Malta ranked low in gay rights
A gay rights demonstration held recently in Valletta.
Malta's laws do not yet do enough to protect the rights of gay, lesbian and transsexual people, according to an EU-wide index published by ILGA, the international gay and lesbian association.
The island gained just one point out of a maximum of 10 in an index measuring legislation affecting the human rights of LGBT people.
Malta's only law that guarantees that no discrimination is permitted on the basis of sexual orientation is related to employment. On the other hand, the island still lacks laws in the Constitution or that give rights in relation to the provision of goods and services, while hate speech is still not considered a crime where sexual orientation is involved.
According to the Rainbow Europe Country Index, Malta is grouped with the countries that have the poorest level of protection of human rights to the gay community, together with a number of Catholic/Orthodox strongholds such as Italy and Greece.
The rating places a country on a scale between 10 (maximum positive score) and -4 (maximum negative score) and is an average of total possible positive and negative points.
Positive points are awarded to a country whose laws safeguard against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, which recognise same-sex partnership, parenting rights of same-sex partners, and cover homophobia in hate speech/crime legislation.
The negative points are awarded to the countries with laws banning same-sex sexual acts, that have unequal age of consent, and violate the rights of LGBT people to peaceful assembly and freedom of association. With just one point, Malta is not at the bottom of the index since Poland, Latvia and Cyprus are considered to be the least tolerant, all obtaining a zero score, on a par with the Vatican City.
On the other side of the scale, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain (obtaining between nine and 10 points) are considered to be the most liberal countries in the EU, where same-sex marriages and the adoption of children by gay couples is permitted and recognised by the state.
"Although on paper many think we are becoming more tolerant, there is nothing to boast about, if Malta is still behind countries like Bulgaria and Romania when it comes to our basic human rights," Gaby Calleja, from the Malta Gay Rights Movement, said when contacted.
"We have been campaigning for years to be given our rights such as the enactment of important legislation when it comes to the acquisition of goods and services and the right of recognising same-sex cohabitation. However, despite the lip-service of the political parties we are still were we used to be years ago where legislation in involved," Ms Calleja said.
Currently, just four countries in the EU allow people of the same sex to marry. However, the majority of the member states have some sort of legislation recognising registered partnerships or cohabitation. Some are even allowing same-sex couples to adopt children. With regard to homosexuality toleration, the index shows that the Turkish-controlled part of Cyprus is the only territory in the EU where homosexuality is against the law. This legislation, however, is rarely enforced.
Elsewhere in the world, gay people face the death penalty in Afghanistan, Iran, Mauritania, the Islamist parts of Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Uganda is also considering bringing in capital punishment for homosexual acts.
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M Attard
May 26th 2010, 08:39
@James De Giorgio
"live and let live"
What makes you so special that you or anyone else think they have a right to dictate to anyone how to live their life as long as it doesn't interfere with yours?. Equality is for everyone,regardless of race,religion,sex or preference, not just the majority. What is worrying is that there are so many on this land who either are gay,have gay children or near relatives and choose to remain in the closet. and I include people of influence in that. They know who they are.That says a lot about the Autocracy/Theocracy we live in. Democracy my foot.
Aldo Gatt
May 25th 2010, 17:37
@ James De Giorgio
"It depends what is meant by Malta in the European Union.
If that means the Maltese get the same rights as everyone else in Europe and getting financial help as other European countries, then I'm against it.
If that means Malta is treated with some respect, and the Maltese are acknowledged as somewhat equal, then I'm in favour."
Do listen to yourself!
James De Giorgio
May 25th 2010, 14:17
Depends on what the article means by gay rights.
If they include gay marriage and adoption, then I'm right down glad that we rank low.
All the rest: civil unions; abolition of discrimination at work, right to get an inheritance from their partner, right to live together as a couple etc, I'm in favour.
Ramon Casha
May 26th 2010, 06:20
1. What exactly is wrong with gay (civil) marriage? Which part of the legal implications of marriage do you wish to deny to gay couples?
