‘I’ve been fighting for a human right for seven years’
Transsexual is still facing abuse from strangers because of who she is
Every weekend, when Joanne Cassar gets ready to go out with her friends, she prepares herself to be stared at, insulted and pushed around by complete strangers.
In the past the 31-year-old, who underwent gender reassignment surgery nine years ago, has even been beaten up because of who she is. The latest violent episode was three years ago when she was at a carnival party in Gozo.
“I was walking off the dance floor. I was hit on the head with a bottle and kicked in my chest and stomach. They stole my bag,” she recalled, adding she did not see the point in filing a police report.
“What would I get out of it? I’d end up having to go to court repeatedly… and if I had to file a report each time I’m insulted, I might as well move into the police station,” she said.
Her words shed light on why both the police and the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality told The Sunday Times they had no reports of harassment or discrimination triggered by a person’s sexual orientation.
The remit of the NCPE was only broadened to cover sexual orientation last June. This came after sexual orientation was included in the legal definition of a hate crime in March. Anyone found guilty of committing a crime motivated by homophobia now faces a harsher punishment.
The move followed a public outcry for better legal protection to gay people triggered by an item that appeared on The Sunday Times a year ago.
The item told the story of a 16-year-old lesbian, who became known by the fictitious name Amy, and her girlfriend who said they were attacked because of their sexual orientation in a Ħamrun square.
The court eventually ruled the assault was the result of bullish behaviour of two boys and it was not proven they were attacked because they were lesbians.
Gabi Calleja, from the Malta Gay Rights Movement, said that just because gay people did not file police reports, it did not mean hate crimes were not happening.
Some got used to living with the abuse and there was also a lack of trust that the police would treat the case sensitively.
“Police need to reach out to the community to make it easier to report these crimes. We know these cases happen,” she said.
Ms Cassar believes the key lies in teaching children, from an early age, to accept diversity. Thinking back to her childhood, she recalls how her world turned dark when she moved from a mixed primary school to a boys-only secondary school.
She was teased, called names, pushed around, had balls and chairs hurled at her. As she entered her teens, things did not improve. She recalled a time when she was 17 and went to a club, wearing women’s clothes and make-up.
When she tried to go to the ladies’ toilet to touch up her make-up, the bouncer head-butted her in the face, breaking her nose and teeth.
More recently she was queuing in a bathroom and a woman turned to her and told her: “It’s your turn pufta.”
“I’ll be in a club and people pass comments or nudge me when I pass by with a drink. They make it obvious and even point to ensure I know they’re talking about me.
“When I sense trouble I tell the bouncer or leave the club, even if it means crying myself to sleep. I try to make it look like I don’t care, but I do. Some people hate people like me and I don’t know why,” she said.
“But my greatest disappointment is that we are in 2013 and I’ve been fighting for a human right for seven years,” she said, referring to a pending case before the European Court of Human Rights where she is fighting for the right to marry.
The case revolves around the fact that the Marriage Registrar refused to issue the marriage banns for Ms Cassar and her former partner, even after the court had legally changed her gender to female on her birth certificate after gender reassignment surgery.
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33 Comments
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John Cefai
Jan 22nd, 19:43
2013 just like 1913? remarkable how easily the masses latch on to the latest gadgetery, the latest fashion, the latest hipness...but predjudice? Ah, if only predjudice can be as readily discarded as last years mobile... 2013 just like 1013 more like...reminds me of gatherings and stone throwing...now where did I read that?
R. Cilia
Jan 21st, 20:55
My motto is "Live and let live'
Mary Borg
Jan 21st, 18:50
We should start practising what we preach - that God made all men (and women) equal.
Marianne Tabone
Jan 21st, 11:39
I think the reason why persons are not accepted is that they only appear on the media as homosexuals, trans etc. We never see anyone talk about culture, hobbies and so many other subjects. They remain an unknown quantity or known only as homosexuals. They are not only homosexuals. They have many other qualities. The media should not limit their appearance to when they talk about sexual orientation
Victor Vella
Jan 21st, 11:37
How can you fight for human rights when in this country injustices are happening every minute by politicians and the church!!!!!
E Richie
Jan 21st, 11:28
We should never hate anyone.... We were all born with the right to make a choice, what ppl chose is not other ppl's business... what I do not like is the flaunting of their situation. Make your choice and live it, but one cannot expect laws to be changed or the unnatural to be approved, or murder ( like abortion, homosexual marriage ) But we all have the right to live how we choose,
J Camilleri
Jan 21st, 14:19
my exact same thoughts.. glad to know there are people with my point of view!
I find it utterly stupid to use these kind of things in political matters blaming gonzi for human rights etc..
stop using homos for advantages or disadvantages to your campaigns.
i am voting PL!!!
Chris Borg
Jan 22nd, 17:39
Being Homosexual isn't a choice Richie or Camilleri, you were born with that predisposed attraction. Smarten up and stop living in the past. Religion is a choice, sexuality and attraction is not.
