Carmel Bayliss, Żurrieq
Malta: Where gays are second-class citizens
Ten years ago, I was one of those who founded the first organised Maltese gay rights movement. Today, as we near the Gay Pride (Saturday, July 17), I wish to express some views.
Nowadays, in many corners of Europe, gays are getting there, getting equal rights to heterosexuals. Some countries are moving fast and others more slowly, but still moving. In democratic Malta, things are very different. No, we gay people are second-class citizens, we enjoy lesser rights than our counterparts. And why, may I ask? Don’t we have to abide by the same laws as others do. Don’t we have to carry the burden of all the taxes that the government imposes?
I really feel sorry for our politicians. Aren’t they bright enough to distinguish between politics and religion? As Jesus Christ himself said, “Give God what is due to God, and Caesar what is due to Caesar”. Are they so Catholic if they do not know this simple phrase that came out from Christ’s own mouth? We are Maltese citizens and not Vatican citizens. Where law is concerned, whatever it might be, we are held responsible to the country and not the Church. So dear Prime Minister, Cabinet members and parliamentarians from both sides, reflect on these words and reflect well.
Ten years ago I believed that with our accession to the EU, things would start moving. How wrong I was (at least it seems like it). For the younger generation of gays, EU membership may have served them well. Knowing that gay people in Malta have no real future, they decided to leave to real democratic countries where there are no second-class citizens. One might say that I am exaggerating but I am not. I have been abroad and met some of these young chaps (whom I knew in Malta) and they remarked about their venture for a freer life where they could exercise their rights as gay people. It is a shame really. They had to deport themselves from our country.
I am now turning 50 and have been involved in politics since I was 16. I have always considered my country’s needs before my own and always worked for Malta to be democratic. But now I am fed up of this all. I have given so many years to my country in my own ways but now I feel that my country is letting me down. I will not hesitate to say that, in the upcoming general election, I will not vote unless it is for a party that promises, in writing, to undertake a review of gay rights by a certain deadline. I mention the deadline because I know from past experience that politicians promise prospective voters anything in the world but are unlikely to ever fulfil that promise. I dare politicians (or parties) to make this promise in writing and set a deadline to uphold their promise.
While gay people have their own political beliefs, now is the time to unite. I urge them to scrutinise well the political agenda of all parties concerned and vote not with their hearts but with their minds in the next general election. We must stand up and stamp our feet and not let politicians use us as puppets.
I urge gay people to attend the Gay Pride march to show our leaders our support.
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Joe Zammit
Jul 19th 2010, 21:02
God has created humanity men and women, on purpose for marriage. He could have created us just men or just women, but we are not that. God does not create homosexuals but human beings.
After Original Sin, all people have some evil tendency. Some have the evil tendency of homosexuality but are not homosexuals for that matter. They become so if and when they start indulging in homosexuality. The can resist the temptation as well, always by God’s grace. But homosexuality remains a grave sin that separates the sinner from God and puts him or her on the path to hell.
Homosexual, leave your sinful life and turn to God and the Catholic Church who are your real friends. Those who want you to remain in your miserable and sinful life are your enemies indeed!
Joe Xuereb
Jul 16th 2010, 02:09
2) Most gays in Malta still get married 'because they're masculine', they say - ignorant, or what!! - and understandably, they won't show their face at a gay parade. What?! in tiny Malta, where everybody knows everybody.
Note: The London Parade these last few years has included various contingents with their gay members, parading in full uniform. We are talking the Ambulance |Brigade, The National Health Service, The Metropolitan Police, all the Armed Forces, the Unions, etc. All there. Oh there are gay policemen and soldiers and scaffolders in Malta we all(?) know that. But come on! you don't expect them to flaunt their homosexuality along Republic Street do you?!
@Joseph Sammut understands what I'm saying about generalised oppression.
@Lanfranco. Gays in Malta are worse than 2nd-class-citizens. They are invisible. Some homosexuals look naturally 'fragile/effeminate' (not all heterosexual men are muscle-bound don't forget - some pluck eyebrows now). The 'fragile/effeminate-type homosexual in Malta cannot hide. He has homosexual written all over him. And we all know how he is treated. Of course if you're gay+WEDDING-RING and an MP, with money, and influence, and stiff upper-lip, you keep your homosexuality closeted. You don't want to lose your livelihood do you now?!
Joe Xuereb
Jul 16th 2010, 01:57
1) Mr.Bayliss, I exiled myself from Malta 50years ago. For no reason other than I was a young lad and did what young lads do - seek freedom. Malta was stifling and Britain not much better. But London's a big city so it was exciting. I soon discovered a place (Holland Walk) where guys met guys. I remember on the wall of a school that backed onto the 'walk' what must have been a first graffiti. It read 'Gay Oppression is Class Oppression'. I did not get the meaning then but now I know. It means that members of the larger society collude with Church and State (in Malta particularly) in oppressing homosexuals. What they don't realise is that the machine that oppresses gays hits hard even at heterosexuals (look at the endless, fruitless debate that is divorce in Malta). In other words, gays and straights must unite because they share a common oppressor. I would like to think that Malta's Gay Pride will see the same numbers that turned out in London two weeks ago. Relatively speaking of course. Boosted by their straight friends and family members, as in London. Unfortunately it won't happen.
continued
Carmel Bayliss
Jul 15th 2010, 14:01
Pat,
Do you think that the Nationalists will ever do something good for the gays? Gay Nationalist MP(s) are to afraid of their Leader to do something. Only JPO showed his true colours and I admire him.
