MOSTA (Malta), January 24, 2006  –  The Malta Gay Rights Movement (MGRM) has today express its “disappointment and disbelief” that MEP Dr. Simon Busuttil voted against the homophobia resolution in the European Parliament last week.

But the group praised MEPs Joseph Muscat and Louis Grech who both voted in favour.

“[We] whole-heartedly welcomes such an important and needed resolution,” MGRM said in a statement.  “While some EU member states have achieved a lot in ensuring sexual orientation discrimination is eliminated and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people enjoy the same dignity and rights as the rest of society, other EU member states still practice and even promote discrimination and intolerance against LGBT people. In addition, continuing high levels of homophobic comments and attitudes in many member states is totally unacceptable.”

The group pointed out that the issue of sexual orientation equality is still regarded as controversial in Malta.

“Often this issue is not being considered as equally important or as serious as other areas of discrimination, such as racism or discrimination on the grounds of sex or disability,” the group says.

“In this context, we cannot but express disappointment and disbelief with regard to the decision of Dr. Simon Busuttil to vote against this resolution.

“As one of our elected MEPs we would have expected him to show more courage in taking a clear stand against the violation of anybody’s rights, including those of LGBT individuals.

“It will undoubtedly be very disconcerting to his LGBT voters that Dr. Busuttil has, over the past two years, and on three different occasions (the Buttiglione case, Moares report and this resolution), chosen to side with the voices of prejudice and intolerance.

“On the other hand, we congratulate MEPs Joseph Muscat and Louis Grech on voting in favour of the resolution.  We are pleased to note that they, contrary to Dr. Busuttil, have consistently and ever since they were elected, taken a stand against inequality and discrimination in Europe.

■  Malta has five elected MEPs.  David Casa abstained on the final vote and John Attard Montalto was not present.

The final resolution and how the MEPs voted

LINK

The Malta Gay Rights Movement (MGRM) website