you talking about? It appears that you know a lot about homosexuality and therefoe, I cannot help it if I come to some conclusion!

C.Zammit

Jan 27th 2010, 21:44

I say it & say it again & again we need a right-wing goverment or at least in the eu parlament. The reason is simple:

More law & oreder in the country
Saves our culture & religion
Diciplin the people & we need it as everyone is out of control like babylon! This is no scandle as many european countries have right-wing parties in power in Italy , Britain , Germany & Netherlands and could be many more. In Britain there is the BNP Germany NPD , Lega Nord Italy. So why not in Malta? We can't have a minority of athiests and homosexuals controlling the country!http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Democratic_Party_of_Germany
www.bnp.org.uk
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lega_Nord
Hope the times of malta does not censor these as there is nothing wrong with them. There is nothing wrong with these parties! they just have an opinion and people can vote for them or not. It's a democratic choice!!!!!

Stephen Borg Cardona

Jan 27th 2010, 21:37

Any Comments from the Office of the President would be appreciated.

C.Busuttil

Jan 27th 2010, 21:25

@David Wain
What lost battle? look what has happened in the USA even the most liberal states are banning same sex marriages. You live in a world of yours thinking that everyone has your ideas but the truth and the real world is against you. Only some politician desperate for votes might give you form of legal recognition but even the politician has his limits, thats a referendum by the citizens on one particular issue, just as it happens it the USA.

Please leave the history of these islands alone, abortion, gay marriages and especially the worst aberration of all adoptions by gays will find it very very difficult on these islands to gain ground.

Finally Well done Mr. President

C.Zammit

Jan 27th 2010, 21:13

The president is right her! there is not much to say a family is a man & woman and from that relationship kids come. So we can't have gay couples getting married and adopting chlindren. Being gay is not normal. If you ask what is normal? Normal is all that god created his sacraments & commandments. People are failing to obey them as they are very hard.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodom_and_Gomorrah
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_marriage
This is truth & you can't have a govermen that gives rights to gay to marry and offend the public. To men kissing in public offends me the same as many freaky atheists are being offended by the crucifix because they know he is the truth and try to eliminate him by removing his image from public. He is still here and will still be. His laws are there and even if some silly secular goverments are changing his laws there is still a final judgment in which one has to go trough. To gays getting married is an offence to the majority of the public if so it should pass trough a referendum given to the maltese people.Yes gays to pay taxes but that does not mean they canmakea mess!

Chris Reiff

Jan 27th 2010, 21:00

@Albert Camilleri and all the rest of you traditional, conservative folks.

Ever heard of LIVE AND LET LIVE? Let them live in peace. They have neglected rights.

Lina Caruaa

Jan 27th 2010, 19:59

Should single unmarried people be saying they are a family now? True they are the, remains of the original family, it would be good for income tax purposes because we are charged more I hope income tax will not increase for us to cover the children of gay people too. Are we forgetting that most legislation is meant for children not for the adults who have the responsibility to care and raise them. Funny all these arguments when governments are being worried because births have become a scarcity. This has been a problem even for the economy. That is why many governments now are encouraging parents to have more children -- the most natural and rewarding thing in the world. !!!

Alexander Wright

Jan 27th 2010, 19:39

So homosexuality is still a very sensitive issue. That's obvious whenever the issue arises locally.
May I ask why all this furore? Not a question many would like to ask, let alone attempt to answer. Why do we avoid the question, simple, it is closer to home than we would like to admit to ourselves, let alone to others.
Throw the first homophobic stone the man that does not have a homosexual, or two, in his family, extended family or circle of acquaintances. we may love them to bits, but somehow do not admit it publicly - we are rather cowards, that's no secret. Even closer to home; what if I am married (hetero relation) and realise I am homosexual? It has happened, does happen, will always happen, especially in smaller societies.
My point: Homosexuality is here to say, like it or hate it. It is no illness or condition - it is nature, God's nature. People may be very cruel, homophobic, afraid or repressed, as is obvious here; but that gives them no right to judge/disrespect other human beings.
What if your son were gay ? Would you throw the stone ?

Ms P M Graham

Jan 27th 2010, 19:32

C.Mifsud

Thank you :)

I am fortunate in having a rapport with my natural children and unnatural (does that answer your question?) in that they never have to hide anything from me, especially if it's hurting them.


They don't gain "more". Parenting isn't a competition. There are good parents and there are those who should never be allowed to have children but we can't stop that. (perhaps our efforts would be best spent there)

Children don't ask to be born and they certainly don't ask to be born unwanted or born into abuse, or neglect. The whole gist of this editorial is "family" and what constitutes a family and who should have that privilege. That in itself is wrong. None of us has the right to dictate what a family is. If one person or two people can show that they have what it takes to deal with all of the problems an adopted child or children bring then they should be applauded and not condemned because as we all know, parenting is not the easiest job in the World.

The rewards however are priceless :)

Joseph Schembri

Jan 27th 2010, 19:27

David Wain; I agree with all that you say. well said and written :-P
Except one thing. You mention 'attraction'. Homosexuality like heterosexuality goes by far beyond 'attraction'. Gays can only form a deep emotional bond - what we commonly call 'love'- with people of the same gender. Even if there is no sex involved that love is still there. Talking of attraction etc., makes ignorant people like the Farrugias in this comments section think of homosexuality as something dirty, because they were brought up (poor sods) to think that sex and physical attraction is something sinful.

So let's talk about the love that we have seen gay and lesbian people lavish on their partners and children!

Edward Caruana Galizia

Jan 27th 2010, 19:26

"It's the others and mgrm WHO HAVE TO FEEL ASHAMED FOR WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO"
Mr J: Why don t you walk a mile in the shoes of a gay man and then see what happens. Reading your comment hurt my head. I felt like an anvil was being pressed against it. Luckily I have common sense. But others may find your words hurtful in a different way. Think of the gay teen right now who hears your words every day. Would you call them words of love? You dont know what you are talking about. You have no idea what we re talking about. And you will never want to educate yourself. I hope, to whatever God there is out there, that no politician is like you.

Jimmy Magro

Jan 27th 2010, 19:21

@Daniel Vella
"Progress will be achieved once we have opened our mind and learn live in peace with our neighbours, be it gay, black, muslim etc. Just the way Jesus intended... I'm an atheist, but even I know that this is what Jesus was trying to teach us all along..."

I have no problem with this statement. I have worked with every denomination and never refused to live in peace with my neighbours.

