Malta may have found its rising star in Michela earlier this year, but the X-Factor drama is far from behind us. Matthew Grech, a contestant who was eliminated earlier on in the competition, seems to want to extend his 15 minutes of fame a while longer, and bring to the limelight a strand of bigotry and homophobia I thought we had left behind us a few years ago.
Grech claims to be ‘ex-gay’, that is, he no longer lives a homosexual lifestyle, thanks to so-called ‘Catholic teachings’. This necessarily implies that he believes that being gay is a choice one can steer away from.
Time and time again, this has been proven to not be the case. The fact that Grech himself mentioned his ex-gay status does not mean he is now open to relationships with women proves that being gay is not a lifestyle, but it is inherently part of who you are.
He is free to believe whatever he wants to believe. He is very clearly wrong, but he is free to be so. He is not, however, free to promote practices which are illegal and tantamount to a criminal offence.
His latest venture in cinematography will see him star in a movie titled Once Gay: Matthew and Friends. The irony of releasing this movie on Valentine’s Day was not lost on me.
This movie continues to promote the fundamentally incorrect notion that a gay individual can simply cease to be gay.
There is no cure for being gay, for the simple reason that being gay is no illness
Not only is this incredibly homophobic, it is also harmful to individuals, often teenagers, who are still struggling with coming out to their family and friends. It is particularly harmful to those vulnerable individuals who are currently being forced, or are being pressured, to participate in conversion practices.
These practices are based on pseudoscience, and affirm that they can change an individual’s sexual orientation. Imagine, for a moment, someone telling a heterosexual person that not only is it possible, but that they should change who they love and who attracts them. That is the level of hatred and ignorance these practices promote.
Conversion therapy is no new trend, either. For centuries, the most barbaric techniques have been used in the name of ‘changing’ or ‘rectifying’ sexual orientation. From ice-pick lobotomies, leaving thousands permanently disabled, to chemical castration, or electric shocks applied to genitals, there is documented evidence of the way these so-called professionals permanently injured LGBTIQ individuals over the years.
No wonder Malta was hailed and congratulated for being one of the first states in the world to criminalise all forms of conversion practices in 2016. This excellent piece of legislation, promoted and defended by Minister for European Affairs and Equality Helena Dalli, is another shining example of how the Maltese government is committed to the full protection of every individual’s right to self-determination, and every individual’s right to live free from hatred and discrimination.
To have Grech and his allies abroad condemn this law as a breach of human rights is an insult to the entire LGBTIQ community. The law is precisely intended to protect persons who have been duped to believe they can change their true self from being exploited and hurt.
There is no cure for being gay, for the simple reason that being gay is no illness. To any person struggling with their sexual orientation, please embrace and love yourself – you are perfect just the way you are.
Josianne Cutajar is Labour Party candidate for the European Parliament elections.