Martin Scicluna lambasted by gay lobby
The Malta Gay Rights Movement hit out at the conclusions of a report on same-sex marriage: ‘completely unacceptable to deny human rights to anyone, irrespective of the level of preparedness or maturity of a country’.
Human rights are an entitlement and have nothing to do with a country's level of maturity, said Malta Gay Rights Movement Coordinator Gabi Calleja.
Calleja was reacting to the Today Public Policy Institute (TPPI) recommendation to introduce civil unions for same-sex couples instead of same-sex marriages.
This week, TPPI Director-General Martin Scicluna said introducing gay marriage would be one step too far for Malta, adding that it would be "premature and impolitic."
Speaking to MaltaToday, Calleja said, "It is completely unacceptable to deny human rights to anyone, irrespective of the level of preparedness or maturity of a country."
The TPPI also calls for a longitudinal scientific study to look at the sensitive issue of the effects on children in same-sex relationships.
"Based on the outcome of such a study, all other factors being equal, the legislation should seek to cater for same-sex couples with children. It should give due regard to any children who may reside with same-sex civil partners," the report says.
However, Calleja hit out at this proposal, saying it was uncalled for to distinguish between people with different sexual orientations.