Today, St George’s Square will, once again, host a very colourful event. The Gay Pride March, the main event in the annual Pride Week, is organized by the Malta Gay Rights Movement, aditus, Drachma and We Are. Unfortunately I am away and so will not be able to attend; but other PN MPs, MEPs and the newly set up FOIPN (Equal Opportunities Forum) will be represented.

Pride is a symbolic manifestation which is held in many different cities around the world. It aims to increase the visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons. It is both a celebration of diversity as well as a call for recognition and respect for the dignity and rights of all. “Family: Where Love Matters More” is the theme chosen for this year’s Pride Week, as the LGBTI community celebrates the Constitutional Amendment against Discrimination and the passing of the Civil Unions Bill.

Stigma

Many doubt if there is still any powerful stigma against LGBTI persons to speak of. But there is. Some ugly discrimination persists. I have come across several cases in my political and constituency work. These range from bullying on Facebook and other social media networks to outright vicious harassment campaigns.

There have long been various laws to protect LGBTI victims. But, ever since Parliament passed my Private Member’s Bill to amend the Constitution so that it explicitly banned discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, victims have begun to feel more empowered and confident that the supreme law is there to protect them.

Recently, I met a victim who is a public officer. He does not hide his sexuality but, like most of us, he does not flaunt it, either. He holds a post with huge responsibilities – and does his job so well that he was recently given a promotion which comes with even more onerous duties. He came to me for assistance because a person who wants to undermine his authority and professionalism is using his sexuality as a weapon to attack his dignity and reputation.

Of course, at this early stage of the proceedings, this victim has several courses of action to choose from. However, he feels empowered that, ultimately, should all his options fail, there is a clause in the Constitution which protects him and holds others accountable if his fundamental rights are infringed. Knowing this makes it easier for him to stand up for his rights. It gives him the confidence that he will be treated with respect, his dignity recognized.

The Rule of Law

In an era where some government ministers choose to do what is convenient and not what is right, we all need to have good reason to believe that the rule of law still applies to everyone, even in our country. Victims of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation must not fear bullying by individuals who might use various means (including the media) to silence or exclude them.

In 2004, the UN Secretary-General defined the Rule of Law as “a principle of governance in which all persons, institutions and entities, public and private, including the State itself, are accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated, equally enforced and independently adjudicated, and which are consistent with international human rights norms and standards. It requires, as well, measures to ensure adherence to the principles of supremacy of law, equality before the law, accountability to the law, fairness in the application of the law, separation of powers, participation in decision-making, legal certainty, avoidance of arbitrariness and procedural and legal transparency."

With this in mind, today we celebrate diversity with pride and dignity and renew our commitment to struggle against stigma and prejudice forcefully – in the name of the rule of law.

Claudette Buttigieg MP – [email protected], twitter: @ButClaudette