LGBT rights in Malta

LGBT rights in Malta

Location of  Malta  (dark green)

– in Europe  (light green & dark grey)
– in the European Union  (light green)  –  [Legend]

Same-sex sexual activity legal? Legal since 1973
Gender identity/expression May change the indication of sex in official documentation
Military service Gays and lesbians allowed to serve openly
Discrimination protections Yes (both sexual orientation and gender identity)
Family rights
Recognition of
relationships		 Civil unions since 2014
Adoption Yes, as individuals and jointly if in a civil union

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in Malta have evolved significantly over the course of the last decades. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity have been legal in Malta since 1973.

Gender identity and intersex protection laws in Malta are of the highest standard in the world under the Gender Identity, Gender Expression And Sex Characteristics Act.[1] A law passed creating civil unions equal to marriage in all but name, with the same rights and obligations including joint adoption rights, was enacted in April 2014. However, same-sex marriage and both IVF and surrogacy access are still banned for same-sex couples.

In October 2015, the European region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA-Europe) ranked Malta 1st in terms of LGBT rights out of 49 observed European countries.[2][3]

History

As a British colony, Malta adopted the penal code of Great Britain which criminalised same-sex relations between men. There are examples of individuals caught out by the law - including the lawyer, Guglielmo Rapinett who was arrested for lewd behaviour in the 19th century while trying to seduce a guard.[4][5][6] Only in 1973 did the Labour government decide to change Malta's laws to match those of Western Europe.[7]

The Malta Gay Rights Movement (MGRM), founded in 2001, is a socio-political non-governmental organisation that has as its central focus the challenges and rights of the Maltese LGBT community.[8]

In February 2008, MGRM organised and presented a petition to parliament asking for a range of measures to be introduced to protect them through the law. The petition was signed by more than 1,000 people and asked for legal recognition of same-sex couples, an anti-homophobic bullying strategy for the island nation's schools and new laws targeting homophobic and transphobic crimes. The petition received the backing of Alternattiva Demokratika. Harry Vassallo, its leader, said that the recognition of gay rights would be a step forward.

In October 2009, George Abela, the president of Malta, met with the board of the European Region of ILGA at the presidential palace as the group prepared to open its 13th annual conference in Malta. Abela agreed that information and education were important in tackling discrimination and fostering acceptance of differences and that Malta has seen progress in LGBT acceptance. He was said that "love is the most important thing there is and it can't be 'graded' based on sexual orientation". It the first time a head of state met with ILGA-Europe members during one of the group's annual conferences.[9]

Law regarding same-sex sexual activity

Same-sex sexual activity has been legal in Malta since January 1973.[10][11] The age of consent is equal at 18 for all.[12]

Gender identity/expression

In September 2006, Joanne Cassar, a transgender woman, was denied the right to marry her partner. In 2007 a judge in Malta ordered government officials to issue her the appropriate documentation.[13] The Director of Public Registry successfully contested that ruling in May 2008. Cassar filed a constitutional application in the First Hall of the Civil Court charging a violation of her fundamental human rights. She won that case initially, but lost on appeal in 2011.[14] In April 2013, she reached a settlement with the government that included financial compensation in addition to promised statutory changes.[15] A leader of the Nationalist Party apologised for its part in contesting Cassar's right to marry.[16]

In April 2014, Malta became the first European state to add recognition of gender identity to its constitution as a protected category.[17]

In April 2015, Malta became the first country in the world to outlaw sterilisation and invasive surgery on intersex people. Also applicants can change their gender identity documents by simply filing an affidavit with a notary, eliminating any requirement for medical gender reassignment procedures under the Gender Identity, Gender Expression And Sex Characteristics Act.[1][18][19]

In November 2015, the Minister of Home Affairs informed that 40 people have legally changed their gender since enactment of the law mentioned above.[20]

