Malta votes to constitutionally protect against gender identity discrimination
On the same day that Malta passed a law to allow same-sex couples to enter into civil unions and adopt, the country also added protections against gender identity discrimination into its constitution.
Same-sex civil unions were yesterday evening approved in Malta, allowing gay couples to adopt. Transgender people who have changed their legal gender are now also able to enter into marriages.
Also yesterday, Malta became the first country in Europe to add gender identity protections added to its highest legal text, the constitution.
Transgender Europe (TGEU) Executive Director Julia Ehrt, said: “This is fantastic news! It has been a long way for Malta, and we congratulate the activists who have fought over all the years for the recognition and protection of transgender people.”
TGEU Policy Officer Richard Kohler added: “It is a signal also for other countries to uplift transgender identities out of the shadows of prejudice and misconception and say loud and clear: we stand proudly by our transgender population.”
Through the changes in law, parliament strengthened anti-discrimination legislation to better protect trans people, and a proposal for gender recognition procedures is in preparation.
