‘They Are Members Of Your Own Family’ – LGBTIQ+ Advocates React To Henry Galea’s ‘Disrespectful’ Rant
Nerve Malta and the hosts of Tiegħi Tiegħek Tagħna have reacted to comments made by Henry Galea about non-binary people on the latest episode of the SingleHandedly Podcast, which aired last night.
“What are they? What the fuck is they?” said Nerve in a post to social media – repeating Galea’s questions, “THEY form an integral part of our community. They have been at the forefront fighting against injustice and equality for ALL.”
Nerve organises a series of queer-curated parties – with a mission to create a judgement, discrimination and harassment free space in which any group, sex or individual will be recognised and celebrated.
They were joined in their denunciation of Galea’s comments by Tiegħi Tiegħek Tagħna – a Maltese podcast hosting debates and discussions about the opinions of audience members and hosts.
“Who the fuck are they? They are someone’s child, someone’s sibling,” said TTT in a social media post.
“They are members of your own family, and people in your friend group. They existed before us, they exist now and they will continue to exist.”
In the excerpt they were reacting to, Galea said, “there is male, female and alien, which is me.”
It was interesting that – even as a joke – he was prepared to put himself in a category outside of the gender binary.
Beyond this though, Galea failed to reflect any understanding of the distinction between sex and gender.
Nerve’s reaction stressed that, “It’s not a matter of not understanding, it’s a matter of respect”.
A similar sentiment was echoed by TTT when they wrote, “It takes 0 effort to respect people’s pronouns, and if you don’t understand don’t shit on it – turn to the community, to non-binary people and ask respectful questions and learn. Ignorance is not an excuse”.
Nerve's statement, released as an Instagram story
On the now controversial episode of the SingleHandedly Podcast, Galea continued:
“I’m all up for trans people. If you’re born a woman and feel like you’re a woman, you can change. But it’s just a man and a woman. This they/them… I’m like, where are they? Like who are they? Like who the fuck is they?”
What he was displaying was at least as intolerant as it was ignorant of the reality experienced by so many individuals – even if it was not intended to come off in that way.
Malta is considered amongst the most advanced nations in Europe in terms of LGBTIQ+ rights, yet this attitude remains prevalent.
“To all non-binary folk, we love and respect you,” concluded TTT.
“YOU are valid. THEY are valid.”
Tag somebody who should read this story
READ NEXT: Robots And AI In Malta's Public Services: Tech Focus In First Ever Exposition Of Its Kind
