Watch: Nickie Vella De Fremeaux – ‘I Am A Mother, Not Parent One’
Lawyer Nickie Vella De Fremeaux has called out the use of gender-neutral terminology on official government certificates and forms.
“Who are these minority groups, who is anyone, to deprive me of my right to be called a mother?” Vella De Fremeaux questioned in an interview with Lovin Malta.
“The government has selected to choose Parent 1 and Parent 2. I am a mother above all and nobody can take it away.”
She said that when she needs to fill out a form, such as when applying for a Maltese passport, she crosses out the gender-neutral term ‘parent’ and writes ‘mother’ instead.
Asked whether gender-neutral terminology is simply more practical for people with LGBT+ parents, Vella De Fremeaux suggested that the government provide a range of options for people to choose from rather than do away with the term ‘mother’ altogether.
“I won’t discriminate against anyone but then don’t discriminate against me,” she said.
“Why would anybody take offence to the fact that I am calling myself a mother? The law is saying I should be called Parent One, and I am not Parent One. I am mummy of five amazing kids, who drive me insane but I am their mother above all. I am a parent but I am a mother.”
Do you agree with the use of gender-neutral terminology on government forms?
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