@David Wain
I do not blame anyone of having different sexual orientation. I have no issues with same sex relationships but I find it very difficult to call a same sex relationship as a marriage. This is maybe were we disagree. I am a progressive person and have fought for equal rights but society must also acknowledge that nature created certain differences that must be respected. I wonder whether you would agree to call for breastfeeding by men too. Nature is nature and we cannot create a new order to satisfy these so called minority rights. We cannot accept that giving rights to a minority would end up in a deterioration of the rights of the majority.

Joe Xuereb

Jan 27th 2010, 19:09

Marriage as an institution is going through a bad patch. In Malta particularly with the issues of divorce, separations, abhortions, illegitame children, absent fathers, you name it. For these very reasons, I guess the conference was call up to shore up and consolidate a failing mess. Of course the conservative, religious are going to clamour for 'the old style type of marriage' and will refuse outright any tampering by the introduction of 'new, modern ways of being/seeing'. Marriage as an institution is no more or less than a social construction that can, and does, and must evolve with them and pressures. It is inevitable and possible because it is man made. The President, to his credit, has to appear to be doing the right thing. I would not like to be in his shoes. If I were campaigning in Malta, I would seek the recognition of gay unions or gay relationship. I would drop the word 'marriage' at least for the time being.
Marriage is now fragile. It serves no purpose to undermine it further. It will not win friends. At day's end - union, marriage, relationship - they are only words.

martin saliba

Jan 27th 2010, 18:53

@ Joe E Galea. My thoughts exactly. Prosit. @Joe Grima from Brussels: You should know better if , as i ssume , you are working within the EU.

C.Mifsud

Jan 27th 2010, 18:50

@Ms P M Graham
Joke taken - no need to apologise :)

Ms. Assure you, at school I have suffered for many many things, bullying etc.. and my parents (M/F :) ) to this day (I am middle aged) have never be told about it.

Don't assume children won't suffer amongst other children.

I am assuming though, that in your case it is different - no adopted, but they were your naturual children...if not, this is my turn to apologise.

However I do feel that adopted children should not be adopted by gay couples. I dont think that they gain more than gaining with hetero (m/F) couples. Yes there are bad couples, but you find those in any kind of union.

It takes a women's egg and men's seed to make children, not two eggs or two seeds. It is not people who are prejudiced (only) with gays but so is nature.

My point is only about children since about marrying etc.. I have no problem with gays getting married (call it unionised).

It would be ideal that gays fight for their right to marry but leave innocent children alone (especially if these are not offspring from a previous relationship(M/F)

maria busuttil

Jan 27th 2010, 18:49

Good luck to the Gay's Rights Movemement, with what your life desires, I see no wrong as we are all humans, but I can never forgive you for stealing my wonderful word GAY that was CHEERFUL, from me, and it seems it does not make you cheerful so please choose another word and not a very nice word gay that was a cheerful person on earth.
I laid my bed and sleeping in it and so has all and am happy so you laid yours and be happy too please. No offence either way I am happy and wish all to be happy in the life they choose I happen to have all types of friends.

David Wain

Jan 27th 2010, 18:32

J. Farrugia is a very angry man. Who ever said that homosexuality equals promiscuity.... It is incredible that people like him still exist. I also pity him for his fantasy that the majority of Maltese are like-minded. Thankfully they are not!

@ Jimmy Magro, the progress achieved through same-sex marriages would be the emancipation and the granting of equal rights to persons who have are no different than heterosexual citizens other than feeling attracted to persons of the same sex. That is all. It might not be significant progress for you, but it would be for what is a very large minority. I would also be careful in claiming that your views are the views of the majority.

What everyone fails to realise is that J. Farrugia, T. Camilleri, M Tabone, Giov De Martino, the President, the Church et al are fighting a lost battle and just delaying the inevitable. Our history has shown us time and time again that it is only a matter of time and the same goes with divorce. We are always 20 to 30 years late in this country, but most of the time we do get there...... eventually.

Ms P M Graham

Jan 27th 2010, 18:26

C.Mifsud
"What happens when children are asked for mummy's name in class?"

They ask which one? :)

I apologize, that was flippant.

They answer the question and if it were any of ours they would give both names.

"They tell them George or in lesbian terms, father's name would be susan? Will they suffer at school with that?"

Children raised in homosexual families have two Mummy's or two Daddy's. They also have doting Grandparents, Uncles and Aunts. I'd defy anyone to tell our lot they are not "family"


Children are far more accepting than adults and I can hand on heart report that not one of our children (eldest 27) has ever been bullied or made to feel different because they have two mummy's.

I had a little girl ask me not so long ago if my partner was, "kinda like your husband" I smiled and said "uh huh, kinda", she chuckled and went on her way. My heart skipped a beat. The innocence and acceptance of children. It's such a shame that some adults destroy that innocence (not just with homosexuals) with unfounded judgments.

Joseph Schembri

Jan 27th 2010, 17:54

A straight child is not likely to suffer from being misunderstood for being 'straight' by his gay parents because gay parents have been through it all themselves and know that they are a minority. On the other hand many ignorant hetero couples oppose the sexual orientation of their gay children and we have all heard the horror stories.

Daniel Vella

Jan 27th 2010, 17:52

@ Joe E Galea
First of all I want to commend you on your very logical and enlightening post.
The problem with these fanatics is that they will always bend the scripture to their means. They will probably say homosexual people are born straight, but sin made them gay... I am 22 and most of my same-age straight male friends still see homosexuality as an abomination unto the Lord! I have almost given up on the mentality of my fellow Maltese - the only thing keeping my hope from dying out is the few open-minded friends/people who are fighting (or trying to) against this very same reasoning.

@Jimmy Magro
Progress will be achieved once we have opened our mind and learn live in peace with our neighbours, be it gay, black, muslim etc. Just the way Jesus intended... I'm an atheist, but even I know that this is what Jesus was trying to teach us all along...

Joseph Schembri

Jan 27th 2010, 17:42

There are some very valid arguments about being brought up by a gay or lesbian family here: http://malta-exposed.blogspot.com

ct busuttil

Jan 27th 2010, 17:31

Rather than judge, we should make it our responsibility as Christians and honest citizens to understand better this phenomenon of homsexualtiy. We cannot deny that it exists but we are afraid of the unkown. The film XMen comes to mind. And remember, gays are children of heterosexual couples.

T.gauci

Jan 27th 2010, 17:19

why these activists think it's intolerant because our opinion is different than theirs ? we are living in a free country deal with it!