Recognition of same-sex relationships

On 28 March 2010, then Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi announced that the government was working on a bill to regulate cohabitation. He said it was hoped the bill would be completed by the end of the year.[21][22][23] On 11 July, Gonzi confirmed that the bill would be presented in parliament by the end of 2010.[24][25] The draft bill was presented by the Minister of Justice on 28 August 2012 and was under consultation process until 30 September.[26][27] The bill was introduced, but died in December 2012 due fall of the government and expected dissolution of the parliament.[28]

Following a campaign promise during the 2013 elections the Minister for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs, and Civil Liberties of the newly elected Labour government announced that the government was entering consultations for a bill granting civil unions to same-sex couples, with the bill presented in Parliament on 30 September 2013.[29]

The Civil Unions Bill, which gives LGBT couples rights equivalent to marriage, including the legal right to adopt children jointly, under the legal name civil union rather than marriage, was debated in October 2013[30] and approved at the third reading on 14 April 2014. President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca signed it into law on 16 April 2014.[31]

In March 2016, Prime Minister of Malta and leader of the governing Labour Party Joseph Muscat stated at an International Women's Day event he was personally in favour of legalising same-sex marriage in the country and that it was "time for a national debate" on the issue.[32] The opposition Nationalist Party leader Simon Busuttil responded by stating that though the government was attempting to use the issue of same-sex marriage to distract from a government scandal, he could foresee no difficulty in amending Malta's civil union legislation of 2014 to legalise same-sex marriage.[32] The country's leading gay rights organisation subsequently called for a bill to be put forward opening up marriage to all couples irrespective of gender without delay.[33]

Religious blessing of same-sex unions

A Roman Catholic Dominican priest, acting contrary to church guidelines,[34] blessed the rings of a gay male couple in an engagement ceremony in April 2015.[35][36][37]

Pornography

Emanuel Cini was one of the few known Maltese porn actors, with the stage name of Manu Maltes.[38][39] His porn career was outed by controversial blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia.[40][41][42] Cini participated in limited pornographic videos in the American industry[43][44] with back then boyfriend Javier Lopez Cazalla, who is known by his stage name as Edu Boxer.[45] During his time living in England in the 1990s he was tested positive to HIV but remained living independently.[46][47][48] He returned to Malta in the 2000s to look after his aged parents, where he also suffered a form of paralyses[49] from a disease related to HIV.[46] His life in Malta became difficult with the crisis of the Malta Public Transport[50] which was under the management of Austin Gatt,[51] the transport Minister.[50] Galizia published information about his previous carrier[48] after complaining about the mismanagement of the public transport[52] (protesting by a hunger strike and missing his medicines),[53]on her belief that Cini is a supporter of the Labour Party but Cini categorically denied any political leaning. He kept in contact with back then Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi[54] of whom had promised him a quick address to the crisis, on the condition that Cini takes his medicines.[52]

Pornography in Malta is illegal regardless of sexual orientation.[55]

Public opinion

Polls have indicated a quick and drastic shift in public opinion on LGBT rights in Malta.

The 2006 Eurobarometer survey found that 18% of the population supported same-sex marriage whereas 73% were against (63% totally against). Adoption by same-sex couples was supported by 7% and opposed by 85% (76% totally opposed).[56]

In June 2012, a poll commissioned by MaltaToday news website found that support for same-sex marriage had increased significantly, with 41% of the population in favour of same-sex marriage and 52% against it.[57] The 2012 data also showed a generational gap, with only 23% of people older than 55 supporting the legalisation of same-sex marriage while 60% of those aged 18–35 did so.

The 2015 Eurobarometer found a majority of 65% in favour of same-sex marriage, with 29% against. This was the largest increase in support of any country surveyed in the Eurobarometer compared to the 2006 results.[58]

Adoption, Surrogacy and IVF

Maltese law grants adoption rights to married couples and single persons, including individual gays and lesbians. Since April 2014, same-sex couples in a civil union can jointly adopt.[59][60]

Surrogacy is illegal regardless and IVF access for single women and lesbians is illegal under the Embryo Protection Act 2012.[61]

On 7 September 2015, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced that the government will introduce the bill to allow IVF access for female same-sex couples, among others.[62]

