Gabi Calleja, coordinator, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta
Choice of partner or country
In his opinion piece published on June 9, Simon Busuttil, MEP states: "We, therefore, need to dismantle the remaining barriers, invisible walls and curtains that citizens still face when they move around Europe." He goes on to say that through the Stockholm Programme "of course, citizens' freedom of movement throughout Europe will be bolstered and all remaining obstacles will be dismantled".
This statement is somewhat ironic when one considers that Maltese citizens find that they are forced to leave their own country since their same-sex relationships with third country nationals are not recognised by the state, not even for the purposes of free movement. This means that, once the maximum four-year term visa extension is exhausted, they are forced to choose between ending their relationship or moving to a country that respects heterosexual and homosexual relationships equally and does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.
So, while other EU countries such as Spain, Belgium, the Netherands, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, the UK and Portugal, among others, ensure that lesbian and gay Maltese citizens can feel at home there, Malta continues to fail its lesbian and gay citizens, essentially outlawing them from living in their own country.
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Joe Xuereb
Jun 15th 2010, 17:26
3) Joe, I don't mean to be inquisitive (me inquisitive?! I have a life) but.....I don't know your status, married/childless, married/childful, batchelor, straight or bent, self-flagellator even, in the closet, in the backyard, away from prying eyes....please don't plead victimhood (so unbecoming) and infringement of privacy. Take a leaf from my book, Joe. I have no privacy and you think my sun has spun out of control a` la fatima? I digress. What would you do if a child of yours turned out to be a shirt-lifter, and if female, whatever the equivalent of a female shirt-lifter may be - blouse-lifter? - but breast-fetish is more of a het macho thing we'll agree. Would you lock up your child? Kill it (no, no), baptise it daily with fire? What WOULD you do with it, Joe? Keeping in mind you are a very practising Catholic, of course.
Thank you Peppi Azzopardi. Very well put.
guzexuereb@hotmail.com
Joe Xuereb
Jun 15th 2010, 17:16
2) So the two orientations overlap all the time. Maybe not perceptibly, but there you are. Have you noticed Joe how, taking to hetersexual men, one my be small, smooth and wirey. The other big and brawn aaaannnnnddddd Macho. Both straight. And homosexuals are like that too. It's a spectrum, a variety of body and sexual orientation types. Geddit Joe? And Joe, I'm not saying this because I am a homosexual, more popularly known as a shirt-lifter in order to control me and keep me in my place - ha! there was a time. No Joe, any half-decent individual would put it like I have. I can think of one Peppi Azzopardi for a start.
Joe Xuereb
Jun 15th 2010, 17:02
1) Zammit, there is indeed love and lust. We're here because of lust. Lust is the blurp on the film poster that attrats and entices. So you pay the price of the ticket and you go in. Call it love, call it what you will, it is the evolved (some believe god-given) method to get people, men and woman, going to procreate. Put simply, some (millions and millions since the year dot) turn out to be homosexuals. They're everywhere - 'seeping out from under every door' to not at one of your pearls of wisdom. The exact reason why this happens, we do not know. And it's irrelevant. So, it don't matter. If one is going to research and breast-beat over causes, one may as well research 'straightness' (advisedly between inverted commas as there is no such thing). You see Zammit, we are all the product of male + female, physically and emotionally.
cont./
Joe Zammit
Jun 14th 2010, 21:22
There is no person homosexual or heterosexual. Every person is a human being.
The human person, made in the image and likeness of God, can hardly be adequately described by a reductionist reference to his or her sexual orientation. Every one living on the face of the earth has personal problems and difficulties, but challenges to growth, strengths, talents and gifts as well. Also the Catholic Church refuses to consider the person as a "heterosexual" or a "homosexual" and insists that every person has a fundamental Identity: the creature of God, and by grace, his child and heir to eternal life.
Homosexuality is evil which a person can overcome by God's grace. Indulging in homosexual acts amounts to lust not love. There is no homosexual right, so gay rights movement is just smoke!
Joe Xuereb
Jun 12th 2010, 21:38
2) I like kids to bits - worked with them all my life - but want none of my own. Given that I feel I have a grasp on what marriage for heterosexuals is (especially within the context of religious people) why, for god's sake, would I want it for myself. Especially since I'm quite happy and reconciled to not passing on my genes, never an issue. |I leave that kind of Alpha thinking to the Alpha man, a pre-civilisation throwback but still popular today(just look at Mr. Macho all around you, all braggodocio, a bulge which passes for brain). What's the big deal there anyway? What's to inherit? Inherit the Earth? The days of sermons on mounts were relevant to a fledgling society then. But we have moved on. For long enough, heterosexuals, believing they were a privileged, separate sexual nexus, denigrated the gay community. The cows are home now and they are having to question their own status. Not very comfortable is it? But see if I care? See if I want any part of the sad setup. Bar, of course, relinquishing everything and living for a promised reward. Not an option applicable to this one, this homo.