Joseph A Borg

Jan 27th 2010, 17:04

@ M Tabone: Definitions, dogmas and values do not change overtime and we should work altogether to sustain them and pass them to future generations

hahahaha

Deuteronomy 13:7-12:
If your own full brother, or your son or daughter, or your beloved wife, or you intimate friend, entices you secretly to serve other gods, whom you and your fathers have not known, gods of any other nations, near at hand or far away, from one end of the earth to the other: do not yield… but kill him. Your hand shall be the first raised to slay him; the rest of the people shall join in with you…

adrian aquilina

Jan 27th 2010, 16:59

there is no place anymore in this world for conservative christian's and their political parties,all the bad in this world comes from them.condeming all that is differant.trying to force their thinking on everyone..in uganda a gay couple are looking at 14 years in prison for being gay..in america gays are attacked verbally by the conservative christians and physically because of the comments by them and the church..in malta many people have no understanding of alternative lifestyles or freedom of expression due to the conservative christians..our country is held back,our society is still living in the past..censorship at any university is a joke..only the christians would do that..they go against all human rights that they dont agree with..religion is the problem in this world and the way it is thrust on everyone..
let people be how they want,how they naturally are..if it goes against your religion then so what?in that case all who dont agree with religion should be able to stop what we dont agree with....religion = hypocrassy,division,false information,hatred for all that's differant.
leave it inside the church

Ramon Casha

Jan 27th 2010, 16:51

The "traditional family" used to consist of one man and as many women as he could buy, steal, or beat into submission, so let's not have this nonsense about "traditional family". The family today has a much broader definition, and includes:

a man and a woman with children
a man and a woman without children (by choice or not)
a male single parent
a female single parent
two men or two women with children
two men or two women without children

This is the reality; these are families today.

Franco Farrugia

Jan 27th 2010, 16:50

I am sure that President Abela is reading these comments and I am equally sure that he is quite happy (sic) in the belief that he is President of all Maltese. Sure!

A. Gauci

Jan 27th 2010, 16:38

@ Albert Camilleri

Your behavior is disgusting I'm sorry to say. Luckily, not everyone thinks like you do.

On another note:
I was thought by my religion teachers that being gay is a mental illness. That's not a very nice thing to say if in class there is a gay child who's desperately trying to accept himself and face the cruelty of homophobics. I suggest that teachers should keep their mouths shut if they don't want to cause a real mental illness upon their students. Being rejected and not accepted for who you are is horrible, let alone saying that because you're gay you're mentally ill.

A.Gauci Cunningham

Jan 27th 2010, 16:37

JFarriuga---as usual your zeal to defend anything Conservative does thwart your arguments every now and then. MGRM are not promoting promiscuity....promiscuity is something which is alive and kicking in Malta (especially when all those German blondes land here to the pleasure of men who treat women like chattel) because many hetrosexual Maltese want to be so and I will not be the one to condemn any of them. You promote family values when you promote love and sacrifice towards your partner...when you learn how to be honest and stick to your partner.....and yes when you learn to take difficult decisions (like separation or divorce) for the best interest of your children's welfare. promoting family values doesn't mean telling people to shut up or condemning them for being different. Still, somehow, the likes of J.Farriuga dont bother me anymore....they want to act as if they're the Jean D'Arc of catholicism thinking that they have a one way ticket to heaven?....they can be my guest!!

Jimmy Magro

Jan 27th 2010, 16:28

@Lisa Schembri
Will you think the world will be normal if marriages took place only between men and men or women with women.
Because if we see this as normal for a minority then it could be normal for the majority too.

When this happens we would need a big sperm bank.

Chris Mifsud

Jan 27th 2010, 16:27

I partly disagree with the president and partly agree.

I think he was WRONG for saying that a family must be made up of the Husband, Wife and child/children.

He never considered single parents, unmarried parents, or childless parents be they childless by choice or not.

These in my opinion are ALL families.

Gay or lesbian couples have every right to their relationship and what they do between them is their own business and nobody elses. But i DO NOT agree with gay couples having children or with gay marrige. I believe they should have rights but calling a gay couple being called 'married' is a joke and should never be allowed.

Joseph A Borg

Jan 27th 2010, 16:25

The president of a secular republic should be concerned with upholding the constitution and protecting the rights of citizens. There's no higher authority than the president.

Actual studies seem to diverge from our 'enlightened' president's views. I am startled that our president should be so prejudices against a section of our citizenry. I want to look up to the presidency as the ultimate guardian of civil society. My view of the peak is getting somewhat cloudy and jaded…

http://futurity.org/top-stories/good-parents-wanted-all-genders-apply/

A.Gauci Cunningham

Jan 27th 2010, 16:23

The whole argument here goes further than just gay couples, the argument brought here by MGRM and summed up in the conclusion berates (and rightly so) the fact that a government conference regarding family discussed and treated one form of family only. Now you may think or support that form only as an individual and you may harbour the opinion that only that form is to be propogated but this does not in any way obliterate the fact that thousands of children are now born to single parents or parents who are divorced or live in a state were the parents no longer live under the same roof. This might not be ideal in some people's opinion nonetheless it is the true picture of "family" today and so the authorities that be should tackle and consider all these forms of families when they lay out their policies and organise conferences such as this....

N.Calleja

Jan 27th 2010, 16:15

After reading all that was written by the bloggers below, I came to realise that bit by bit the minority is so arrogant that they try to redicule the majority. The GRM has the cheek to criticise the President for expressing himself in such a composed way not to exclude anyone. On the contrary all those in favour of the GRM are so imprudent that they refuse to accept what has been natural eversince God created man. He did not creat two gays or two lesbians but Adam and Eve! A man and a woman! If we have gays and lesbians it is only because with every rule there must be an exception. In a couple of years the exceptions will dictate over the rule! This is were we're heading!!

Joseph A Borg

Jan 27th 2010, 15:57

@ Albert Camilleri: your prejudice and intolerance are obscene

Joe E Galea

Jan 27th 2010, 15:54

I would like to remind everyone that all homosexuals were raised by heterosexual parents and brought up in heterosexual stereotyped environment.

The definition of a family should definitely be "The love between human beings living together in peace, respect and harmony, no matter the relationship, the sex, sexual orientation and number."

Colette Farrugia Bennett

Jan 27th 2010, 15:51

Dear Mr President,

Thank you for excluding me and my partner from your definition of a 'family', however I must clearly point out that it is not your or anyone's definition that defines our family life. My partner and I are a family, even if a law is issued to define otherwise, because the notion of family is socially constructed.