Discrimination protections

Since 2004, Malta has a ban on anti-gay discrimination in employment, in line with European Union requirements[63] but discrimination remained common to some extent until 2009 according to results through questionnaires carried with the participation of the LGBT community.[64] Anti-discrimination protections were expanded in June 2012.[65]

In June 2012, the parliament amended the Criminal Code to prohibit hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity.[66][67][68]

On 14 April 2014, the Parliament of Malta unanimously approved a bill which amends the Constitution to add protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.[69] It was signed by the President on 17 April 2014.[70]

On 10 December 2015, the government launched the public consultation on a draft of the comprehensive Equality Act, and on the bill to establish the Human Rights and Equality Commission.[71][72]

Sexual orientation conversion therapy

On 16 June 2015, Civil Liberties Minister Helena Dalli announced that the governments plans to introduce the bill to ban sexual orientation or gender identity conversion therapy on minors.[73] On 15 December 2015, Dalli presented the bill for its first reading in Parliament. The public consultation of the bill was launched the same day and will last until 15 January 2016.[74][75][76][77]

Living conditions

LGBT discoteque in Paceville

In July 2007, Malta's Union of Teachers threatened to publish the details of four attempts to oust gay and lesbian teachers from Roman Catholic school posts. According to the union, Church schools were under pressure from parents to fire the teachers, leading to four interventions in the past five years.[78][79]

There was a gay club in Floriana, named Tom Bar, that was the oldest gay club in Malta. Another presently operating LGBT friendly place is Monaliza in Valletta.[80][81][82]

In 2015 the donation of reading material by the MGRM, that contained the teaching of diverse[83] families including gay parenting, to the education department caused some controversy. The education minister took a position not to distribute the material, questioning both directly inclusion and indirectly discrimination.[84]

Summary table

Same-sex sexual activity legal (Since 1973)
Equal age of consent (Since 1973)
Anti-discrimination laws in employment (Since 2004)
Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services (Since 2012)
Anti-discrimination laws in all other areas (incl. indirect discrimination, hate speech) (Since 2012)
Recognition of same-sex couples (e.g. civil unions) (Since 2014)
Same-sex marriage / (Foreign marriages recognized since 2014)
Adoption by single LGBT person (Since 2008)
Step-child adoption by same-sex couples (Since 2014)
Joint adoption by same-sex couples (Since 2014)
Gays and lesbians allowed to serve openly in the military (Since 2002)
Right to change legal gender (Since 2015)
Intersex minors protected from invasive surgical procedures (Since 2015)
Sexual orientation and gender identity conversion therapy on minors banned (Pending)
Automatic parenthood for both spouses after birth (Pending)
Access to IVF for lesbian couples (Pending)
Access to surrogacy for gay male couples (Banned regardless of sexual orientation)[85]
MSMs allowed to donate blood

