Equality for all. My Facebook newsfeed was alight with news about the new laws passed to make gay conversion therapy illegal in Malta. Malta: a country so often synonymous with Catholicism, the country that needed a referendum on divorce, is now well ahead on LGBT issues than so many liberal countries in Europe and the world. This is wonderful news. Then why is it I didn’t want to celebrate in any way?
Our Prime Minister used liberalism to get ahead in the polls last election. Well, not all liberalism. Rather, he picked and chose which aspects were more expedient than others, with promises stemming not from a desire to help social minorities but to gain votes. To me, this was crystal clear.
Some people will say this is not a bad thing. Some people will say that as long as their interests are being served, then why should they care about others? However, our Prime Minister has not been as kind towards the people of Malta at times when doing so required compassion.
He is quick to go for the votes but not so quick at times when people have needed him to care. It has become increasingly clear to me that he does not actually care about social issues, and if you want him to care about yours, you need to show him the votes he will lose.
In a panicked attempt not to be seen as partisan, people in Malta often scramble to compromise on their values and core beliefs
Refugees don’t get a vote in Malta. Those here after making a perilous journey away from war, famine, disease and disaster may have been granted access to Malta – after a long and, in some cases, unfair process – but their situation is far from secure. They may suddenly find that they are going to be deported, even if they have spent 10 years here, and even if they have been born here. This happened only recently. How soon people forget, especially those too selfish to see beyond their own needs.
I remember when civil unions for LGBT citizens became legal, it was under the exact same dark cloud of xenophobia and racism. Back then, Muscat had just dealt with his ‘push back’ fiasco.
It took the EU to put a stop to his actions, actions that gave the far right in this country a sense of legitimacy. I did not celebrate then either. I was called partisan. I was called brainwashed. But those LGBT people celebrating then and now are being very hypocritical about civil liberties and equal rights.
Muscat should not get their vote until he extends such equality and respect towards all social minorities. When all social minorities stand together after experiencing similar, if not identical, discrimination and mistreatment by society, then we are all stronger and better off. What good is my civil union to those dying at sea? What good is the new ban on conversion therapy for those being treated like second-class citizens and being surprised with deportation? Do gay people really want to go out and celebrate knowing that people of different religions still feel discriminated against?
No, I will not celebrate anything. It has nothing to do with my political affiliations but all to do with respect towards my fellow men and other social minorities that face threats every day. If you are serious about civil liberties, you would do the same.
Sometimes I think that, in a panicked attempt not to be seen as partisan, people in Malta often scramble to compromise on their values and core beliefs. I think this is wrong.
Let us not be hypocritical and abandon those who need the same help the LGBT community needs. Equality for all is the best way forward.
Edward Caruana Galizia is an actor and studied psycho-social studies at Birkbeck University of London.