Joseph Borg
Jan 21st, 10:03
Dear Joanne, forget your human rights. As long as you're living in Malta, that's how it is. Unfortunately, the church plays a huge role in our country and, by the time they open their minds and disassociate themselves from politics, all gay rights will be shelved. I pity you because, on other countries, society is mature not like us!
Malicia Dabrowicz
Jan 21st, 08:53
Also what Church and Curia are doing is just wrong - cant open the papers without reading gay people are a threat to family, humanity, we`d bring the end of the world. We cant marry, adopt, we are not citizens, families, we are barely human. How can you expect us to treated in any other way if we are demonized and painted as evil? We need a serious discussion here in Malta about it.
Malicia Dabrowicz
Jan 21st, 08:47
We do face discrimination on everyday basis - not only transgender but all LGBT minorities. What Ms Cassar goes through is extreme. But then we were shown that its ok to run people with a car because "gay" is such offence that you can kill for it. Its ok to throw people off a bus because they kissed their girlfriend or beat people up for holding hands in the park.
M. Bezzina
Jan 21st, 08:43
Its a shame to treat a person like this.
Jeffrey Mallia
Jan 21st, 08:28
Oh kemm ahna poplu ta qalb tajba ux !! L'iktar poplu ipokrita f'wicc id dinja.....
Michael Camileri
Jan 21st, 08:28
Time is key!
Eventually society here will come around. Remember in some respects comparing to other developed countries, Malta is behind by at least 10 years.
adam spalding
Jan 21st, 07:42
Oh perhaps this young lady might like to adopt a child ??? " she " has rights too !!!!
Ms Cassar , grow up stop going to clubs. Stop flouting yourself in public for attention , ie this article.
I have plenty of homosexual / lesbian friends that never encounter problems, never suffer prejudice. Why ? because they conduct themselves with dignity and discretion . Not this lunatic " rights" rubbish.
Saviour Sam Agius
Jan 21st, 08:45
Some have to do it, whilst others get to reap the fruit of their peers' struggles.
I Bugeja
Jan 21st, 09:35
Stop going to clubs?
Stop flaunting in public?
It is the mentality like yours which is the problem. Why can't people adhere to the saying "live and let live"?
Tania Farrugia
Jan 21st, 14:23
Thank God for people like her who are courageous enough to stand up for themselves and others....and how ironic it is that we dish out money to charities and are labelled as one of the most generous nations in the world whilst being incapable of empathy with such minorities...
Marc Buhagiar
Jan 21st, 15:04
You should be ashamed of yourself Mr. Spalding. You are what is wrong with this society. Why should people have to hide who they are? Grow up.
Marc Buhagiar
Jan 21st, 15:07
Furthermore, the use of "she" in inverted commas shows your narrow mindedness. You aren't amusing anyone.
adam spalding
Jan 21st, 15:58
Oh Mr Paris you are so predictable. !!
Go about life, not hiding, and not promoting ones private beliefs and society will not care about what you do.
Screaming for recognition of a " certain" lifestyle will certainly garner you more attention than perhaps you like.
ben wood
Jan 20th, 23:39
Joanne keep up the fight. I cannot imagine how you must feel; being fearful of going out in public is a right. What I hope is that in time these hate crimes pass into history. Just one thing, we have had a transgendered mayor in Cambridge, she was well respected. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18866534/ns/world_news-europe/t/new-mayor-transsexual-so-partner/#.UPxxdI4z3HM
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Jan 20th, 23:13
This is the ugly side of Malta that tourist authorities do not like to tell tourists about. Hospitable peopel? My bloody foot!
I Bugeja
Jan 20th, 22:06
The only fault she has is that she was born in the wrong body. Each time she was interviewed she looked well and decent. Good luck with what you wish.
Isabelle Luca Borg
Jan 20th, 21:15
L aqwa li mmorru l quddies nhar ta hadd u nisimghu l patri jippriedka fuq il paci u l imhabba. L aqwa li niftahru b kemm ahna qaddisin u kemm gbarna flus ghad dar tal provvidenza, ghal partiti u ghall istrina. L aqwa li nqerru u jinhafrulna dnubietna mbghad l ghada nqumu u nergaw nghamlu l istess. Over and over and the story goes on.
Marthese Mussett
Jan 21st, 13:01
My thoughts exactly.What gives anyone the right to treat her like this?Live and let live.
Dylan C.
Jan 21st, 14:20
I can't imagine people who look for trouble and violence to be interested in the church really !
Mr Kevin Zammit
Jan 20th, 20:15
ghax dan pajjiz kattoliku li jhenn ghall kulhadd bojod u suwed u kulur politiku int li inti .... insomma nahseb inhobbu hafna nintefhu bina nfusna sakem nigu ghas si-u-no
Pav Elliot
Jan 20th, 20:05
Joanne, keep up your fighting spirit. You are a person with rights and in the future, there will be others who will have their dignity respected because of your determination to succeed.
Never give upand wish you all the best
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