EQUALITY FOR ALL is at the heart of GAY EXILES. We collaborate with private and public organizations with the aim to stomp out same sex immigration discrimination and all forms of anti gay sentiment at an international level. Our use of the term "exile" refers to both voluntary and forced absence from the country and/or a certain level of psychological distancing from an anti-GLBT culture. GAY EXILES are also individuals and couples whose freedom of movement continues to be highly restricted in many nations including the EU and USA based on their sexual orientation or because their marriage or civil partnerships in gay friendly nations are not recognised by other nations. Thousands of EXILES are denied immigration rights on a regular basis.

Supporters, now numbering in the thousands, include local and international personalities and Hollywood celebrities, major world activists, scientists and psychologists, exiles and non exiles, straight and gay, brothers, mothers, fathers, sisters, friends.

CURRENT AGENDA:

-Gay rights should be included in EU constitutions
-It should be a criminal offence to incite hatred against LGBT people
-Full parenting rights to LGBT people
-There needs to be statutory protection for LGBT people from discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services
-Workplace equality for LGBT
-Equal marriage rights for LGBT
-Inclusion of LGBT issues in National Educational Curriculum and the creation of anti-bullying laws
-Immigration equality for domestic partners of EU nationals.
-Healthcare and inheritance law reforms
-To HELP the drive for equality, please donate to or get involved with Gay Exiles

LITERATURE THAT GAVE BIRTH TO GAY EXILES

IN THE PAPERS <CLICK HERE>

BOOKS:

Queer Mediterranean Memories by Josef Carmel Chetcuti - available from queermalta.com

"Chetcuti remarks at one point that this book is not a history of queer Malta. He is right - it is, in fact, very much more than that. The author is certainly a historian, and a very good one, but he is also a polemicist, anthropologist, tour guide, lawyer, theologian, agitator, journalist, chronicler, encyclopaedist, literary critic and more.… The result is a work of scholarship that draws upon archival and literary sources, and upon interviews with both ordinary members of the archipelago's queer community (most of whom are anything but ordinary) and with eminent social and political figures. But it is also a lively account of a small but fascinating world - there is gossip and hints and suggestions and allegations here, as there must be in every good community history."

DR GRAHAM WILLETT

Never Blend In: the legacy of Harvey Milk by David Watters

Role models are described as those individuals who we 'aspire to' and who provide strong and achievable targets that we can emulate in pursuit of our career or personal aims. This book breaks down the common stereotypes of gay people and unveils a more realistic perspective, chronicling the success of many gay role models that others aspire to. In "Never Blend In" David Watters has brought together a number of role models in one publication featuring successful gay artists, scientists and entrepreneurs, who share their experiences and take you on their journey. These are men and women with whom you can relate, whose stories will inspire and motivate you and leave you ready to move forward, both personally and professionally. Be inspired by the successful members of the gay community; real men and women. Read about the challenges they faced along the way, what helped to keep them going, and what it takes to make a small business, a life, a success. This book illustrates the breadth and creativity of gays everywhere. It is a pioneering work and the success stories of inspirational gay role models from a wide variety of backgrounds should be made available in every library, every school. These are men and women you can aspire to but who have all shown just what it takes to become a role model - determination, courage and an unwavering desire to succeed. "Never Blend In" brings you some amazing candidates all of whom have succeeded in very different ways. They each have inspiring stories to tell about their achievements and future ambitions, yet I noticed they all had one thing in common they were passionate about what they did. So in reality gays are still struggling for acceptance and to reach the top of the ladder. However, I think for the gay who enters the celebrity arena or who decides to do his/her own thing - they no longer have to do it at the expense of their happiness- they can do things on their own terms. For many it will provide them with the work/ life balance that wasn't available for them in the past. It's vital we have gays in big business and we need more gays to be there. I think companies need to realise they can't operate without gays. But they do need to provide the very thing we all tend to take for granted - the basic right of being given the same opportunities and earning power as str8 men. We are mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, lovers, friends. We are like you.

Antoine Spiteri, PhD

 

The GAY EXILES logo shows the historical Maltese Goddess of Fertility, referred to locally as "Il-Mara L-Hoxna" (the Fat Lady), seated on a bench with a distressed expression and a tear dropping out of her right eye. She mourns the loss of homosexuals lost to the exodus and fears the uncertainties they will face. The rainbow spectrum, an international symbol of homosexuality, colours the word “EXILED”, and the colors are inverted half way through the typing in representation of the contrasting political difference sought by these immigrants. Original Painting by Antoine Spiteri- oil on canvas