Changes in the law do not mean life will automatically become easier for transgender people and awareness about LGBT issues remains a priority, according to Civil Liberties Minister Helena Dalli.
We have a lot to work on when it comes to people’s attitudes
Dr Dalli was speaking at a public consultation meeting at Castille, nearly 100 days since Labour’s election to power.
She was replying to comments by Albert Gauci Cunningham, from the floor, who referred to a project by the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality that advances equal rights in school materials.
Dr Dalli said teachers should take advantage of the prevailing situation and use books perpetuating societal stereotypes to question whether they reflected society and ask their students whether they knew of different family units, like single-parent families, gay couples and transgender people.
“We have a lot to work on when it comes to people’s attitudes. It doesn’t mean that just by passing a law, life automatically becomes easier for transgender people,” she said, referring to surveys showing that LGBT and transgender people are bullied at school.
At the moment, Parliament is discussing amendments to the Civil Code that would ensure that people who underwent gender reassignment surgery were recognised according to their acquired gender.
In the meantime, the ministry is having talks about the civil union law (which will be moved in Parliament after summer) and the Gender Identity Act.
Referring to Joanne Cassar’s “martyrdom” after the previous government refrained from changing the law to recognise her as a woman following reassignment surgery, Dr Dalli said the new government had even won over the Opposition on this point.
She noted that shadow minister Claudette Buttigieg’s first words about the issue, following the minister’s presentation of the amendments in Parliament, had been dedicated to Ms Cassar.
Those attending the meeting also expressed concern about consumer rights.
Anthony Licari, a lecturer at the University of Malta and the Institute for Tourism Studies, noted that, as public transport users, tourists should be considered like Maltese customers and pay the same fee.
While agreeing from a consumer’s perspective that everyone should be treated equally, Dr Dalli said the issue fell under the remit of the Transport Ministry.
Addressing another question about the subject, Dr Dalli noted that an operational review of the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority was underway.
The audit would define the road ahead, with consumers topping the priority list. The exercise would be completed in six weeks’ time.
She said the Government’s pledge for free childcare centres would be implemented.