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "ILGA-Europe".
  2. ↑ "Malta ranks first in European ‘rainbow map’ of LGBTIQ rights". MaltaToday.com.mt.
  3. ↑ "Country Ranking".
  4. ↑ "Who's Who in Gay and Lesbian History Vol.1".
  5. ↑ "Who's who in Gay and Lesbian History".
  6. ↑ Aldrich R. & Wotherspoon G., Who's Who in Gay and Lesbian History, from Antiquity to WWII, Routledge, London, 2001
  7. ↑ "Malta".
  8. ↑ "Malta e Gozo".
  9. ↑ "Maltese President Meets with ILGA-Europe (Baltimore Gay Life - Maryland's LGBT Community Newspaper)". Baltimore Gay Life. 12 November 2009. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  10. ↑ "maltastar.com". maltastar.com. 6 August 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  11. ↑ "Dr Inġ. Patrick Attard: Library on Gay-Rights in Malta and Beyond: Leħen is-Sewwa 1973: Ittra Pastorali kontra d-Dekriminilazzjoni ta' l-Omosesswalità". Patrickattard.blogspot.com. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  12. ↑ "Malta". Age of Consent. 20 August 1998. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  13. ↑ "Malta transsexual given permission to marry". Pink News. 16 February 2007. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  14. ↑ "Joanne Cassar loses transsexual marriage case". Times of Malta. 23 May 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  15. ↑ Borg, Annaliza (16 April 2013). "Settlement between Joanne Cassar and government signed". Malta Independent. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  16. ↑ Balzan, Jurgen (10 June 2013). "De Marco says PN government let transgender persons down". Malta Today. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  17. ↑ Dalli, Miriam (16 April 2014). "Transgender Europe applauds Malta for naming gender identity". Malta Today. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  18. ↑ Bill No. 70 - Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics Bill
  19. ↑ Cec Busby. "Malta scraps surgery and setrislation measures and passes protections for intersex people - Gay News Network".
  20. ↑ "40 gender changes since new law". MaltaToday.com.mt.
  21. ↑ Allied Newspapers Ltd. "Government drafting law on cohabitation". Times of Malta.
  22. ↑ Allied Newspapers Ltd. "Cohabitation law in the works - PM". Times of Malta.
  23. ↑ Feedback sought on cohabitation Bill
  24. ↑ New cohabitation law to be presented in Parliament by end of year
  25. ↑ Allied Newspapers Ltd. "Cohabitation bill to be moved by end of year - PM". Times of Malta.
  26. ↑ "Update 2 - Cohabitation bill recognises same-sex couples but not families, JPO to propose amendments". MaltaToday.com.mt.
  27. ↑ Cohabitation Bill launched: Gay couples ‘are not a family’ – Chris Said
  28. ↑ Allied Newspapers Ltd. "Cohabitation among 15 Bills put on hold". Times of Malta.
  29. ↑ "Parliament meets today - Bill on Civil Unions tops agenda". Timesof Malta. 30 September 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  30. ↑ "Civil Unions law will give same sex couples same rights, duties, as married couples". timesofmalta.com. 14 October 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  31. ↑ Camilleri, Neil (17 April 2014). "President signs 'gay marriage' Bill". Malta Independent. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  32. 1 2 "'I am in favour of gay marriage, time for debate on the matter' - Joseph Muscat". Times of Malta. 4 March 2016.
  33. ↑ "MGRM tersely welcomes declarations on introduction of gay marriage". Malta Independent. 5 March 2016.
  34. ↑ "Youth Policy in Malta".
  35. ↑ "Priest Blesses Same-Gender Couple’s Engagement in Malta; Archbishop Remains Calm". Bondings 2.0.
  36. ↑ "Controversial priest blesses rings at gay couple’s engagement ceremony - The Malta Independent".
  37. ↑ "Malta’s gay-activist priest ‘blesses’ rings for same-sex ceremony, gets a pass from archbishop". LifeSiteNews.
  38. ↑ "ENTREVISTA A MANU CINI".
  39. ↑ http://contraperiodismomatrix.com/“manu-cini-“tire-las-pastillas-de-este-timo-horroroso-del-sida-por-la-baza-hace-anos-y-sigo-vivo”/
  40. ↑ "Retired Model Manu Maltes Stages Hunger Strike".
  41. ↑ "ADULTS ONLY - READ THIS ONLY IF YOU ARE OVER 18 (I DON'T WANT TO BE BLAMED FOR ANYTHING BY YOUR PARENTS) - Daphne Caruana Galizia's Notebook - Running Commentary". Daphne Caruana Galizia's Notebook - Running Commentary.
  42. ↑ ""My name is Manu and I live in Barcelona"". Daphne Caruana Galizia's Notebook - Running Commentary.
  43. ↑ http://www.iafd.com/person.rme/perfid=manumaltes/gender=m/manu-maltes.htm
  44. ↑ "Manu Maltes Ends Hunger Strike; Meets Prime Minister".
  45. ↑ "Twitter".
  46. 1 2 Allied Newspapers Ltd. "HIV-positive, half-paralysed and living off mother's pension". Times of Malta.