Peppi Azzopardi
Jun 12th 2010, 21:30
F' Xarabank ghandi l-unur nghid li wrejna l-ewwel tieg bejn zewg persuni ta l-istess sess. Kont attendejt dan iiz-zwieg. Kienet esperjenza unika, esperjenza mimlija mhabba. Tridu tisimghu il-'priedka' li ghamlet il-persuna mill-istat li zewgithom. Tridu taraw il-festa li ghamlu dawn iz-zewg guvintur. Hallu lill-persuna jaghzlu l-hajja li jixtiequ. L-ironija tan-nies li ma jridux li l-gays ikunu jistghu jizzewgu hi li ma jirrealizzawx li sa ftit snin ohra hafna koppji hetrosesswali ma jkunux iridu iz-zwieg, ghax it-trend cara, iz-zwieg mhux se jibqa moda. Allura jekk ghadna koppji omosesswali jixtiequ jweghdu lil xulxin li jghixu u jhobbu lil xulxin ghal dejem, ghala ghala hawn min jibda joqmos u jippontifika? U dawk li jaqblu li l-omosesswali jizzewgu imma ma jkunux jistghu jaddotaw tfal huma omofobici daqs dawk li jippontifkaw kontra l-gays. Ghala ma jaddotawx jew irabbu lit-tfal? Tghid ghax hemm il-hsieb mohbi li l-omosesswali jabbuzaw? Tghid ghax hemm il-biza li jipproducu izjed gays? X hemm hazin li jkollna aktar gays...ghalija din hija diversita' u jiena naghzle li niccelbra id diversita', dejjem, anke meta ma tqabilx ma dak li nemmen. Peppi Azzopardi
Joe Xuereb
Jun 12th 2010, 21:28
1) Marriage is based on fidelity, eternal love (as if love can be kept going like water from a tap), etc. We have elevated this institution unjustly.
Monogamy is not a fact of life it is an aspiration. So marriage was construed for the sake of the children who take a long time to rear. Social order is necessary but, at best, marriage is a necessary evil. It is popular especially for women who find security with a man. Love (for which read jealousy) is a construct. People feel jealous and threatened when their 'love' object, their 'security' is threatened by virtue of his (or her) taking by another. That is. Marriage a` la Canaa came thousands of years later. It's NOT a christian invention.
cont./
P Bonnici
Jun 12th 2010, 18:29
I am in a registered civil partnership (same-sex) which I registered in London UK with a man who is subject to immigration control both in Malta and the UK.
The UK granted my partner leave to remain in the UK based on my registered civil partnership with him.
Why can't Malta do the same and allow my partner to live with me in Malta. I find this very discriminatory and this is blatantly in breach of my human rights. Malta deprives me the right to a private life.
I implore the government to amend the current immigration and nationality laws to accommodate same sex civil partners.
Joseph Calleja
Jun 12th 2010, 20:01
"I implore the government to amend the current immigration and nationality laws to accommodate same sex civil partners. Don't hold your breath on that one. Malta is run by both the catholic church and the government and when it comes to civil liberties they rule in cahoots. Divorce, cohabitation and gay/lesbian partnership is a big NO NO and neither party is going to give in. Some politicians talk about it, but then politicians are fickle and they say anything to get your vote, and they are very good at doing the talk but never arrive at doing the walk. Now one MP insists he wants to peek into your bedroom or otherwise off to Iran he goes. I bet he will not go, a promise full of hot air, as usual. Politicians! How sad.
Chris Reiff
Jun 12th 2010, 23:59
I am very sorry to hear that Mr.Bonnici, but if I were you, I wouldn't want to live in Malta in the first place.
S. Calleja
Jun 12th 2010, 18:05
Such issues have been dealt with in the developed world in the 1960s. It's a good thing I don't live in Malta any more. A couple of months after I got married I bought two one way tickets and left for good with my wife.
I suggest people that, instead of complaining, people who are fed up do the same. Trust me it's not that much of a big deal. As if I'm going to raise a family in such a sad country. It would be the greatest injustice I would do to my children, and would never forgive myself.
Joseph Calleja
Jun 12th 2010, 13:50
When it comes to gay/lesbian and cohabitation, Malta is still a third world country. But then they sanction the unknown father syndrome, as a matter of fact they sanction it so much that the authorities fill in for the irresponsibility of these deadbeats. Are these women sleeping around so much that they don't remember who they slept with? Where is Mr Joe Zammit and the whole church in all this? To be honest I don't understand why a man wants to live with another man or a woman with another woman but I have seen more love and dedication between some of these gay/lesbian couples than you will ever see in a heterosexual married couple. Divorce, gay/lesbian, sex education is all taboo in Malta like they are in third world countries and as long as Malta is run by church and state it will stay the same. But then like I said when teens have babies outside of marriage the government (tax payer) is very willing to take over the responsibilities of the unknown father, bah humbug! Unknown father my foot.
