Maltese Parliament Debating Trans Marriage Civil Code Changes

As part of the deal they struck with Joanne Cassar in order to end the European Court of Human Rights case she brought against them in June 2011,  Malta's parliament began debate on amending that nation's Civil Code so that post operative trans people would be considered as individuals of the acquired gender identity with full rights including the right to marry.

Once the amendments to the Civil Code pass, and the Opposition party has no problem with that as of now, transpeople in Malta would not only be able to get their birth certificates changed, the Public Registry director will be able to issue marriage banns to post-op transgender individuals who express the wish to get married.


Helena Dalli, The Minister for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties said she could not understand how a government complicates matters even more for a person who already faced great difficulties in life.

“The government cannot punish these people although they continue to suffer as a result of prejudice against them,” she said. “It is not just laws that need to change but attitudes and silence should not prevail”.

Amen to that.   We in the international trans community hope these Civil Code changes are expeditiously passed and Malta continues the process of ensuring all of its trans citizens are treated equally under their nation's laws.