D. Penza

Jan 27th 2010, 15:42

Hey this is stupid! When we used to go to school we used to learn that a family is made up by a father (a man) and a mother (a woman) and both having their duties at home and having children. The MGRM has created all these new types of families with the same sex and everything etc.. A TRUE family is made up as the President said. My question is.. If gays and lisbians will have/adopt children.. How are they going to grow up? Straight or gay/lisbian like their parents? And what about when they go to school? : hey look my daddies helped me with my homework... OR : Dad are you coming to the activity of Mother's Day?!!! .. Vice Versa

Deo Catania

Jan 27th 2010, 15:21

Dawk kollha favur li qalu l-GRM qed tghidu cucati kbar, bir-ragunar taghkom il-sessi jistghu ma jibqawx jezistu, male jew female saret irrelevanti. Li persuna tkun gay nifhimha u m'ghandux ikun hemm dislriminazzjoni dwar xoghol u hekk pero li tizzewweg persuna ta' l-istess sess u trabbi t-tfal hija haga bla sens. Tal-GRM iridu jiddefsu f'kollox biex jaghmlu hoss. Mela l-ewwel nitkazaw ghax hawn hafna single mothers u trabi mwielda barra z-zwieg imma li koppji gay irabbu t-tfal ok. Bhas-soltu, imhuh maghluqa u injoranza sfrenata jirrenjaw fost il-poplu Malti.

Arthur Muscat

Jan 27th 2010, 14:58

"In Britain, homosexuality was legalised in the 1960s and since 2000 homosexuals over 16 can live together and have sex. This is an advance, but fear and stigmatisation of homosexuality continue. (...) Homosexuals, like everybody else, are children of God and need to receive and express love". Dr Jack Dominian, A Guide to Loving, p91-92. Dr Jack Dominian is one of the most distinguised psychiatrists in UK. He was the guest of KANA movement some years ago. Read article on Il-Gens 28th January 2006. Very interesting is what Hermann Kugler, jesuit, has to say http://www.cdbchieri.it/rassegna_stampa_2005/gay_sacerdozio.htm.

R. Baldacchino

Jan 27th 2010, 14:30

Following the president's speech at the conference, many felt they had the liberty and the divine right to judge and deplore anyone who fell outside the excluding definition reinforced by the president. Besides the waste of taxpayers’ money which went into the event, it was certainly an offensive and humiliating experience, especially to those who work relentlessly for the welfare of Maltese families.

Words like irresponsible, unnatural, immoral, unethical, lacking values, hedonistic, evil and soulless were used to describe my sexuality and my relationships (be they familial or professional). As a human rights advocate it is extremely worrying to see politicians continuing to support these populist tactics which very often are the contributing factor behind intolerance, hatred and violence. It is not up to the president, the pope or the Times readers and their gods to decide what is mine by right; not because I’m woman or man, queer or straight, black or white, young or old, catholic or atheist, single or married; but because I'm a human being deserving dignity and respect for who I am.

I was under the impression that justice and laws (NOT god and votes) were there to ensure these.

M.Buhagiar

Jan 27th 2010, 14:28

@MGRM
You cannot have the cake and eat it......

M Ellul

Jan 27th 2010, 14:18

The world (as far as we know) is ruled by heterosexuals and look at the state the earth and it's habitants are in today. I wonder who the failures, not normal, evil, sick or unnaturral really are.

D. Abdilla

Jan 27th 2010, 14:09

If Somebody ask me,

Who/What Defines a Family, ( I'll leave values out)

It's Mother Nature. Man was created man & woman was created woman. If a man falls in love with a man or a woman with an other woman, It's their business & their story.
But Pretending to be respected and recognized as a Family and taking children then that's what really goes against Nature.
Many Homosexual Activist & Profs will tell you "Homosexuality is found also in animals and many other species. Thus it's a Normal thing."
I'll Gladly ask them: "How Many of these animals have procreated kids? How many have they adopted kids?"
This society is getting immoral & valueless.

E.Muscat

Jan 27th 2010, 14:02

The President is expressing what is the norm in the natural world and is in agreement with the great majority of people.Gays and lesbians are less than 10 per cent of the population and should keep quiet:they should only expect a civil union which gives them property rights plus personal liberty but NO Rights over children or procreation which they negate by their inclination.

Joe E Galea

Jan 27th 2010, 14:02

For thos claiming that being gay is an aborration and unnatural then let's use this logic:
1) God created all human beings....no? Or homosexuals were created by aliens?
2) God is perfect....no?
3) You state that being homosexual is an aborration and totally wrong.....yes or no? The majority of the Catholic Paladins say YES.
4) Then if God created all humans including homosexuals and since the latter are an aborration and a mistake, mathematically and loigically it implies that God makes mistakes and creates aborrations. Using your reasoning, you have to definitely arrive to the conclusion that since God makes mistakes, He is not perfect........So please stop contradicting your own beliefs.

What about God Loves all of us ...ALL?

Well done to MGRM to bring to the attention these things. The definition of a family should be "The Unison of 2 human beings bonded by True Love". I prefer having a child raised by a responsible loving gay couple than by most of the hetero disaster families we have.

Robert Borg

Jan 27th 2010, 14:02

Dear All.
This is a subject not to be discussed by us, these are sensitive matters indeed. However the timesofmalta.com has graciously given us a platform to air our views, but I encourage people to try and discuss calmly and intelligently.
Allow me to make a point or two. I disagree totally with discrimination, I believe that the president in his speech was not being discriminatory but was merely mentioning the way we the Maltese are used to the FAMILY UNIT to be. Thankfully nowadays we form part of the EU and have freedom of movement in all the member states but that does not mean that if Spain or any other EU State allows same sex marriage, Malta has to also. With that in mind the people that wish to marry the same sex should go to these member states.
Finally I would like to state that at some point in the far future (when man would have evolved) all the malaise of today's societies would have long been forgotten.
Robert Borg

Jimmy Magro

Jan 27th 2010, 14:00

@Manwel Micallef
quote - "which is very important if Malta had to progress."

Without going into the merits of the debate, can Mr. Micallef enlighten the readers how progress will be achieved by allowing same sex marraiges?

I would certainly agree that minorities have rights but we cannot change our values in order to have the values of the minorities rule on the values of the majority.

I think that the PN in Government made a mistake when they recognised co-habitation in our legislation. If the Pn wanted this to happen they would ave done more good if they went all the way and introduced divorce.

With the current legislative framework, citizens have an incentive to be single mothers and co-habitate.