J Vella
Jun 12th 2010, 13:07
@Evelyn Cassar you want statistics?? I'll give you mine!! more than 50% of the men i have dated where married. they're easy to pick up at bars, internet and even chat rooms on mobile phones. You, Mrs Cassar are a woman full of hatred and intolerance....in fact people like you in this time and era are HOGWASH!!! And don't give us any more crap about commandments and rules and what not!! How much I thank God everyday for giving me a tolerant mum!! have a nice weekend Mrs Cassar XXXXXX
Evelyn Cassar
Jun 12th 2010, 14:53
Dear J Vella, just because your experience says that 50% of those whom you dated were married men does not prove anything. Statistics are not taken on the experiences of one person.
c bartolo
Jun 12th 2010, 15:23
@ Eveyln Cassar
wha are you selective in your answers? why dont you answer all? i can also say that in my case at least 50% of the men i have dated have been married.... and i am sure all practising gay men would say the same. i repeat the gay internet sites are choc a bloc with married men.... why do you hate gay men so much? the hatred is plain in your writing...live and let live madam!
John Borg
Jun 12th 2010, 15:47
Is it only statistics that moves you? What about FACTS? I, too, went through that same experience in my younger life - married men where the ones I often 'met'. And they came from a young bracket, so be careful. Homosexuals in Malta are everywhere:
you can meet them in the group of MEPs we have; in the Labour MPs, in the PN MPs, in prominent doctors and specialists - and forget that they may be married, for they are still gay!, priests, founders of religious organisations who are now retired and are abroad .... they are men and women, members of lay religious organisations, etc... So, when you see all this, you cannot refrain from arriving at one, at the only possible conclusion: that it is ok to be gay! :-)
Paul Selis
Jun 12th 2010, 13:04
In his work "The Gay Science" (no pun intended), Nietzsche claims God is dead, that "we have killed him, you and I". When I look around, it may well be true. Why else would we fight over love? Why can't we just live together?
William P Flynn
Jun 12th 2010, 12:34
Church is church and state is church. This is because the church perceives the right to teach ALL Maltese what is right and what is wrong under Chapter 1, Article 2(2) of the Constitution.
Church "authorities" don't need to convince many hundreds of thousands of Maltese, the vast majority of whom do NOT follow church teaching or life-style direction by bishops or the pope,
They only need to "teach" the President who has been reported as declaring that he will not sign any law against the Catholic teachings; the PM who we all know will uphold the church at all costs; and the Opposition Leader or enough Dr Vassallo's to keep Dr Muscat in check too.
Are you happy with this state of affairs? Please indicate your vote on your wish as to the future of Article 2. Maltese only please; any one can look.
Click on this link:
http://www.fuse.com.au/wpf/Malta-Poll1.html
When you’re done, please pass the link on to all Maltese you know.
Abigail D'Amato
Jun 12th 2010, 11:25
I really cannot understand why everytime there is the issue of same sex marriage/partnership we have to mention the church and god and some people think that they are holier than the pope. Let me start by saying that I am a hetrosexual married woman and mother but unlike some others I can see beyond the stigma. Church is church and state is state. The church has its own set of rules and if you want to be part of the chuch you have to abide by these set of rules but the state is something different because the states represents human being with different sexual orientation and of different religions and in 2010 its about time that differentiate between the two. I happen to know two very special human beings whom I am honoured to befriend that are exactly in this same situation. The love these two people share is so special and I know a lot of hetrosexual couples that are not so fortunate. Why do we need to make these people suffer? God is all about love and these people should not suffer only because they choose to love one another. Lets live and let live.
Joe Zammit
Jun 12th 2010, 10:43
The human person, made in the image and likeness of God, can hardly be adequately described by a reductionist reference to his or her sexual orientation.
Every one living on the face of the earth has personal problems and difficulties, but challenges to growth, strengths, talents and gifts as well.
Today, the Catholic Church provides a badly needed context for the care of the human person when she refuses to consider the person as a "heterosexual" or a "homosexual" and insists that every person has a fundamental Identity: the creature of God, and by grace, his child and heir to eternal life.
Luke Gatt
Jun 12th 2010, 12:20
Mr.Joe Zammit why do you seek the abomination of homosexual people live and let live buddy let them burn in hell.
Seriously you are a sad being wasting time spreading homophobia... ah yes homophobia the 11th commandment.
Christopher Pollard
Jun 12th 2010, 10:19
Sorry Evelyn but if you read the article it doesn't mention "marriage".
