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‘Desires’ is the name of a new gay bar in Triq il-Hgejjeg Bugibba run by Albert Buhagiar. Gilbert Calleja met him to try to understand better the gay lifestyle, the ‘pink pound’ and the local scene.
Buhagiar has opened this bar because he strongly believes that there are not enough gay or lesbian bars on the Island. Well-travelled, he enthusiastically shares his experiences about the vibrant gay scenes in other European countries.
“Maltese gay people have to go abroad to be able to enjoy themselves in the company of same-minded people,” he says, “Many people are going to Cologne, London or other cities because the scene in Malta is not vibrant enough.
“I have already some experience in the sector and know for a fact that gay and lesbian tourists coming to Malta are disappointed with what we have to offer. Malta is legging far behind places like Barcelona, the Greek islands, Sicily and the Canary Islands.
“Sicily has a gay resort, Ibiza has San Antonio beach, what does Malta have to offer?
“‘The pink pound’ constitutes a very interesting niche market. Many gay people have well-paid jobs, are financially stable and are usually determined to enjoy the money they earn… it’s simply a matter of having different commitments and no obligations towards third persons…”
“Maltese society is built upon traditional values with the notion of family as its core structure. Put on the radio or television and you are bombarded with adverts publicising places, films, activities, you name it – for ‘all the family’.
“Is this a society where individuals take second place? I’d like to think that we’re not but things such as the lack of laws related to unmarried couples who cohabitate, do not suggest otherwise. Many young couples are pressured into marrying. Worse still is the feeling that the conservative majority looks down on single people in general. Single people, whatever their sexuality, are not misfits. Not having a steady relationship or a partner is often a deliberate choice of lifestyle.”
Buhagiar explains how opening a gay bar is tantamount to giving a community service. ‘Desires’ provides space for homosexual people to come together in a specially designed environment where they can relax and meet same minded people.
“Let’s face it, single people need specific spaces where they can meet and socialise… ‘family places’ rarely satisfy their social needs, such places were not designed with them in mind. Similarly, not everyone whose gay is comfortable in heterosexual circles…”
We argue at length about the subject and we come to discuss stereotyping.
“Gay people come in all shapes and sizes. Not all gays work as tailors, hairdressers, designers or dancers and not everyone that works in these professions is gay. I’d like to believe that modern society has learned better than to place people in a box… Vague generalisations are plain stupid…
“When you meet a person you don’t know you automatically think he or she is heterosexual – very often no one thinks you’re gay unless you tell them. Everyone assumes you are heterosexual.
“The gay scene is made-up of a mix of people. Yes, there are those who are very effeminate but on the other-hand there are others who are really masculine.
“Through personal experience I can say that, when well informed, Maltese people tend to be quite understanding though not entirely tolerant … I have never suffered homophobia as such… I have always spoken openly about my sexual orientation. I am a man who likes men, that’s who I am… get used to it.”
Buhagiar underlines the fact that being homosexual does not boil down to having a particular sexual orientation, preference or worst of all polarity. Homosexuality is something you either are or are not – it is not a choice. However he points out that you can be homosexual but not lead a gay lifestyle.
“Diversity is a prerogative of a healthy society. It should be like a rainbow or a kaleidoscope. Open-mindedness helps creativity in that it allows different views to fuse together and generate new ideas and new solutions.
“Just because I am attracted to men does not mean that I cannot function well within society. Being a respectable citizen does not exclude being gay and in a free society everyone has the right to lead the life-style he or she desires.
“Otherwise, if I was forced to hide my sexuality I would be very unhappy or frustrated. The freedom to love the person of your choice is a fundamental human right.
In this respect the Malta Gay Rights Movement have had a determining role. Over 250 people have sought advice on the National Gay Helpline set-up a year or so ago. Recently they also published a booklet in Maltese to help parents understand their homosexual sons and daughters better.”
How did this helpline or other information and educational programmes change the way society relates to the gay community? I have particularly in mind issues like AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Has education helped reduce prejudices against homosexuals?
“Of course. Since the raising of the AIDS issue in the early 80s and the awareness campaigns that entailed almost everyone is conscious of how STDs can be avoided. Today AIDS is no longer assimilated with the gay community. What happened twenty or twenty five years ago was that icons like Rock Hudson, Sylvester and Freddie Mercury ‘came out’ immediately before declaring they’re dying of AIDS. Their openness about AIDS helped raise awareness but unfortunately they also attracted all the limelight on the gay scene…
“Moreover as soon as they sounded the alarm, the gay community went ‘en masse’ for HIV testing while heterosexuals stayed away from the clinics furthering the problem more.
“In retrospect I think that society in general shot itself in the foot for failing to realise a very basic fact – we are all equally vulnerable to such diseases just because we’re all human beings.
“Thanks to extensive educational programmes by WHO and other health promoters, nowadays we are fortunate enough to have people and help at hand and not knowing how to protect oneself is no longer an excuse.”
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