In an article entitled Bill On Same-Sex Civil Unions by Summer (April 23), it was announced that the Government set up a consultative council that included the Malta Gay Rights Movement, Drachma, Drachma Parents Support Group, the students group We Are, Aditus and LGBT Labour.
As reported, the council was formed in the wake of a first reading in Parliament of a Bill to amend the Civil Code that would enable people who undergo gender reassignment to marry a person of the opposite sex.
In addition, the council would also be tasked to address LGBT issues, revisit the Gender Identity Bill, address homophobia through improved education and tackle harassment and bullying in schools.
Experimenting with decisions not in conformity with the ‘true family institution’ should not be an option
Therefore, the Government would be seeking this council’s advice and compile information on a number of sensitive topics, ranging from education of early age students to organisations that may be considered as being controversial by society, including groups harbouring ideas about certain attitudes and lifestyles that appear to run counter to human nature.
I strongly feel the Government needs to act when there is a high risk to the ‘true family institution’ - a marriage between a couple born as man and woman and who remain so married until death.
When this is in jeopardy it could expose children to mental and emotional confusion. It becomes indispensable for politicians that the source from where they seek advice and get their information is authentic, reliable, genuine, unfailing and morally correct.
I feel the Government needs to ensure that the consultative council it set up consists of a variety of people who are qualified experts in the medical science, psychiatry, moral philosophy and law fields. Good ethical standards are also a must.
In this respect, I feel that both the politicians and all members of the council must themselves embrace sound moral principles and ethical stability.
It is also of vital importance that children should be taught correct moral and ethical principles from an early age. If the authorities fail to provide such education, I feel this would put children in harm’s way during their childhood, and that would eventually lead to much more serious problems later in life.Furthermore, I believe the Government should respect the rights of the Catholic Church and, so, nominate persons to represent it on this consultative council.
Experimenting with decisions that are not in conformity with the ‘true family institution’ should not be an option. This irreplaceable institution must always be defended and strengthened because any change to its original structure would result in negative consequences on society.
The logical unfailing truth (it has been so since time immemorial) is that you reap what you sow. This simple reality proves that when the authorities fail the results are deep scars and resentment among society.
I would like to put a couple of questions to the civil authorities:
What criteria do civil authorities use to make sure that gender re-assignment surgery changes a man into a true woman and not just a fake one?
When a man undergoes gender re-assignment surgery, would the civil authorities accept to change his birth certificate to show that he was a female at birth? If the civil authorities accept to do this, would this not amount to deceit with regard to the true identity of that person at?