In the western world, the majority of the people want to have the family as the basic instituion of society as it proven without any doubts that this is the best environment for natural living conditions, for the married couple and their children. A family can be without children too.

I suggest to all not to let some sensational TV programmes to influence the whole society. They do these programmes to earn money and nothing else.

Jesmond Micallef

Jan 27th 2010, 13:58

I choose who my friends are, I choose to whom I get married, ..........I choose .......I choose ......I choose......and so and so and so and so and so and so on...........

I MAKE CHOICES !!!!

Am I "DESCRMINATING" or not ?.

Is this "NORMAL" ?

What is normal, what is abnormal ?

DO I HAVE TO MAKE A "CHOICE" AGAIN ?

maybe : "pim pim seven up pim pim go out"

PM Camilleri

Jan 27th 2010, 13:57

"The family is a community of persons and the smallest social unit. As such it is an institution fundamental to the life of every society. Marriage, which undergirds the institution of the family, is constituted by the convenant whereby 'a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of their whole life', and which, 'of its own very nature is ordered to the well-being of the spouses and the procreation and upbringing of children." Pope John Paul II, Letter to Families.

Gervais Marcel Cishahayo

Jan 27th 2010, 13:50

The abundance and virulance of the comments made on this topic go to show how intolerant we have become in many ways... The problem often lies in the determination of some to impose on others in public what actually belongs to the no-go-zone of private life and choices! As a jungle proverb goes: my brother, my cousin and my friend against the foreigner and the neighbour, then my brother, my cousin against our friend, and finally against ourselves! I tought every person was a bundle of good and bad until I realise now that some people consider themselves as better than others who should (be made to) feel as inferior and even deprived of their rights! Both Heterosexuals and Gays should stop interfering with each other life choices and rights because after all the country needs them all... ask the politicians who know better!

J Farrugia

Jan 27th 2010, 13:48

@ J Spiteri - It's us who feed disgusted by your immoral attitude. it's not the gays who are feeling discriminated, it is US normal families who are being discriminated against by the politically correct establishment. So you dont have any right to use the word 'FAMILY'. Shame on you for hijacking the word GAY (meaning cheerful and NOT unnatural) and now trying to hijack the word FAMILY. Family is a MAN, WOMAN and offspring. Fullstop. There is no other type of families whether you like it or not. That would be an abomination if you know what the word means. And let's get facts straight. What is immoral obscene and vulgar cannot be given any other 'polite' word. And we dont have to be ashamed of anything. It's the others and mgrm WHO HAVE TO FEEL ASHAMED FOR WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO. To rewrite the history of civilisation and MAN. That's not on.

T Camilleri

Jan 27th 2010, 13:31

J Farrugia, T Pace, PM Camilleri etc
You are right. The MGRM simply wants something that they can never have. To be considered as a married family. Homosexuals and lesbians cannot be considered to be married because marriage implies from its very nature a man and a wife for the procreation of children, even though they may not have them through no fault of their own. This does not mean that they should be prevented from living together in a union, but to call their union a family or consider it as marriage is preposterous.

Franco Farrugia Taking our place among nations does not mean that we have to renounce to our values to adopt theirs. If they want it to be so then thanks but no thanks.

C.Mifsud

Jan 27th 2010, 13:27

@Joseph Schembri

Sorry - I dont follow, there's something illogical. If your gay friend suffered under hetero couples - then by pure logic one can also infer that a normal kid would suffer under a gay couple.

You cannot just state something as real just because your friend said it (not the part where he said he suffered, I am sure he did, but the part that gay couples wont do the same thing, without knowing, to normal children)

Now the problem lies on the point that - there are more normal children in the world than gay children. More so, you have to distinguish between pure gay and others, e.g. transexuals. Who brings those up according to your gay friend (if we had to take whatever he says as vangelu)?

What happens when gays seperate - with whom shall the kids go? In heteros there is a trend for the women to take them for sometimes obvious (not always correct) reasons.

What happens when children are asked for mummy's name in class? They tell them George or in lesbian terms, father's name would be susan? Will they suffer at school with that?
Ask your friend to think it through.

L Vella

Jan 27th 2010, 13:17

Mr. President, i think you should think twice about what you said. It is not black or white but shades of grey! A family can be any form, and it is not fair to forget about these other forms. The fault goes hand in hand with the teachings of the church. God created us to live a happy life and not judge others. If anyone would ever find himself in other situations, such as childless marriages, separated marriages with children, or cohabiting couples who cannot get married, i am pretty sure they would start seeing things in a different perspective! OPEN YOUR MINDS!!

A. Gauci

Jan 27th 2010, 13:07

I have a high amount of respect for Dr. George Abela but I'm afraid that this was a very wrong thing to say. I honestly think that gay and lesbian couples should be treated like heterosexual ones, and be allowed to get married and adopt children. I see nothing wrong with that. It is love as well. Love shouldn't just be restricted to heterosexual couples. Well done MGRM. Keep up the good work.

Sometimes I ask myself: when will LGBT people will be treated in a good way and accepted by the Maltese society? With this pace, I think the answer to that is never...

Stephen Vella

Jan 27th 2010, 13:03

And out of the window goes all the admiration I had for George Abela.

No wonder so many young people (including myself) have left Malta for good. Small island......well you know how the rest goes.

Charles J. Buttigieg

Jan 27th 2010, 12:59

The_definition_of_‘Marriage’ is a clear one ‘a union between a man and a woman in love with a mission to procreate and raise a family’. Marriage is sacrosanct not just traditional and it can’t be bastardised or cannibalised. The union may take different forms; in church, state registrar and even cohabitation but the only natural way is between different sexes and has to carry the mandatory list of duties and responsibilities as well as a set of civil rights. I am no theologian or a legal person but I think that this definition is the only natural and logical one.

I also believe that nature provides other forms of love between people of the same sex and that they too have a right to share their love, not excluding forming a legal union between themselves, yet I would refuse to call it marriage.

It would be painful and even sinful for a heterosexual to marry a gay or a lesbian because that wouldn’t be natural. It would be equally sinful and unnatural for a gay or a lesbian couple to raise a family by means of adopting. Nature provides a male and a female to raise progenies.

a attard

Jan 27th 2010, 12:59

.....same sex couples have every right to bond in a long term relationship relationships. Some people seem to be in total denial that such orientation has been existing since time in memorial and these individuals have been denied this human right for far too long. No body asks hetero couples how many children they are going to have before they get married so as their marriage would be valid - OR the marriage annulled if they do not have any offspring (as happens in a number of cases) - well done MGRM sooner or later this country would catch up.

