The Malta Gay Right Movement : social themes and perspectives

Abstract

Gay right movements have emerged almost in every country. Yet, there has not been any substantial research that has been carried out in order to investigate the issues, which has been brought about due to gay right movements and about their proposals that is about gay rights. The issue of gay rights has barely been considered as a problem by local authorities, though two of our main political parties in Malta included gay rights in their political manifesto. The Church has opposed for instance, cohabitating gay couples. This study involves a number of people that have been consulted, namely Maltese homosexual people and Maltese heterosexual people to understand if there is any awareness about the Malta Gay Right Movement and its proposals on gay rights in Malta. When analysing, the awareness on gay rights among homosexual people, this was clearly identified, yet when it came to heterosexual people, a lack of awareness was identified as either they do not have a clue about the existence of the MGRM or they do not have a clear view to some of the gay right issues. Adding to this, the majority of heterosexual and homosexual respondents gave a clear opinion certain issues that were asked to comment about. The majority of my homosexual respondents are in favour of having gay rights but yet they show their concerns as well. Finally one must note that, according to this study, that the issue of gay rights is a problem even though it has not affected certain different areas in our Maltese society.