Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/195525
14 News maltatoday, SUNDAY, 20 OCTOBER 2013 2013 At the end of the day, it's all about respect and dignity COUPLES who have dreamed for years for their love to be officially recognised by the Maltese state are getting their wish fulfilled after the government proposed the Civil Liberties Act – a law which grants gay couples the same rights as marriage but which is referred to as 'civil union'. Effectively, civil unions will be equal to marriage in all but name. The official reason put forward by the government as to why it is not being referred to as 'marriage', is that the Labour government has a mandate to introduce 'civil unions'. Among the couples rejoicing over this historic step for Malta are David Simchik and Antoine Spiteri. The two have been together for over eight years, got a civil partnership in Scotland in September of 2006 and got married in the United States last August. When implemented, the Civil Liberties Law will mean that David and Antoine's marriage will be recognised in Malta too. "It was great to return to Malta and find that our marriage is now going to be recognised here too," Antoine tells MaltaToday. "This has great implications for gay couples in terms of taxation, freedom of movement and the extension of hundreds of laws which, until now, only heterosexual couples could benefit from." But beyond the direct benefits of the law, there is also one crucial effect of the act: recognition of their love. "It feels better to know that, at least, under the law, we are more likely to be treated with respect and dignity," the couple said. In the eyes of the couple, Malta has taken "a big step in the right direction". Antoine and David met at a live music venue in Austin, Texas in 2005. "We fell in love instantly and I am as drawn to him today as I was the day we met," Antoine admitted. In September of 2006, they acquired their first civil partnership in Edinburgh, Scotland. Although this granted them equal rights for all intents and purposes, it was not recognised as a marriage per se by other countries, even by countries that had full marriage equality. In fact, even now that the 'Defence Of Marriage Act' – which denied Federal equal status for gay couples – has been overturned in the USA and gay marriages performed outside US territory are recognised under US law, a provision to recognize non-US civil partnerships and civil unions is lacking in America. "So to be considered as a couple in the USA, we had to get married again last August in New York." Their love has endured many obstacles. In their own words, they had had to jump through hoops in order to remain together. "We had to move countries a number of times, which meant leaving behind family and established careers. When this change in Maltese law comes into effect, it will allow gay couples to focus