2. Let's say that a gay person has a child - either from a previous relationship or via IVF or something. This person is now happily living with someone in a state-recognised union of some kind (marriage or otherwise). The child is being raised by both of them, but only one is the recognised parent. If this parent passes away, should the state take the child into an institution? Wouldn't it be better for the child - who's just gone through the trauma of losing a parent - to remain with the only living person that he/she thinks of as a parent? Remember: adoption is not there only for children who were orphaned, but also for newly formed couples (same-sex or opposite-sex) to adopt one another's children for the protection and well-being of those same children.
gabi calleja
May 25th 2010, 12:51
Slight Correction: Our legislative demands are not for the recognition of same-sex cohabitation but for the legal recognition of same-sex couples through the enactment of marriage equality or at the least, civil unions.
Joseph Cauci
May 25th 2010, 12:49
If a man wants to sleep with a man and the same thing for a woman, why should this be an issue?
This is a private matter between two consenting adults and therefore it is nobody’s business!
Why should people with different sexual orientation from the norm, always demand to have the attention and the limelight focussed on them and pretend that the rest of the population to acquiesce?
Isn’t it this some sort of arrogance?
Can’t they just continue to behave like the rest of the whole population irrespective whether one is gay, lesbian, trans-sexual, straight or whatever?
Isn’t every citizen of this country equal in the eyes of the law?
JC.
Edward Caruana Galizia
May 25th 2010, 15:00
"Isn’t every citizen of this country equal in the eyes of the law? "
No, i m afriad not. Homosexuals are open to homophobia. Thats what happens when you are part of a minority. This happens a lot in Malta. Lets not act like that s an unfair observation to make. In fact, denying the existance of homophobia is opressive and a lie that is as dangerous as homophobia itself. Homosexuals are not equal in the eyes of the law because our rights are not protected.
However the gay rights movement in Malta does not seem to be very effective in raising awareness of the situation, or of actually taking action when action is required, letting clueless people like yourself carry on living in a fantasy world where gay people dont really get targeted.
I was, once, targeted because of my sexuality in a very public way, and no one did anything. Not MGRM, LGBT Labour or PN. So let s not attack Mr Gouder as the only one who needs to speak up.
This is not a reputation we should be proud of. However it is an article that will fall on deaf ears.
Paul Vella
May 25th 2010, 11:33
Sakemm tibqa' f'sahhitha l-Knisja, qatt m'ahna ser niehdu ruh f'dan il-pajjiz. Minflok naraw x'hemm bzonn li jsir biex titjieb il-hajja u jonqsu t-tabatijiet, irridu l-hin kollu niddeciedu waqt li kostretti nakkomodaw lill-Knisja. Dan m'ghandux ikun u kullhadd ghandu jkollu d-dritt li jghix u jekk jiddeicied li jrid jaghmel dan mat-tghalim ta' Kristu, jaghmel hekk. Izda min ma jridx m'ghandux jibqa' jigi 'mahqur' u mkasbar b'ligijiet ezistenti u ohrajn li suppost ilhom qedin hemm imma m'humiex. Wasal iz-zmien fejn lil dawn l-ghaqdiet ta' nies li jridu jghixu l-hajja u jinvestu f'dak li jahsbu li ser isibu wara mewthom minflok f'din il-hajja, l-uniku wahda li ahna certi minnha; ihalluna bil-kwiet taghna.
D Tabone
May 25th 2010, 11:05
Well I guess Karl Gouder will do nothing about it, as he has never spoken about gay rights part wise either..its a shame having yet another gay nationalist MP who does nothing.
Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
May 25th 2010, 10:29
Why should this come as any surprise? So much for those, some gay men and lesbians among them included, who kid themselves that this is not the case. The Church has a lot to answer for the sufferings of gay men and lesbians. Will the new gay MP do anything about it? Or will he play it safe not to jeopardise his future?
Please choose the reason of your report below: