On May 17th, Drachma
held a prayer vigil, as it does every year, to commemorate all victims of
homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. This worldwide event largely escapes the
attention of the media, but it has
been celebrated globally for the past ten years.
It was only natural
for us, this year, to place the rainbow flag around the altar, along with the
statue of Our Lady, as we prayed
especially for our brothers and sisters in Chechnya who are undergoing brutal
persecution just for being gay. The
rainbow colours of the flag symbolise the diversity that exists among God’s
children and replace the colour pink as this is reminiscent of the six-pointed
pink star that gay persons had to wear at Nazi concentration camps.
Unfortunately, discrimination and homophobia are still rampant
in all countries, including Malta, as exemplified by the fact that a small
number of persons seem to have taken objection to the use of the rainbow flag
in the chapel during this said vigil. It is, indeed, ironic and sad that the
persecution, electrocution, arrest, public flogging and killing of gay persons
in countries such as Chechnya, Nigeria and Indonesia goes unnoticed and is not
even considered to be newsworthy, while such a simple and spontaneous gesture marking the
International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) was interpreted as a sacrilegious
action.
Chris Vella and Joseanne Peregin
Coordinators - Drachma
6 June 2017
Further coverage of this story:
Rainbow flag decorated altar fuels controversy: Event marked International Day Against Homophobia
https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20170607/local/rainbow-flag-decorated-altar-fuels-controversy.650117#.WTeKIlX19Ds.facebook
https://newwaysministryblog.wordpress.com/2017/06/08/cool-minds-avert-a-stand-off-in-rainbow-flag-flap/?utm_content=buffer38832&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Maltese Gay Catholic Group Has The Best Response For Haters Of Rainbow-Flag Altar Vigil: Some people worry about the prosecution of gays in Chechnya, others worry about altar etiquette https://lovinmalta.com/news/this-maltese-gay-catholic-group-had-the-best-response-to-haters
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