A section of the Labour Party (PL) called Equality Labour has expressed concern at the comments past by Nationalist Party (PN) candidate leader Chris Said where he called for the reintroduction of gender specific terminology.

The section described the proposed law change as ‘removing the concept of equality’. When the Marriage Equality Act was introduced, gender specific terminology was removed in order to close legal loopholes and ensure equality, government spokespersons argued. Gender specific terminology refers to ‘mother’ and ‘father’, ‘husband’ and ‘wife’.

In a press statement, Equality Labour,  said that Said contradicted himself when he did not object in Parliament when the Bill was being voted on. This shows a lack of principles and politics of convenience, it said.

It maintained that the change in language within the law was made so that whatever the gender or orientation of a parent, they would still be considered the parent at law without any form of discrimination. 

Reaction

In reaction, Chris Said said: "I am NOT ashamed of the terms 'mother' and 'father'. I am worried to see that Labour is.

 

"As I already made it amply clear, a future PN government will safeguard all new civil rights voted for in Parliament."