  47. ↑ "Hunger Strike enters sixth day, protagonist confirms he was a porn star - The Malta Independent".
  48. 1 2 "PM doesn’t meet with hunger striker after discovering his past porn career". MaltaToday.com.mt.
  49. ↑ Allied Newspapers Ltd. "'Hunger striker' wants no medical assistance". Times of Malta.
  50. 1 2 http://www.maltastar.com/dart/20110720-arriva-in-contact-with-the-man-on-hunger-strike
  51. ↑ Allied Newspapers Ltd. "Minister takes note of hunger striker". Times of Malta.
  52. 1 2 http://www.maltastar.com/dart/20110726-cini-ends-hunger-strike
  53. ↑ "Hunger Strike: Prime Minister says it with kiwis - The Malta Independent".
  54. ↑ "PM meets ex-porn star after all". MaltaToday.com.mt.
  55. ↑ http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/DownloadDocument.aspx?app=lom&itemid=8574&l=1
  56. ↑ "EUROBAROMETER 66 FIRST RESULTS" (PDF). TNS. European Commission. December 2006. p. 80. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  57. ↑ Vella, Matthew (5 June 2012). "Heartening change in attitudes to put gay unions on political agenda". MaltaToday. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  58. ↑ "Special Eurobarometer 437: discrimination in the EU in 2015" (PDF). TNS. European Commission. October 2015. p. 373. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  59. ↑ Calleja, Claudia (16 January 2013). "Consensus over gay adoption welcomed". Times of Malta. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  60. ↑ White, Hilary (31 March 2014). "Maltese president refuses to sign bill allowing gay civil unions and expanding gay adoption". Life Site News. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  61. ↑ AN ACT to provide for the protection of human embryos and other ancillary matters
  62. ↑ "Prime Minister ‘resolute on embryo freezing’". MaltaToday.com.mt.
  63. ↑ Malta's gay group ask for equal rights, Pink News, 21 February 2008
  64. ↑ Allied Newspapers Ltd. "Anti-gay graffiti sprayed on walls in man's home". Times of Malta.
  65. ↑ AN ACT to amend the Equality for Men and Women Act, Cap. 456
  66. ↑ AN ACT to amend the Criminal Code, Cap. 9
  67. ↑ "Malta: Gender identity and sexual orientation included in hate crime laws". PinkNews. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  68. ↑ "Gay rights movement welcomes passing of hate crimes amendments". MaltaToday.com.mt. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  69. ↑ "Parlament Ta' Malta". www.parlament.mt. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  70. ↑ AN ACT to amend the Constitution of Malta
  71. ↑ "Towards A Robust Human Rights And Equality Framework". socialdialogue.gov.mt. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  72. ↑ "Ratification of Protocol 12 commits government to raise the bar on equality - Helen Dalli". MaltaToday.com.mt. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  73. ↑ Diacono, Tim (16 June 2015). "Gay 'conversion therapy' could become a criminal offence". Malta Today. Archived from the original on 17 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  74. ↑ "Malta could become first country in Europe to ban ‘gay cure’ therapy". PinkNews. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  75. ↑ "Public consultation launched for draft law criminalising harmful conversion therapies". MaltaToday.com.mt. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  76. ↑ "Parlament Ta' Malta". www.parlament.mt. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  77. ↑ "Towards the Affirmation of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Gender Expression Act". socialdialogue.gov.mt. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  78. ↑ MUT stops Church from firing gay teachers
  79. ↑ "Malta teachers take on Roman Catholic homophobia". PinkNews.
  80. ↑ Grech, Joseph (14 January 2013). "Party in the sun on Malta". Gay Star News. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  81. ↑ Borg, Victor Paul (2002-01-07). The Rough Guide to Malta & Gozo. Rough Guides. ISBN 9781858286808.
  82. ↑ The Out Traveler. LPI Media. 2006-01-01.
  83. ↑ "Gay-themed books in schools: Children should be given choices - clinical psychologist - The Malta Independent". www.independent.com.mt. Retrieved 2016-04-09. line feed character in |title= at position 86 (help)
  84. ↑ "LGBTIQ-friendly books help children feel included, 'teach tolerance and respect'". MaltaToday.com.mt. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  85. ↑ Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Ban on surrogacy to stay in place". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2016-04-09.

External links

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