Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, Apostolic Administrator Charles Scicluna, tenor Joseph Calleja, singer Ira Losco and footballer Luke Dimech have all been nominated for the first awards organised by the Malta Gay Rights Movement and the LGBTI community.

The gala awards aim “to reward positive role models in Malta from the last 12 months” regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

The organisers said nominees were chosen in “Eurovision style” by means of a combination of public voting and the input of an MGRM leadership committee.

The coordinator of MGRM, Gabi Calleja, has herself been nominated for the awards under the “humanitarian member of Maltese society” category.

When asked if she felt awkward that as an organiser, MGRM was nominating its own coordinator, Ms Calleja said: “Actually, the nominations came through online voting and the MGRM committee confirmed the nominations.”

She said her wish was to leave her name out of the shortlist but she was overruled.

“It’s not at all that I’m out to award myself,” she said.

It’s not at all that I’m out to award myself

Other sections in the same category include sports personalities, entertainers, artists and religious people. The second category includes politicians, journalists and employers who “furthered the cause of LGBTI equality in Malta”.

Nominees include Civil Liberties Minister Helena Dalli, radical Dominican priest Fr Mark Montebello, bowler Sue Abela, Aditus director Neil Falzon, Times of Malta head of news Ariadne Massa and Malta Today journalist Raphael Vassallo.

The third category awards a student, a parent and a “marriage proposer” who are members of the LGBTI community.

In its statement, MGRM, which advocates for equal rights, responsibilities and inclusion of LGBTI persons, appealed for lawmakers to introduce gay marriage.

“While the MGRM celebrates Malta’s introduction of civil unions, the MGRM supports the introduction of equal marriage for all, independent of sexual orientation, and urges lawmakers to take this next step on the path to full equality among the citizens and residents at the earliest opportunity,” it said.

The awards ceremony will be held on November 29 at Xara Lodge, Rabat. Tickets are selling at €100 per guest.

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