Sliema PN councillor targeted by homophobic Facebook group

A Facebook group being piloted by people close to former Sliema mayor Nikki Dimech, is leading a personal campaign against gay PN councillor Cyrus Engerer, tipped for deputy mayor of the locality.

Engerer’s nomination is being challenged by a motion of no confidence signed by Dimech and councillor Sandra Camilleri – who has taken umbrage at Engerer’s activism within the gay rights movement – three Labour councillors, and a PN councillor, Edward Cuschieri, who is being pushed for the post of deputy mayor.

The Facebook group – ‘friends of Nikki Gelanz’ – has posted pictures of Engerer with his arm on the shoulder of a male friend, lifted from his own Facebook profile, and peppered it with messages of a homophobic nature.

“[Is this] what Paul Borg Olivier supports for the future of Malta? Is this what our present PN adminstration supporting?

“We have nothing against gays but for sure its (sic) dangerous to have you freely do what you want/ you should have respect to the other part of the human civilisation,” the caption boldly reads.

The same caption also strangely alludes to ‘under-aged’ relationships, calling on Engerer to ‘leave under-aged boys out of [his] Facebook page.

Speaking from Brussels, Engerer said the councillors are targeting him “for other reasons” and not because he is inexperienced for the post.

He pointed out that Nikki Dimech himself was 29 when elected mayor, and that Labour’s mayor in Dingli was in his 20s when elected.

The three Labour councillors who abstained from voting for a PN motion of no confidence against Dimech, are now supporting the election of PN councillor Edward Cuschieri for deputy mayor.

“Labour has issues with trusting youths in certain positions if they are are forwarding this motion because I am ‘inexperienced’ and ‘immature’ because of my age,” Engerer, 29, told MaltaToday.

Engerer is an outspoken gay activist. His frontline appearance at this year’s gay pride, where he was filmed kissing his companion, brought the councillor new attention.

In an interview with MaltaToday, he said he would consider voting for Labour if the party would put full marriage equality in its manifesto, saying gay marriage “makes a big difference to me.”

But criticism against Engerer, only recently from former PN councillor Sandra Camilleri, shows the kind of prejudice the councillor faces.

Camilleri, 63, said Engerer should have been the one who was kicked out of the party and not Nikki Dimech because “his unchristian stand” meant he did not fit into a Christian Democrat party.

Referring to the MaltaToday interview where he was open about his views on gay rights, she said:

“... I don’t think he keeps to the ethics of the party... especially the way he took part in the gay pride parade: a front-liner kissing his partner. I mean, come on, there are gays and gays. There are nice gays but they keep a low profile, they don’t boast about it. In certain positions, I think they have to be careful.”