This page contains recent LGBT-related articles and letters published in the Maltese press. We choose to include all relevant items we come across - including those we find objectionable - and we encourage all those who have LGBT rights at heart to react both online and in the local press. We do our best to rebut as many objectionable items as possible. Thank you for your contributions!
 
Click on the titles to see the full articles/letters. Some sources are open to online comments.
 
it-Torca, 31 ta' Jannar 2010
Minn mibeghda tinbet iktar mibeghda
Bernard Muscat, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta

Il-kontribuzzjoni ta’ qarrej tat-TORCA li kiteb lil Fr Colin Apap u li uza l-psewdonimu ‘Favur il-Knisja’ hallietni kwazi bla nifs. Ma nahsibx li qatt iltqajt ma’ tahlita hekk qarsa ta’ mizinformazzjoni u mibeghda kontra persuni gay.
Ikompli
 
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The Malta Independent, 16th January 2010
Marriage should be an inclusive institution
Inka Stafrace, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta

We refer to the letter by Paul Kokoski entitled No evolution of marriage (TMID, 5 January).Mr Kokoski bases his whole argument on incorrect statements and misinterpretations of history.
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The Times, Saturday 21st November 2009
Thank heaven for Church, state separation (2)
Gabi Calleja, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta

Towards the end of last Monday's Bondiplus programme Imam Mohamed El Sadi, in reference to what he perceives as the weakening of European values, referred to the introduction of same-sex marriages in a number of European countries. He contended, should the majority so decide, that this could potentially lead to the legalisation of partnerships between human beings and animals, such as cats, dogs and the like.
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The Times, Friday 20th November 2009
Josie Muscat's belittling of the gay community
Bernard Muscat, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta

In his bid to discredit the LGBT network created recently within the Labour Party, Josie Muscat (November 14) goes as low as to shamelessly place LGBT individuals and their struggle for equal rights on the same lines as "drug dealers" and "criminals", and the latters' claims to be but victims of society. His impudent association is shocking, cowardly, uncalled for and utterly disrespectful.
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The Times, Friday 9th October 2009
Gay rights movement commends MEPs
Bernard Muscat, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta

The Malta Gay Rights Movement would like to applaud all five Maltese members of the European Parliament for their positive vote taken lately on a resolution regarding a discriminatory law proposed in Lithuania. The law sought to render illegal all forms of information regarding sexual diversity, possibly including websites, exhibitions and information booklets.
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The Malta Independent, Monday 13th April 2009
Confusing sexual orientation with gender identity
Gabi Calleja, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta

In an article by Prof. Pierre Mallia that appeared on 1 April, a number of references were made to sexual orientation in relation to gender issues. It appears that despite being a qualified medical practitioner and a university lecturer, Prof. Mallia confuses sexual orientation with gender identity. So, perhaps some clarifications are in order.
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It-Torca, 12 ta' April 2009
Tfal li jitrabbew minn genituri gay
Gabi Calleja, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta

Fl-artiklu li deher fit-22 ta’ Marzu Fr Colin ghamel bosta kummenti fir-rigward ta’ tfal li jitrabbew minn genituri gay. Fosthom li l-orjentament sesswali jikber fit-tfal meta jidentifikaw lilhom infushom jew mal-omm jew mal-missier. Hawnhekk Fr Colin qed ihawwad l-orjentament sesswali mal-identità tal-generu, jigifieri jekk wiehed jidentifikax bhala mara jew ragel u rwoli differenti li jassumu fis-socjetà taghna.
Ikompli

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The Times, Friday 6th February 2009
Message of the Church and homosexuality
Gabi Calleja, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta

Fr Renè Camilleri (February 3) referred to the Xarabank programme that tackled the issue of homosexuality, following the excommunication of three gay persons from the Catholic Church.
Fr Camilleri felt that the Church was not fairly represented on the programme and its voice was not given enough coverage.
 
Perhaps he needs to be reminded that around 40 to 60 per cent of people are regular churchgoers, giving the Church ample opportunity to spread its message, not just once or twice a year, but 52 times should it see fit, without the possibility of rebuttal by the gay community.
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The Times, Wednesday 28th January 2009
Minister out of touch with the times
Gabi Calleja, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta
 
Tonio Borg's intervention in a recent parliamentary session when debating the rent reform highlights the contempt in which the government holds same-sex couples and how far they are from according them the rights and respect they enjoy in a number of EU countries.
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Illum, 29 ta' Gunju 2008
Ugwaljanza ghal kulhadd – fiz-zwieg ukoll
Bernard Muscat - Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta

Fl-artiklu tieghu tal-Hadd 22 ta’ Gunju, Kurt Sansone kiteb li “Ghall-maggoranza kbira tan-nies iz-zwieg hu msejjes fuq il-kuncett religjuz ta’ ghaqda bejn mara u ragel.” Sfortunatament, iva: hafna nies ghadhom jassocjaw iz-zwieg ma’ kuncett strettament religjuz.
Ikompli

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The Malta Independent, Wednesday 21st May 2008
Describing a person as homosexual is not defamatory - Court

The Court of Magistrates in a judgment declared that describing a person as homosexual was not defamatory in today’s society.
Magistrate Michael Mallia ruled that a person’s sexual orientation in the current society was not of social interest bar that of assuring that no discrimination is made. The fact that homosexuality was a criminal offence until 1973, said the magistrate, does not reflect the situation in the 21st century.
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The Times, Monday 5th May 2008

Homophobia and hate crime
Marisa Xuereb, Malta Gay Rights Movement, Mosta

In his letter of April 29, Richard A. Micallef gave a very good definition of the word "homophobia", specifically "the fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals." He also supplemented this definition with several "homophobic" arguments in the rest of his letter, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Hence, "the accusing word homophobic is slapped in your face" (again?), not "because you express(ed) a differing opinion" but because disputing facts on the basis of subjective opinion to the detriment of gay people at large is tantamount to "homophobia".
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The Times, Tuesday 29th April 2008
Confusing homosexuality with being gay
Richard A. Micallef, Ta' l-Ibrag

One of the general definitions to the word homophobia is the fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals.
It can also mean hatred, hostility, or disapproval of homosexual people or sexual behaviour. Choosing two words from this definition - disapproval and hatred, which meanings are eons apart - it is easy to realise the danger that the majority of the population, that is heterosexual, is facing.
The accusing word homophobic is slapped in your face, just because you express a differing opinion and in addition the Gay Rights Movement is progressively demanding that all homophobic actions become criminalised.
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