As for the PL in recent history, in 18 years (16 Mintoff/KMB - 2 Sant), they only did one thing good for Gays?
I do not trust the goodwill of the Politicians,
Joseph Sammut
Jul 15th 2010, 12:22
I don't think that second class citizenship is directed to Gays only: it is flagrantly inflicted upon our population throughtout our daily lives.
Muscat Pat
Jul 15th 2010, 12:15
It was the Labour Party that decriminalised homosexuality, and what did the PL get in return? The votes from gays and lesbians? Niet, nothing. I suppose there are more gays voting PN than PL and possibly more PN gay Parliamenterians than in the PL though, believe it or not, PN gay MP's vote against the gay rights!
If the local gays and lesbians don't want to remain second class citizens they have to fight for their rights and not expect the liberal Social Democrats to stick their neck out for them!
Carmel Bayliss
Jul 15th 2010, 11:32
Dear Mr Lafranco,
My friend Mr Engerer has answered you for me.
Jeremy Lanfranco
Jul 15th 2010, 10:51
@ Carmel Bayliss
I'd very much like to know where you are being treated as a second class citizen? Kindly highlight these issues in your statements otherwise your argument has just been downgraded to an anti-government/ anti church campaign.
Never have you manged to convince me in your letter that you are a second class citizen.
If its marriage you want, you cannot get it anywhere in the world except in Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, S. Africa, Norway, Sweeden, Portugal, Iceland and Argentina. The last 5 recognised these same sex marriages within the last 2 years.
Any comments??
Cyrus Engerer
Jul 15th 2010, 11:11
It is out of marriage that in malta many rights comes out, therefore yes, since there is no marriage, not even Civil Union available in this country for same-sex couples, homosexuals int his country are considered as second-class citizens.
Out of marriage come: tax benefits, housing benefits, succession legislation, third country partner recognition, rights in hospitals etc etc etc.
Apart from that, although single gay people can adopt children in Malta, they cannot do so as a couple, something which heterosexuals can do.
In a short paragraph, I have been able to give you ample examples in which gay people are second-class citizens and the list is larger.
Go to Spain, for instance and experience the difference!
Mark Grech
Jul 15th 2010, 11:38
@Jeremy Lanfranco:
Besides the ample list provided by Cyrus there is also the fact that there is no anti-discrimination legislation to ban different treatment to LGBT people in the provision of goods and services, as exists in a large number of EU countries.
There is no prohibition of hate speech as applied to LGBT people and indeed no tariff increase or data collection on homophobic crime and assaults.
The main discrimination, as Cyrus states, is the lamentable legal non recognition locally of LGBT families and gay couples, with the loss of all the rights such recognition would entail. And any proposed cohabitation law would not, in my opinion, come even close at addressing the lack of those rights.
Jeremy Lanfranco
Jul 15th 2010, 11:51
@Cyrus Engerer
So in your way of reasoning, the MAJORITY of countries treat homosexuals as second class citizens as only 10 countries in the world allow same sex marriages.
Quote: Out of marriage come: tax benefits, housing benefits, succession legislation, third country partner recognition, rights in hospitals etc etc etc.Unquote:
You are entitled to most of the above within Maltese Law especially hospital benefits and even succession.
But then, single persons too have disadvantages over their married counterparts.
So is Malta good enough for your cause? Absolutely not! Minority groups are always at a disagvantage and NOT gays only.
Much has to be undertaken to satisfy the needs of all minority groups.
Take care!!
Jeremy
Cyrus Engerer
Jul 15th 2010, 12:49
17 out of 27 EU Member States have Civil Union / Civl Partnership / Marriage which give the rights I mentioned above. Secondly, should we aspire to eb among the best or the worse of the EU?
Joseph Abela
Jul 15th 2010, 10:42
Indeed, it's the politicians themselves who are letting gays down. Actually, it's the gay politicians themselves who are letting gays down - those in our national parliament as well as those in our European parliament. I have known cases where a Minister himself personally refused employment to a properly qualified young man on the grounds that he didn't agree with his lifestyle! And the PM is aware of this! But this was not a serious enough case to call in that Minister and give him a good rubbing-down. No, siree, .... not serios enough. Nothing is serious enough for him, it seems.
Sean Grima
Jul 15th 2010, 10:21
one must draw the attention to the plight of transgendered people: many many to female transexuals are ending up in prostitution since they are unable to find a decent job, and a loving partner.