LGBT group launches educational campaign
The Malta Gay Rights Movement has launched an educational campaign aimed at promoting acceptance and countering bullying.
Gabriella Calleja, coordinator of the movement, told a press conference that the campaign will run throughout the scholastic year.
It will be based on video clips, posters and other literature, aimed at discouraging the use of disparaging homophomic and transphobic language which is used on an everyday basis to insult people; physical bullying because of a person's sexual orientation; the need to encourage gays to 'come out' and the need for parents to listen to their children.
The campaign is targeting secondary schools and also includes lesson plans for teachers.
The campaign is being held in collaboration with Drachma Parents - an inclusive support group for parents.
Anthony Girard, representing Drachma, said group representatives last year met the Archbishop to voice their concern about the Church's attitude to gay people. Parents loved their children unconditionally, he said, and he felt the church should do the same.
The €9,000 campaign is fully funded by the Voices Foundation.
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V Cassar
Dec 9th 2011, 14:40
And now we've gone too far.....
I Bugeja
Jan 22nd 2012, 21:16
think again, read this article and you will see that we have not gone far http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120122/local/Thugs-attack-lesbian-16-on-a-bench.403284
John Meli
Dec 8th 2011, 09:59
Married couples ensure the succession of generation and are therefore eminently within the public interest, civil law grants them institutional recognition, while homosexual cannot generate children. On the other hand one must agree that Homosexual unions, do not need specific attention from the legal standpoint since they do not exercise this function for the common good.
In reality, they can always make use of the provisions of law – like all citizens from the standpoint of their private autonomy – to protect their rights in matters are of common interest. It would be gravely unjust to sacrifice the common good and just laws of the local family in order to protect personal goods that can and must be guaranteed in ways that do not harm the body of society.
Carlos Espinal
Dec 9th 2011, 15:18
Malta is over 400.000 people. Homosexuals getting married will not hamper the ability of the population give offspring. Homosexuals will not breed whether they are married or not. Reproduction is not grounds to discuss gay marriage.
George Camilleri
Dec 7th 2011, 23:39
Bullying is intrinsically bad, and schools today have clear policies and proper measures in place. But gay lesson plans for teachers? Smells fishy. I wonder what the learning objective would be! Parents should be given early warning of these gay lessons and allowed to keep their children away. Homosexual acts are as sinful today as they were in the past.
Gerry Cowie
Dec 7th 2011, 19:48
I hope that the Church does indeed love people unconditionally. She just does not agree that everything everybody does is right. This does not mean that the Church does not love unconditionally. All too often love hurts, they say.
John Meli
Dec 8th 2011, 09:56
One must remember that Homosexual unions are totally lacking in the biological and anthropological elements of marriages between man and woman who can form a family.
Such unions are not able to contribute in a proper way to the procreation and survival of the human race. The possibility of using recently discovered methods of artificial reproduction, beyond involving a grave lack of respect for human dignity, does nothing to alter this inadequacy. [Congregation for the Doctrine of the faith (section 7 para 1) and (Donum vitae 22n February, 1987) – Considerations and Proposals during an Audience by Pope John Paul II on 28 March, 2003]
Carlos Espinal
Dec 9th 2011, 15:21
John. Marriage today goes way over anthropogenic and biological aspects. These are not grounds for marriage today, as there will be heterosexual couples that will get married and will not have kids.
Homosexuals have always been present in humanity and other animals, and yet, we are still here, reproducing by bunnies. Stop fearing: homosexuals are not a threat to the reproductive sucess of the human species.
Patrick Mulholland
Dec 7th 2011, 18:52
I will never endorse bullying in any way, shape or form but this is deception. It is a subtle way of messing childrens' minds. This is not about "educating". It is an effective way of getting right into minds that are ripe and innocent enough to accept anything.
Go on, ram it down their throats.
The parents should be given the right to choose whether to alllow their children to sit it out or walk out.
Ms. P.M Graham
Dec 7th 2011, 20:19
Educating children with regards to bullying, is a good thing. this project focuses on homosexuals but hopefully it will make children think about all those who are bullied, for color, religion etc not only homosexuals.
i agree Parents should have the option, but doesn't your child at Secondary level have the right to at least hear them out? How can one make an opinion without facts?
Robert Callus
Dec 8th 2011, 00:22
Those children whose parents would want them to walk out are those who need the education most. Not only because they are more likely to bully gays, but because there is a possibility they be gay themselves. If it's the case, they NEED to know there is absolutely nothing wrong in being who they are. Others they will grow up hating themselves, and most probably others.
Patrick Mulholland
Dec 8th 2011, 12:29
@Ms. P.M Graham
"make children think about all those who are bullied, for color, religion etc not only homosexuals." - Yes, I agree with that. They should be taught the psychological (bad) affects bullying, in general, has and that there is no place in society for it.
However I ask - which facts are you talking about?
@Robert Callus
"are those who need the education most. Not only because they are more likely to bully gays" - you're very quick to jump to conclusions. If that is your perception, then you are very very wrong. I think you need to dig deeper into this and educate yourself about the reality of "homosexuality".
Ms. P.M Graham
Dec 8th 2011, 14:01
To Patrick Mulholland:
A very important fact: That we are all different and that none of us is in anyway superior to another, which works both ways :) I get just as cross with some of the throw away comments made by homosexuals as I do from heterosexuals.