Marriage is between men and women because the law says so - if we change the law then marriage can be between men and men, and women and women.
In UK we have "civil partnerships" but the press, and many people, refer to the relationship between Elton John and David Furnish as marriage, and who is to deny that?
Joe Zammit
Jun 12th 2010, 10:39
Christopher, marriage is between a man and a woman because God has made it so. God has made you and me and given us his Ten Commandments to follow them. He has sent his only Son to redeem us and this Divine Son set up one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church to guide us and explain to us the Ten Commandments so that we don't understand them wrongly. Two men and two women is only the production of lust.
Evelyn Cassar
Jun 12th 2010, 11:08
Sorry Mr Pollard. The law should not be changed to suit those who do not stick to the norms. To do that would mean changing the law for every single deviant from the norms of society and nature. Marriage between different sexes is natural because nature itself has seen to it for the perpetuation of the living species. Of course exceptions exist, but they are the exception.
c bartolo
Jun 12th 2010, 12:13
@ zammit..
have you had any gay encounters to attest that it is only just lust? how do you know that love is not involved in a same sex relationship?...
"God has made it so".... are you referring to genesis?... adam and eve?... then is God also allowing incest?... as it would surely have occurred among their numerous offsprings?....
where in the gospels does Christ speak against homosexuality?...note... gospels, not st paul!!
Evelyn Cassar
Jun 12th 2010, 09:41
Gaby, you cannot call same-sex relationships a marriage whether you like it or not. A marriage is only between a male and a female not between two males or two females. You can call it whatever you like but NOT marriage. Malta does not need such hogwash.
John Borg
Jun 12th 2010, 10:28
Even you, can call it whatever you like, as I do. For you, it is hogwash. For many others, it is not. HOwever, what is NOT hogwash is these facts:
1. many married partners are practising homosexuals; they cannot do otherwise - and husbands and wives that are left in the lurch, so to speak, are aware of this, and it makes it all the more insulting to them. But it is not entirely the 'erring' partners' fault - it is the fault of society, led by nut-less politicians and an interfering busybody of a Catholic Church whose sole aim is what goes on behind the bedroom door.
2. There are FAR TOO MANY children, born within wedlock and born to what YOU, lady, would term as a normal couple, who turn out really bad - scum! Their childhood is a sad one, a failed one. Hence, failure also comes from married couples. Just because a man and wife are married, even by Mother Church, does not imply that they have the necessary qualities to form a good family. On the other hand, you will find that a same-sex couple COULD, indeed, bring up good children.
John Borg
Jun 12th 2010, 10:31
Another fact, dear, gentle lady: many, many husbands prefer to go and have sex with fellow-men, because, ... how shall I put it? ... having sex with men and having sex with their wives would generally amount to the same thing, so, in the end, they would rather go to one who at least strived to keep his appearances than ....! But I am sure you understand me. After all, we are only human.
Evelyn Cassar
Jun 12th 2010, 11:09
Can we have the source of your statistics Mr Borg?
Luke Gatt
Jun 12th 2010, 12:18
Mr John Borg, for the sake of clarity. The statistic recently released in Britain which you are quoting states that 1 in 4 men, (which identify as heterosexual) confess that they had sex or had a relationship with other men.
c bartolo
Jun 12th 2010, 12:24
@ evelyn cassar
what would you say if an offspring of yours came out to you as being gay? after all... all gay persons are the fruit of marriages...!!!
with regards to married men seeking other men.... visit any gay site on the web and you will discover that the majority of the members are married!!!
Evelyn Cassar
Jun 12th 2010, 14:49
Dear c bartolo, as a mother I will have to accept his position, but children are not born from gay marriages.
c. bartolo
Jun 12th 2010, 15:28
@ e. cassar
good to know that as a mother you would accept the position.... no, gay marriages do not beget children, neither do lots of heterosexual marriages .... i assure you most gay couples have no wish to bring up children, but if some want who, who are you to say they shouldnt? children... gay ,straight, or otherwise are born from "straight" marriages... once again.... just live and let live madam!
Ms p m Graham
Jun 12th 2010, 15:41
I will never understand why there is always so much fuss placed on the word "marriage".
Now I am quite sure someone will correct me if I am wrong, but marriage was around long before organized religions and has such changed with the times. (for example polygamy) I would go as far as suggesting that the original use of the word "marriage" was indeed Pagan!!
But what does it matter?
Marriage is what two people choose to make of it, and as long as those choices don't infringe on another's "marriage", why interfere?
It's a word.
The "marriage" of the poem to the painting. I hear no one kicking up a fuss on that definition.
Have faith and pride, by all means Ms Cassar in your own marriage but no one bar no one has a right to dictate another's marriage.