Daniel Vella

Jan 27th 2010, 12:58

@ J Farrugia and all the others...
Jaħasra kemm għadna lura f'dal-pajjiż... Why all this hate and prejudice? What if your son/daughter came up to you and told you s/he was gay? Would you throw them out?

@Elena Nikolaeva
With your reasoning, a normal heterosexual couple who cannot have children naturally shouldn't even consider using artificial methods of fertilization.

People... jaħasra.. live and let live.

Lisa Schembri

Jan 27th 2010, 12:58

I was very upset with what was said...These medieval values are starting to anger me deeply. I was rasied by a single parent, my ''family'' consists of my mum, my sister and me. According to the president my family doesn't count because I don't have a father. My family has better values than that of a ''whole'' one.

Children adopted by same-sex couples wouldn't have to suffer 'psychological and social harm' if everyone wasn't so homophobic all the time. Homosexuality is not an illness...just because your raised by a gay couple doesn't mean you are going to be gay also!


@Albert Camilleri - YOU are a human failure..and don't bother replying cause im not going to answer back.

Alfred Grima

Jan 27th 2010, 12:56

Mama Mia, imagine if his comment was made as a PL Leader and not that of a President!
God forbids.

M Tabone

Jan 27th 2010, 12:54

I am proud with our President's assertions. Definitions, dogmas and values do not change overtime and we should work altogether to sustain them and pass them to future generations. This is a false and unfair interpretation of the Gay Rights Movement. The President is promoting the traditional FAMILY but in no way forbidding citizens from living their lives according to their values, tastes and beliefs with acceptable norms and parameters…

We cannot continue stretching our definitions and values for everything according to minorities’ claims and conveniences to ensure that all diversity is treated equally and covered with the same blanket. Diversity is bound to remain and grow… but authorities should be sensible enough to treat diversity differently; to ensure proper and equitable treatment. Two men or two women living together should never replace the true (traditional/model) family but on the other hand no one is forbidding it from happening but we have to be prudent enough not to pass the wrong messages and values to future Malta. Because the President does not promote emerging definitions and values it doesn’t mean he is not allowing them… SORRY but this can also be interpreted as lack of tolerance.

Franco Farrugia

Jan 27th 2010, 12:48

'Family' is where the heart is. Everyone can speak and prattle against this till they get bluein the face - but people will continue forming families in a natural manner without any control whatsoever. If the State, then, as it is presided over by Abela, refuses to cater for all sections of society, then there's only one word to describe this state of affairs: unjust. So much for the EU, where we are picking and taking wherever it suits us.

GiovDeMartino

Jan 27th 2010, 12:43

U mhux kulhadd jaf li familja tfisser ragel u mara mizzewgin u possibilment bit-tfal? Anki ic-cappetti tal-biben hemm il-fimli u l-maskli ahseb u ara. Prosit Eccellenza!

Franco Farrugia

Jan 27th 2010, 12:39

@ Joe Grima from Brussels: So, we take it that you believe in God, right? Or rather, you believe in your own God. Doesn't seem that you believe in the right one from your thoughts, most certainly.

Marvin Mizzi

Jan 27th 2010, 12:38

So according the MGRM and other similar so called to be right we have to agree with them if you have different opions from them you are wrong. We need people like Roccoo Buttiglione who was not afraid to stand up and speak!!!!!!!!!!!

Franco Farrugia

Jan 27th 2010, 12:35

Our President is a figurehead. He has no power and he has no right to bring to a conclusion what could be - belated! - a social discussion! The President has no right to cut short such a discussion.

I would rather have a silent President than one who speaks nonsense as he has just done.

w.scicluna

Jan 27th 2010, 12:35

The last time I checked, it takes a male and a female to reproduce and that is the natural order of things. Even the bible states that God created Adam and Eve--not two Adams or two Eves. While gay people may feel hurt with some things said by people, please bear in mind that in this world, it is next to impossible to please everyone. I agree that a proper family consists of a male, female, and if possible, children. Call me discrimitory if you like but I am entitled to my opinion. Whatever happened to freedom of speech??? It seems to have been cut off by petty minded people who have nothing better to do than moan and complain about opinions expressed by people with different views and beliefs from themselves. Get a life!

Anthony Mercieca

Jan 27th 2010, 12:33

I fully share the President's exposition re family and the rights of minorities. Marriage from primordial days had always been recognised as a union between man and woman and such an social institution should be respected in its integrity. This should in no way imply any negation of rights to other social groups like homosexual who feel and are lobbying to have their feelings, orietations and relations recognised. Why should such mean marriage? In my opinion the term marriage should retain as much as possible its real meaning as relayed in the different cultures of the world, otherwise we be just undermining the social fibre of humanity.

Maria Camilleri

Jan 27th 2010, 12:33

@Albert Camilleri:

Would you consider Oscar Wilde, Tennessee Williams, Socrates, Martina Navratilova, Elton John, Pedro Aldomovar etc to be "human failures" and "anti-natural" (must remember to send this new word to The Oxford English Dictionary )?
If I were you, I would refrain from passing judgment on the worth of others.

Alastair Farrugia

Jan 27th 2010, 12:32

I am disappointed and surprised to read about the President's comments, and I agree with MGRM's reply. What is deemed "natural" varies from one culture to another, and even from one person to another. What matters is whether something is harmful or beneficial.

Gay marriage does not harm people, but discrimination against gay people (just because they are gay) does.

Joanna Cassar

Jan 27th 2010, 12:31

So Mr,A Camilleri, i cannot have children and adopted a beautiful little girl... so am I a failure , because she is not my off spring ?
A family is a place where one feels safe, where love and peace and acceptance reign supreme no matter who the members are.
Labels are for food cans !!!

e camilleri

Jan 27th 2010, 12:30

I appreciate our President even more after reading this article!!

Ian Zammit

Jan 27th 2010, 12:27

Malta is one big gold fish bowl sometimes. Reading the comments here it's like people go around and around this tiny litle island without noticing the positive and innovative things that happen off these shores. Wake up Malta, you can't be two steps behind all the time. This behaviour is keeping this country behind.

Joseph Schembri

Jan 27th 2010, 12:22

Now I see why Dr.Gonzi chose this president. When I heard that speech I was left speechless. Well done to MGRM for speaking up.

A friend of mine, brought up in a 'normal' heterosexual family tells me that since a young age he always felt that he was gay. He tells me now that had he had the choice he would have jumped at the opportunity of being brought up by a gay couple be them 2 men or 2 women.

