Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/587664
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 18 OCTOBER 2015 25 Opinion make you think… which did not provide them a supportive, inclusive environment and lower in communities and schools that DID provide a supportive environment." (from 'The Social Environment and Suicide Attempts in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth', by Mark L. Hatzenbuehler). This brings us to the actual contents of those books that scared so many people in this country… many of whom very evidently didn't bother actually reading them. Far from 'teaching children how to masturbate' (as one particularly imaginative comment put it… though I suspect the comment tells us more about the masturbatory habits of the person making it, than about the books themselves) the scope of those publications was actually to raise awareness of LGBTIQ issues for the specific purpose of avoiding or minimising any social stigma. Put simply. the idea is to normalise categories of people which are today all too often regarded as 'abnormal'… to the extent that individuals are often bullied at school, and in some cases driven to suicide by permanent harassment. Placed in the context of a country which has recently legislated to recognise 'unorthodox' family units – including same sex couples, complete with the possibility of adoption – it is actually a case of preparing future generations for social realities that we already legally recognise today. How on earth could that possibly be a bad thing? Ah, but I almost forgot. We're talking about books. Big, bad scary books, of the kind that terrified even the most homicidal of psychopathic dictators. And with good reason: because books make you think, and thinking makes you ask questions. And herein lies the real source of the panic that descended among those 6,000 parents. One of them even took the trouble to spell it out for us. I'll reproduce the comment here in full (but not the name, which in any case was probably fictitious): "Good sense prevailed – sigh of relief. I was already bracing myself for lot of disturbing questions from my kids…" Well, that sort of changes perspective on things, doesn't it? The objection to those books clearly had less to do with the ultimate aim of their distribution… and more to do with the parent's own instinctive fear of being questioned by their children. So never mind if small children are bullied mercilessly at school because they are (or might be) gay… never mind if transgender children find life so unbearable that they would willingly choose death instead. None of that is important: the only important thing is that certain parents are spared the discomfort of having to answer awkward, embarrassing questions from their children. There is only one thing to say to parents such as those. If you have no intention of living up to the responsibilities of parenthood – which extend to informing your children of things they need to know, regardless how uncomfortable it may be for you – then quite frankly you shouldn't have brought any children into the world in the first place. The very least you could do, then, is to allow other parents a stab at the responsibility you yourselves have so clearly abdicated. your success is our goal do more of what you do today The new BOV Term ISA offers you a solution that will safeguard the future quality of your life. You will benefit from the exemption of taxes on interest earned on this account. Thus, whatever your hobby or passion, you will continue to enjoy your retirement as much as you enjoy today. start saving for your future BOV TERM ISA 2131 2020 I bov.com Issued by Bank of Valletta p.l.c., 58, Triq San Żakkarija, il-Belt Valletta VLT 1130 Terms and conditions apply. Honestly, what harm could LGBTIQ-friendly books in schools really have done? Never mind if small children are bullied mercilessly at school – the only important thing is that certain parents are spared the discomfort of having to answer awkward questions from their children