Those disseminating hate speech and unfounded claims should not be treated as glorified speakers, says AD lgbtiq.
AD-lgbtiq spokesperson, Angele Deguara said that the article in the Sunday Times of the 14th June reporting a pastor’s claim that LGBTIQ persons can be cured of what he inappropriately defines as a “mental illness” gives undue importance to claims which have no scientific foundation and which are tantamount to hate speech. Furthermore, such claims send the wrong message to LGBTIQ persons and their families who may still be trying to deal with their personal as well as social issues related to their sexual orientation or gender identity, leading to more uncertainty and unacceptance. It will also send the wrong message to Maltese society which needs to be further sensitised to the many issues pertaining to the LGBTIQ community rather than influenced by unfounded claims which only continue to contribute to trans* and homophobia.
These so called “therapies”have come under strong criticism in various countries since they have been proved to be very harmful psychologically. Their ultimate aim is to deny and repress a person’s sexuality and true nature. Consequently any form of conversion therapy should be sanctioned by professional authorities. Should persons be struggling with their sexuality, they are encouraged to seek the support of gay-affirmative professionals.
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Dawk li qed ixerrdu diskors ta’ mibgħeda u jagħmlu dikkjarazzjonijiet mingħajr bażi m’għandhomx jiġu igglorifikati, tgħid AD-lgbtiq.
Angele Deguara, kelliema għal AD-lgbtiq, qalet li l-artiklu li deher f’The Sunday Times tal-14 ta’ Ġunju li rraporta dikjarazzjoni minn Pastor li persuni LGBTIQ jistgħu jiġu mfejqa minn dak li hu isejjaħ b’mod żbaljat bħala “mard mentali” jagħti importanza żejda lil dikkjarazzjonijiet li m’għandhom l-ebda bażi xjentifika u li m’huma xejn ħlief diskors ta’ mibegħda. Barra minn hekk, dikjarazzjonijiet bħal dawn iwasslu messaġġ żbaljat lil persuni LGBTIQ u lill-familji tagħhom li jistgħu jkunu għadhom qegħdin jippruvaw jifhmu kemm l-aspetti personali u dawk soċjali li għandhom x’jaqsmu mal-orjentazzjoni sesswali jew l-identita` tal-ġeneru tagħhom. Dan jista’ jwassal għal aktar inċertezza u diffikultajiet biex persuna LGBTIQ taċċetta lilha nnifisha u tkun aċċettata minn l-oħrajn. Dikkjarazzjonijiet bħal dawn iwasslu wkoll messaġġ negattiv lis-soċjeta Maltija li jeħtieġ li tkun aktar konxja u sensittiva għal dak li tgħaddi minnu l-komunita’ LGBTIQ minflok ma tkun influenzata minn dikjarazzjonijiet bla bażi li ma jwasslu għal xejn għajr għal aktar transfobija u omofobija.
Dawn l-hekk imsejħa “terapiji” ġew ikkritiakti f’bosta pajjiżi minħabba l-ħsara psikoloġika kbira li jagħmlu. L-għan aħħari tagħhom huwa li jġiegħlu persuna tiċhad is-sesswalita` u n-natura vera tagħha. Għaldaqstant kull forma ta’ conversion therapy m’għandhiex titħalla tiġi pprattikata mill-awtoritajiet professjonali. Jekk persuni jkunu għaddejjin minn problemi minħabba s-sesswalita` tagħhom, huma mħajra li jfittxu l-appoġġ ta’ professjonisti li jirrispettaw id-dinjita` ta’ persuni LGBTIQ.