Thousands of gay children in Malta are suffering at the hands of heterosexual parents. By their very nature and upbringing, gays are more open to diversity. I asked my male gay friend how he would bring up an adopted girl. "My dream would be to offer her the best in life and finally give her away at the altar to another man (or woman) - her husband.. (or wife)."

D.Galea

Jan 27th 2010, 12:14

The best politically correct move for the President is just to stay silent on every opportunity, the next is to say the most neutral thing just to try keep everybody happy, which would in most part go contrary to this person's belief... so is it what some people are asking for!?

NO I say I prefer my president to say things which conflict with my beliefs on different issues but at least knowing that this person is honest with himself & everyone.

Not just another fanciful shell, like so many are giving in to be in this "country"!!!!

P Pace

Jan 27th 2010, 12:10

So, I am a married individual - but unfortuantley we cannot have children.

According to some of you, i am not a nromal family?! Even though we love each other.
Thanks - prefer if I am not a "normal" family, if by "Normal" that means I exclude others

Ernest Vella

Jan 27th 2010, 12:06

Are the Gay Rights Movement implying that the President must think and believe as they do...where is the right of expression, the right of thought and the right of belief...They can object how much they want for is their right but they cannot impose there ideas on others...yes a family is made by a man and a woman...nature underline this...for God made the family institution.

We must yes, respect every person, for every person is created image of God, but with truth no one can play.

Neville Calleja

Jan 27th 2010, 12:03

I think that history has always defined a family as made up of a male parent and female parent and children. Whether these are married or not and whether the children are adoptive or natural is immaterial. On the other hand, while I can sympathise with all other groups - including childless couples and gay couples - and I believe they should also enjoy certain rights same as families, I don't think one can call them a family, and I think most are aware of this and accept it.

If I have x, I can't call it a y just because I will never be able to acquire a proper y.

Joe Grima Brussels

Jan 27th 2010, 12:03

Dear GRMR.
When I was a little boy, many years ago, by the word 'gay' we used to mean 'cheerful'. Then you came along and 'highjacked' the word for your own purposes, changing it's meaning. And now you want to highjack the word 'family', and all it stands for.
God created man and woman, (or, if you do not believe in Him, you can use 'nature', if you believe in that!), and ordered that from their union, they form a family. If the so called 'gay' want to live together, who am I to stop them? But to claim that that 'union' is equivalent to a family! It is another 'union', with its own rights and responsibilities, but IT CAN NEVER be compared, for the simple fact that they are two diverse realities.

Ian Galea

Jan 27th 2010, 12:03

@ J.Farrugia ... Read the comments that follow yours and maybe you will realise what the true values of the Maltese really are. .. Then again, if you still want to live in the Dark Ages, you are free to do so!

D Phillips

Jan 27th 2010, 12:02

Sorry, who decided that the absolute definition of family has to include male/female/children?

Lawrence Azzopardi

Jan 27th 2010, 12:01

Well done MGRM. You have my full support. its obvoious who is pulling the strings there!
J.Farrugia...not in my name, thank you.
C.Calleja....that is all very well coming from you and I am just guessing that you are one of the majority and never had to fight for anything all your life? What you try to ridicule are citizens who pay the same taxes as you and the rest of the population, yet we have not the same rights that most of you take for granted!

J Spiteri

Jan 27th 2010, 12:01

SORRY, BUT I AM TOTALLY DISGUSTED!!!!

Falling in love with a person of the same sex does not mean any different from the way I fell in love with my husband!!! If my son should realize in 20 years time that he is gay, he would have to start battling for a life, I guess!!!!

@C Calleja
If you read comments about how superior some people feel in this country just because they are hetrosexual, you'll realize WHY it is impossible not to have gay rights movement!!!! Reading these comments I honestly feel ashamed these people live in the same country with me!!!!

@J Farrugia
I cannot but agree with the message Edward Caruana Galizia forwarded to you!!! Shame on you to impose silence from people feeling discriminated!

@PM Camilleri
What both sides of the story?? We're not building up any story ... x'ghandu x'jaqsam!! The president, "as a true practicing Catholic" must have known that God is love!! At least, that's what I was taught!! So if a gay couple falls in love and wants to spend their life together, THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT!!!!!!!

Christopher Ebejer

Jan 27th 2010, 12:01

This is what we get in a liberal society. C.Calleja has absolutelly hit the right words.

Issa l-President bil kliem sabieh kollu tighu, l-inkluzzjoni, anti diskriminazzjoni w integrazzjoni ta dawk u l-ohrajn, u ta fuq u tisfel, ta kulur isfar u ta' kulur vjola, issa ser ikollu joqghod attent minn kliemu x' jgid u jitlekellem.
Ghada w pitghada ikollom jaqtaw il-kelma iswed mid-dizzjunarju ghax jekk isemmiha il-President jakkuzawh li qed joffendi lill xi kategorija ohra.
Din jghidula il-famuza POLITICAL CORRECTNES!

Kif jghid il-Malti...............Inqlew b'zejtkhom

J Azzopardi

Jan 27th 2010, 12:00

MGRM are right of course but I do think that the president was putting forward his idea of family rather then diminishing the value of any other form of family. Or so I hope. I concur fully that the event was useless and did not achieve anything.
The only thing that makes a family is the bond of love between its components independently of what gender, skin colour, creed, nationality, and social statues these might have. I will never understand how a church that is based on the principle of love can keep failing to acknowledge this basic fact.

N. Borg

Jan 27th 2010, 11:59

I totally agree with Emanuel Cilia Debono and all those who commented about the fact that a family is a natural group which includes husband , wife and potentially children - others should be described as households. That was the way God created us to be, variants are variants and should be treated as such.

All this hullabaloo because gays feel offended etc is taking it a bit too much.

Having said that, I definitely agree that such households should have a degree of rights but for heaven's sake, let us call a spade a spade and be honest about it.

A Farrugia

Jan 27th 2010, 11:58

Presidents are elected by the house of representatives to represent all the Maltese population (all minorities included) and not just the folks that share their same spiritual and religious convictions—a fact they too often forget

silvan

Jan 27th 2010, 11:52

jien ma ghandi xejn kontra il gays, imma vera ma ghandhomx x'jaghmlu tal MGRM biex toqodu tintilfu f'dawn l-irqaqati
hadd ma interpreta lil president fil kuntest li qed jaghmel appel ghal familji aktar maghqudin, jew forsi ghal inqass familji imkissra, jew ghal inqas missiriejiet ji jaghmlu t tfall u ma jerfawx ir responsabilta, qed nghid missirijiet ghax normalment it tfal jibqaw ma l omm

Silvan Mifsud

Jan 27th 2010, 11:52

Let us not take things to far. Let us also not mix religion with civil rights.

