A transgender student has refused to go to school because of how her peers were treating her, Civil Liberties Minister Helena Dalli told Parliament on Wednesday.
Speaking during the debate in second reading of the Bill amending the Constitution, Dr Dalli said the situation had become so bad the student’s mother decided she would educate her daughter at home.
She said this was not an isolated case and many who abandoned their studies ended up on the streets without qualifications and without a job.
Dr Dalli spoke at length on the way the previous administration treated Joanne Cassar, a transgender person who sought redress through the courts in Strasbourg after the Advocate General filed one appeal after another against a judgment in her favour.
No wonder, she said, some people still look down on transgender people when one had to seek redress abroad.
The Private Member’s Bill, moved by Claudette Buttigieg (PN), seeks to introduce immediate protection from discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation.
Dr Dalli announced the Government would be moving an amendment to include “gender identity” covering transgender and intersex people.
The Government believed in equality and was very clear that LGBT people should enjoy the same rights as others. Although this was a Bill moved by the Opposition, the Government had put it on the top of the agenda.
This greatly contrasted with how Private Member’s Bills by Labour MPs were ignored during the previous legislature, including one on gender identity that was presented by Evarist Bartolo.
The Government would shortly be presenting the same Bill, which would include the right for transgender people who had not had gender reassignment surgery to change their name and sex on their identity card.
Records of this change would be kept since certain contracts made by the person before the change would still be in their original name, but it would not be listed on the birth certificate as this was available to the public.
Ms Dalli said the constitutional amendment would not change people’s mentality, but to have such a recognition was already a big step forward. Transgender people have been living a practically invisible life without the basic support offered by society.
Etienne Grech (PL) said people with different sexual orientation faced a lot of difficulties, sometimes leading to depression, which were more pronounced when they look for a job.
Having a change in Constitution would allow other laws to follow suit.
Dr Grech said it was positive that both sides had reached an agreement but the amendment was not complete and this necessiated Government action.
The removal of bullying and stigma against the LGBT community should be next, particularly in the AFM and the police force, where promotions were not given because of sexual orientation.
It was a pity that in 25 years nothing had been done. It was only now that the PN had a change of heart, he said.