Civil Liberties Minister Helena Dalli has described changing the law to give civil rights to LGBT people as a victory for personal freedom and said it was only a small step forward.
Winding up the debate, she said work had to start to change attitudes at home, school and work to strengthen the culture of rights, equality and respect for human dignity. LGBT people were still bullied in schools and places of work.
This was not a question of minorities or tolerance because no one should be considered as having lesser rights and everyone had to feel included in society.
Transgender Bill wasthe sign of an open government that really wanted to listen
Dr Dalli welcomed the change in the Opposition’s political thought and policy. She hoped that this was not a consequence of the party’s electoral defeat report and was not considering these people as numbers.
One could not put the blame on the courts’ interpretation. The Attorney General should have presented legislation on behalf of the PN government and not let Ms Cassar seek redress in the European courts.
Dr Dalli said that the PN government’s policy was different to that embraced now.
Only a few months ago, when 10 Labour MPs had asked for such amendments after Eire had legislated on the matter, the Government had rebuked their request.
A society which denied any sector its rights could not be described as democratic or inclusive.
It was a pity that only three Opposition MPs felt they should speak during the debate, as this was not the sign of conviction she hoped to see from them.
She was pleased to hear Claudette Buttigieg dedicate her speech to Joanne Cassar.
The message of an Opposition in favour of the Bill would have been stronger if more of its members had contributed to the debate.
Considering that locally 25 per cent of suicides which take place are by LGBT people, it was clear that one could not stop discussing the matter.
Dr Dalli said she was pleased to participate in the US Embassy project, It Gets Better, to encourage LGBT youths to speak up about their situation.
Often instead of help they were misunderstood and bullied.
There must be more education in schools, she said, adding that it was positive to note that one of Minister Evarist Bartolo’s first meetings following his appointment was with the Gay Rights Movement.
Concluding, Dr Dalli said the Bill was the sign of an open government that really wanted to listen, and an Opposition which had truly listened.
It did something as soon as it was in a position to do so, as society has grown together in the belief that nobody should feel inferior or discriminated against.
The Bill was unanimously read for the second time.