The fact is that very few realize just how much homophobia there is around, not just in Malta and some, fortunately the minority seem to think that they are in someway better than a homosexual. I believe that this project will be handled in a very sensitive manner allowing perhaps an insight into what it is like to be different.
Children and students of the age referred to here should be given all of the information, (by choice) and then they can come to an informed opinion which will allow intelligent debate..
Patrick Mulholland
Dec 8th 2011, 22:15
To Ms. P.M Graham
I never suggested that anyone is superior. If i did please show me where. I've always taught my children to respect and accept other people as they are immaterial of opinion, colour, etc. and expect the same ;-)
A similar project was launched in the US a few years ago and the result was very different to what was proposed. I say again - this is a subtle way of messing childrens' minds
And yes - i do agree that an informed opinion CAN lead to a healthy debate however is everyone willing to debate? Some are out to push their agenda through no matter what.
Mr Ernest Vella
Dec 7th 2011, 18:27
Ma nistax nifhem, il-Knisja tirrispetta u thobb lil persuni homosesswali bhala persuni b'dinjita ta' wlied Alla li huma. Il-Knisja hija kontra l-att sesswali bejn omosesswali, ghax huwa dnub gravi kontra z-zina. Naf li haw min ha jzeffen fin-nofs l-pedofelija (haga li ghal Knisja hija wkoll meqjusa dnub gravi..anzi doppju ghax sar min persuni li suppost kellhom jipproteguhom)
L-omosesswalita u z-zina huma kkundannat b'mod sproporzjonat mill-kitba Pentatewkali, imma kkundannati minn San Pawl fl-ittri tieghu. Imma ghalkemm l-att omosesswali huwa dnub bhal kull att sesswali barra miz-zwieg, mill-banda l-ohra l-Knisja mhux tmexxi kampanja kontra dawn il-persuni anzi tirrikmanda r-rispett u trattament indaqs lil dawn il-persuni, li m'ghandhom xejn inqas minn haddiehor.
Iz-zwieg...ovja...il-Knisja qatt ma tista tirrikonoxxi z-zwieg...li ghalkemm ga ttajarlu wiehed mill-elementi tieghu fuq livell civili (li ma jinhalx) jibqalu element iehor naturali - iz-zwieg ghandu jsir bejn ragel wiehed u mara wahda.
Ms. P.M Graham
Dec 7th 2011, 17:59
It goes without saying that I wish this campaign every success. Bullying of any type is wrong, be it nasty, faceless comments on a well known social networking site, in school or in the work place, more so these days via the Internet, aka the cowardly bully, and I hope that this campaign will bring that home.
Unfortunately in many cases, bullying is a learned behavior.
I was raised with the golden rule and have raised my own children with that same rule:
"Do not do unto others what you would not want them do unto you."
and think before you speak.
Charles Zammit
Dec 7th 2011, 16:34
IKKUMPARATA ?? Is this something to do with Carnival or an Armed Forces Parade ?
Joe Grech
Dec 7th 2011, 14:47
It's true that gays are sometimes the target of inconsiderates. But it will be a pity if they adopt an martyr like, unhappy, always complaining attitude. Hopefully this campaign won't work against them in the eyes of the general public.
Carlos Espinal
Dec 9th 2011, 15:22
Homosexuals have been historically persecuted, killed, shunned and condemned for being homosexuals. I fin d it legitimate if they feel they are a harassed minority - because they are.
Etienne Bonanno
Dec 7th 2011, 13:51
Bullying is a universal problem and not limited to LGBT homophobia/transphobia etc. The bully targets weakness in whatever guise he finds it, and in doing so makes himself feel stronger. The campaign against bullying should not be limited to LGBT issues, but it should be a concerted nationwide effort to raise awareness about bullying, depict bullying as being something "uncool" to do and drive the point home to victims of bullying that they do not have to put up with their situation.
Robust guidance and disciplinary frameworks should be designed and implemented that offer refuge to the victims of bullying before too much damage has been done. Such frameworks should be widely advertised so as to ensure that victims perceive them to be a safe and easy way to obtain help. Such structures should, as well as protecting victims, take timely and effective action to target directly the bullies with guidance and psychotherapy if necessary.
It is high time that something concrete and effective is done to reduce this scourge that is so common throughout our schooling system and only a coherent national plan to deal with it concretely and holistically has a chance of achieving any measure of success.
D. A . Agius
Dec 7th 2011, 13:13
Well, Eur9,000 will not take them very far, even though most of the work will probably be done by volunteers.
Good luck anyways.
J. Debono
Dec 7th 2011, 13:09
Well done and good luck for the campaign.
Unfortunately it is only the ignorant who bullies people, as he sees people different to him as a threat, rather than an intellectual challenge.
Today, gays are on the whole accepted by society, and form an integral and important part of society.
It is of my opinion, that gays have more artistic value than heterosexuals, as can be seen by a high percentage of gays in work where art is important (ex. hair stylists, fashion designers, music etc.)
Thumbs up and keep it up.
Stanley Colombo
Dec 7th 2011, 14:41
I'm sorry but classifying gays as 'an intellectual challenge' may sound discriminating. Ditto 'gays have more artistic value than heterosexuals' I suggest you be more balanced in what you say and write.
Joseph Tanti
Dec 7th 2011, 12:33
Well done ... Keep it coming. I hope it does not fall on deaf ears. Looking forward to see it fruits.
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