I write with reference to the news that a Bill on same-sex civil unions will be published by summer and that the government has set up a consultative council composed of selected organisations – The Malta Gay Rights Movement (MGRM), Drachma, Drachma Parents Support Group, the student group ‘We Are’, Aditus, and LGBT Labour.

As reported, the council was formed in the wake of a first reading in Parliament of a Bill to amend the civil code to enable people who undergo gender reassignment to marry a person of the opposite gender.

In addition, this council is also tasked to address LGBT issues; re-visit the gender identity Bill, address homophobia through improved education, along with tackling harassment and bullying in schools.

Hence, the government will be seeking this council’s advice and gather information on a number of sensitive matters ranging from education of early age students to organizations which, I believe, are involved in controversial arguments with society, including groups with ideas of a certain behaviour and lifestyle.

I firmly feel that when the government is faced with such facts, which indicate that there is a high risk of putting the “True Family Institution” in jeopardy (by “True Family Institution” I am referring to marriage between one male-born person and one female-born person a woman), which could also expose children to mental and emotional confusion. It is therefore indispensable for politicians that the source/s from where they seek advice and gather information are authentic, reliable, genuine, unfailing and morally correct.

For these reasons, the government needs to ensure that this consultative council consists of a variety of members who are qualified experts with experience in the fields of medical science, psychiatry, moral philosophy, law, and the conduct of good ethical standards.

In this respect, I also feel that both politicians and all the members of the council must themselves embrace sound moral principles and a conduct of good ethical stability.

It is also of vital importance that children should be taught correct moral and ethical principles from an early age; and if the authorities fail to provide such education, I believe that this would put children in harm’s way during their childhood, and which would then develop into much more serious problems later in life.

Furthermore, I believe that the government should respect the right of the Catholic Church to nominate persons to represent her in this consultative council.

Experimenting with decisions that do not conform to the “True Family Institution” should not be an option. This irreplaceable institution must always be defended and strengthened, because any change to its original structure would result in negative consequences on society, and which, sooner or later, would have to be shouldered by society itself.

The logical unfailing truth continually reminds us that what you sow you reap, and when the authorities failed in their decisions, these resulted in deep scars and resentment among society.

Questions for the civil authorities:

1. If a man undergoes surgery to remove his genitalia and in their place a special incision is created, would that mean that he becomes a she?

2. Similarly, if a woman undergoes surgery to remove her breasts and womb and perhaps, if possible, something resembling the male genitalia is implanted, would that mean that she becomes a man?

3. On what basis do the civil authorities make sure that the gender reassignment surgery changes a man into a true woman, and not into a fake woman?

4. When a man undergoes gender reassignment surgery, would the civil authorities also accept changing his birth certificate to show that he was born a female? If the civil authorities accept to do this, wouldn’t this be deceit regarding the true gender of that person at birth?

Raymond Bezzina

KIRKOP