Nationalist Party leadership contender Chris Said said today that if elected leader he would work to see the concept of “mother and father” to be re-introduced in the law.

In a statement, Said said that “together with almost all my colleagues on the opposition benches I voted in June for same-sex marriage. It was a pledge in the Nationalist Party manifesto and a step forward for our society as a whole. We can look at our children and feel safe that they can live an equal life irrespective of their sexual orientation.

“Yet, the enactment of this law came at a price for our society that could have easily been spared. Having the definitions of father and mother removed from our body of laws to be replaced by the more generic ‘parent’ impoverished our laws and downgraded the two most important roles in our society, irrespective of whether they are occupied by straight or gay people. Because a gay man who has adopted a child has every right to be called a father and a lesbian who has adopted a child has every right to see her role defined as mother.

“It is for this reason that I pledge that if I am given the privilege to lead a future Nationalist Government I would ensure that without opening any debate or putting at risk any gender equality rights that are now secured, ensure that the concept of mother and father is re-introduced in the laws of our country, together with the more generic term of parent for those wishing to be represented by that term.”