Editorial: Of course, Pride is still needed

Newly-elected Nationalist MP Conrad Borg Manche ruffled feathers with his replies about queer reality in the interview he gave MaltaToday last week.

There is a lot to unpack in what he said about Pride and how it is not needed; about how queer people are accepted in society; about how children should be shielded from queer reality because they are impressionable.

Borg Manche has every right to air his views and as a liberal newspaper that has always championed progressive ideals, we will not shut him down simply because he stands on the other side of our beliefs.

If anything, readers have a right to know and be informed about the beliefs held by their elected representatives. At the same time, Borg Manche and those who support him should not be surprised with the criticism he received from members of the queer community and others over his comments. It is the free exchange and clash of ideas that strengthens liberal democracy.

Where do we stand on Borg Manche’s comments?

The very arguments he raises about how queer people are accepted now that they have their rights are precisely why Pride should still exist.

Pride represents the struggles the LGBTIQ+ community has had to endure to be recognised as equal to others in society. And while today, in Malta, Pride takes the form of a celebration, a carnival if you want, rather than a show of defiance, it remains necessary to keep reminding society that equality needs to be protected every day.

Achievements can be scaled back, as recent history shows us and that is a lesson that can never be forgotten.

But on a more individual level, Pride represents hope for those who remain in the shadows because they fear being ostracised in their own families, ridiculed and discriminated at their workplace, or bullied at school.

Contrary to what Borg Manche claimed, despite the massive steps forward Malta has made in overhauling its legal regime to ensure equality, there are still people who suffer in silence. There are still people who get married without their parents being present because the latter feel ashamed of their queer son or daughter. There are still people who get the cold treatment on their workplace because of their gender identity. There are still young people who find it hard to come out to friends and family because they fear rejection.

Laws do not automatically translate into cultural, social and administrative acceptance. And this is why it remains necessary to be vigilant; to promote caring and safe environments; to enable understanding of the queer reality; to ensure that rights are fully accessible by everyone.

Borg Manche may have experienced a different reality when he was growing up. He may even be insulated from the difficulties queer people face on a daily basis. But as a legislator he has the duty to be informed. He may not change his mind but at the very least he should listen to those whose reality is different to his.

As for his remarks on whether children should be exposed to Pride or drag queens, it just so happens that children are surprisingly not as impressionable as many make them out to be.

Unfortunately, the fear that children may ‘become’ gay because they see two men kiss and holding hands is grounded in the mistaken notion that gayness, queerness, is an ‘infectious disease’ to be avoided at all costs. This thinking has no scientific basis. It is either borne out of ignorance or prejudice. And there is a very fine line between prejudice and hate.

Adopting age-appropriate language and examples can help children understand the world around them, which includes same-sex parents, queer individuals and, in Borg Manche’s words, ‘effeminate boys’.

Hiding these realities to ‘protect’ children only stunts their growth as fully-informed citizens. At the end of the day, teaching children to care about and empathise with children who are different to them is the most empowering experience they can ever have. Maybe Borg Manche and his ilk would care to take note.