From a civil rights perspective, that gays & lesbians need to have the liberty to express their sexuality and love, that is agreed.

However, to pull that forward and argue that such love has to have the right to develop into 'marriage' and thus become a 'family', with the right to adopt children, is in my view pushing the matter too far.

From a purely positioning perspective, trying to pursue the agenda for the latter, can also compromise the popular acceptance of the former.

Elena Nikolaeva

Jan 27th 2010, 11:48

Straight white people are the oppressed ones now haha. I think that might be true soon!

Anyway while I don't really see anything wrong with gay and lesbian couples...I really am not sure if they should have children.

If it was natural for gay couples to have children wouldn't nature have made it possible for two people of the same sex to procreate?

And no I don't really see how the President excluded childless couples, adoptive parents and foster parents, single parents as the MGRM said. The issue are gay couples and not heterosexual couples who can't/decide not to have children or those who adopt.

I just think a child should have a mother and a father.

Emanuel Cilia Debono

Jan 27th 2010, 11:45

A family is a natural group which includes husband , wife and children. Other primary groups are households but they are not natural families. Let's call a spade a spade.
Persons forming a household ( which is not a natural family) have rights and obligations as a group, but they are not the same rights and obligations of the natural family group. This is not discrimination. It is reason and common sense and it is manifestly absurd to claim otherwise.

Edward Caruana Galizia

Jan 27th 2010, 11:33

"Then all of Malta is narrow minded"
Well done Mr J Farrugia. Although I wouldn't say the whole population of Malta is narrow minded, it does often seem that way. I would go on to explain how wrong you are about what you said but I don t think it s worth repeating myself. Therefore, may i refere you to last saturday's article about the President's comments where I posted my comments.


"The less we hear from you the better"- I would say the same about you.

Remember Mr Farrugia that there could easily be a young teenager who has realized he/she is gay and who has read your comment which has added to their pain and fear of themselves which may result in the young teen thinking about suicide or actually planning it. You do not know what your words can do. I hope you are glad that you are helping to get rid of homosexuals by doing your bit to push them over the edge. Does that make you proud? Do you think God is happy that you are doing that?

PM Camilleri

Jan 27th 2010, 11:33

The President, as a true practicing Catholic, has every right to make such comments so that everyone hears both sides of the story.

J. Tabone

Jan 27th 2010, 11:33

I can't understand why whenever someone, in this case the President, safeguards the value of marriage and family he has to be criticized. In a house, community, or even country, larger problems start occuring when it loses its values and stops fighting for them. God bless gay people, most of my friends are gay and I love them to death and I always fight for gay rights, but marriage and family is something else. In life everything is a give and take. Why can't i called a person with dark skin black but i am white? It's just a fact and I abide with it. Isn't it enough of a problem with having children coming from single mothers (just like myself) and seperated parents etc? Yes I am a single mother who aspires to giving my daughter the ideal family, a mother and a father to take care of her as a married couple. Why shouldn't we be able to remain traditional in our beliefs and protect the family?

T Pace

Jan 27th 2010, 11:31

The Malta Gay Rights Movement stated that homosexuality is a 'normal variant'.

There is nothing normal about a variant.

The President was right in defining marriage.

Those with a variant should find some other word to define their union.

Andrew Sciberras

Jan 27th 2010, 11:29

Well done MGRM. You have my full support. Why we continue to sow the seeds of division in the name of some tradition is beyond me. I was also one who was duped into thinking that the President would be a unifying figure when in fact he is proving to be the opposite.

Julian Maddalo

Jan 27th 2010, 11:27

J. Farrugia, like so many people who talk and think like you, you firmly believe to be able to speak on behalf of the entire Maltese nation.

Reality check: you don't. So please stop the hysteria, the less we hear from you the better.

Ramon Casha

Jan 27th 2010, 11:27

Well said MGRM. The President's words were very unfortunate, harmful to society and hurtful to gay or lesbian families.

Franco Farrugia

Jan 27th 2010, 11:25

It will take more than an Abela, a Gonzi or a Muscat to write in stone what constitutes a 'family' or what is 'marriage'. There are various forms of 'family' and President Abela has ignored all but one form of 'family'. His is not the place to dictate what should be a social discussion. With Abela, Gonzi and Muscat, the Maltese State will never take its place among the lay states that form the EU.

Simon Borg

Jan 27th 2010, 11:21

As a unifying figure, the president should refrain from making such divisive comments on controversial issues.

Albert Camilleri

Jan 27th 2010, 11:20

There is only one pattern for a true family: MAN WOMAN and their offspring. NOTHING ELSE. All others are failures, human failures and anti natural (kontra natura tal-bniedem). Immoral and obscene. God made them so, not man. So let's not take any lessons from MGRM.

C.Calleja

Jan 27th 2010, 11:19

There are so many movements claiming rights that I am going to propose a hetro white rights movement. Kemm sirna redikoli, Gay rights, black rights, muslim rights, jewish rights, men's rights, women's movement and rights, recently a cemetary rights, seperated couples rights, children's rights, chikku rights, peppu rights. The only ones oppresed now are normal white rights.

Shouldn't we all have the same logical rights, by logical I mean li ma nigux b'certu pretenzjonijiet bazwin. Tipo, positive discrimination, eg. must have a women in boards by default. Must give children to gay couples by defauly (ghax hekk jridu hey), must have 3 black people in workplace by default (ghax inkella jghidu li razzisti). etc.. etc...

PS. I am not commenting about whether they are correct or not on the subject, just at how stupid this world has become with group rights et al.

Manuel Micallef

Jan 27th 2010, 11:18

I agree with what the gay rights movement is saying.

The president here was mistaken - to hurt the feelings of minorities. They have rights, and need to be protected too. The least the president could do was to keep out of this debate - which is very important if Malta had to progress.

I am a bit disappointed with this event

J Farrugia

Jan 27th 2010, 11:16

Dear MGRM. Stop your irresponsible and arrogant imposition on our true values. The less we hear from you the better. We want values and not libertinagg or promoscuity. Or is the president narrow minded also?!? Then all of Malta is narrow minded. Mr President almost all of Malta is behind you. You are truly the light of true and honest citizens of this beautiful country. We are always behind you in promoting true family values.