Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/494410
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 12 APRIL 2015 12 News MARTINA BORG THE Civil Unions Bill passed on April 14 last year, and the Gender Identity Bill enacted on April 1 this year were both highly anticipated laws, with the latter labelled by inter- national media as "the world's most progressive" and "cutting edge" iden- tity bill. But did these laws have a tan- gible impact on the lives to gay, les- bian, transgender and genderqueer people on the island? We asked some prominent personalities forming part of this broad community on whether they thought these groundbreaking laws signal real change in society. Mina Tolu Birdlife activist I think the Civil Unions Bill and Gender Identity Bill were significant not just in legal terms, but also in bringing about social change in their own right as people began to talk about issues that might otherwise have remained somewhat taboo. Whether or not people agreed with civil unions, for instance, they were talking about them in a more public sphere, which means that young peo- ple will at least grow up feeling com- fortable talking about these matters. The gender identity bill helped in much the same way. The concept of 'intersex' is virtually unknown even on the international sphere, with some people who are intersex not even knowing they are themselves. The bill has brought the subject into the more social sphere so that many now feel they can share their experi- ences without too much discrimina- tion. Naturally there are still some prob- lems that need to be addressed, par- ticularly with regard to spaces for young people to meet and share their personal experiences. I think schools and education need to become a safe space for people to embrace diversity and feel comfortable with it. Soraya Queen Transgender hairsytlist The situation is definitely much better now, as there is considerably less fear in being part of the commu- nity. I have personally always lived a fairly normal life, but I have always had problems with the ID card and passport issue, so the fact that this has now changed means that I get to live a much more peaceful life. I think it will also be easier for those who are not out as gay or transgender yet, to come to terms with it and say it to the people in their lives. The main issues I can pinpoint are not related to laws or rights as I think we have quite a lot to be content with. The biggest hurdles remain the way society accepts you, and treats you until it does. There are still peo- ple out there who will treat gay and transgender people badly, but that, I hope, will change in time. Felix Busuttil Dance company director First and foremost we should be proud that Malta is indeed one of the most humane countries in the world – the word "progressive' is very debatable as it might denote that Malta has some kind of agenda to appease or give in to lobbying that might be deemed as unnecessary or futile. These laws are humane – not even a human right. It gives equality and justice to persons who are gay or transgender and the right, possi- bility and all legal necessary means to act, be and live as life has made them – born that way and given the dignity in society not to be harassed, not to be bullied, not to be treated differently but all as children of the same nation – to be able to love, to share love, to have a family, to have the right place in society, in the edu- cational and work system and in the legal framework. Men and women have the right of non-harassment and are protected in this country. They can be treated the same as any married couple and can adopt children if they wish to. Transgender people have more dif- ficulties in life as they are trapped emotionally and psychologically and physically in a different body. The state and society should do their utmost to make this transition less painful and less hard than it is. Since the laws for civil unions were introduced, I have personally seen the true nature of Maltese society – compassionate, loving, understand- ing, open-minded. I consider myself lucky that soon I will be united with Progressive laws for a It's been a year since the introduction of civil unions. In the wake of the gender identity act, is Maltese society ready to embrace this tide of change?