Museum Reclassifies Roman Emperor As Transgender Woman

Nov 22 2023

The North Hertfordshire Museum has decided to relabel its exhibit on Roman Emperor Elagabalus, acknowledging the possibility that the emperor may have identified as a trans woman.

The museum will now use female pronouns, referring to Elagabalus as “she” and “her.” This decision is based on historical references suggesting the emperor once said, “call me not Lord, for I am a Lady.”

Elagabalus ruled the Roman Empire for a brief four years, from 218 AD to their assassination in 222 AD at the age of 18. The emperor’s gender identity has been a longstanding and debated topic among scholars.

While classical texts, such as those by Cassius Dio, describe Elagabalus’s marriages to both men and women and their use of effeminate language, historians caution against taking these accounts at face value, given the biased and hostile perspectives of the authors.

Dr. Shushma Malik, a Cambridge University classics professor, notes the lack of direct evidence from Elagabalus and emphasises that references to gender fluidity in Roman literature were often used for political criticism.

The museum consulted LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall to ensure its displays are up-to-date and inclusive. Councillor Keith Hoskins, executive member for Enterprise and Arts at North Herts Council, believes the decision reflects standard practice and respects Elagabalus’s explicit identification as a woman, citing historical evidence.

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Journalist Death Rate In Gaza 4 Times Higher, Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation

Nov 22 2023

The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation, along with four other organisations (aditus, SOS Malta, Moviment Graffitti and Jesuit Refugee Service Malta), have penned a letter to the European Parliament, calling ‘for an immediate ceasefire to protect the remaining innocent civilians in Gaza, including journalists.’

‘More than 13,000 people have been killed in Gaza by the IDF since the shocking attacks on civilians in Israel on 7 October, by Hamas, which left some 1,200 dead. Of the dead in Gaza, more than 5,500 are children’, the organisations wrote.

‘Moreover, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, as of 21 November, at least 53 journalists and media workers were confirmed dead – 10 in the last four days alone, 11 journalists were reported injured, three journalists were reported missing, 18 journalists were reported arrested and media headquarters have been illegally destroyed.’

‘When a journalist is killed, the collective loss is larger than the individual loss of life. Every death of a journalist diminishes the collective capacity to tell the truth about what is happening in Gaza.’

‘The US call for a more targeted campaign of bombing has failed to stop indiscriminate killing. No one and nowhere in Gaza is safe. The bombing of schools, hospitals and refugee camps and the killing of innocent civilians continues at a rate unknown in recent history. The death rate among journalists is four times the rest of the population. This implies that journalists are being targeted for extrajudicial killing, which is a war crime.’

The letter comes as EP President Roberta Metsola welcomes the deal for a humanitarian pause in ‘hostilities in Gaza as well as the release of a number of hostages brutally taken by Hamas on October 7th.’

I welcome the deal for a humanitarian pause in hostilities in Gaza and the release of a number of hostages brutally taken by Hamas on October 7th.

It gives some hope to devasted families in Israel and some respite to Palestinians in Gaza.

This is a moment we can build upon.

— Roberta Metsola (@EP_President) November 22, 2023

‘It gives some hope to devastated families in Israel and some respite to Palestinians in Gaza. This is a moment we can build upon’, wrote Metsola on Twitter (X).

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Vigil For Bernice Cilia One Year From Her Murder

Nov 22 2023

Family members of the late Bernice Cilia, along with activists from Moviment Graffitti and other entities, met in Raħal Ġdid after she was murdered by her estranged husband Roderick Cassar.

‘A year ago, we lost one of us’, Moviment Graffitti wrote. ‘The sadness was and still is massive, but for the activists and professionals working in the sector, we cannot say it was a shock.’

The group wrote how this is a story of a system which does not work to protect those who need it the most. ‘A year later, and after recommendations of magisterial inquiries, we are here to not only remember Bernice, but to call for the necessary reforms.’

‘We are here to remind everyone that femicide is not a crime of passion, but one of power and control. We are here to remind everyone that the murder is not committed by the accused, but by the state which, day after day, fails to protect us.’

‘In the name of Bernice, but also every other person who became victims of crimes of power and failure of the state, we will not be silenced’, the statement ended.

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Tourism During 2024’s Start Set To Be Better Than 2023’s Winter

Nov 22 2023

Taking to social media, Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo announced that tourism for the start of 2024 is set to be much better than that of 2023’s winter period.

The latest National Statistics Office reports for inbound tourism showed that the total inbound tourists for September 2023 were estimated at 299,190.

This was an increase of 20.2% when compared to the corresponding month of 2022. Meanwhile, inbound tourists in the first three quarters of 2023 amounted to 2,285,450, with total expenditure amounting to around €2.1 billion.

While it remains to be seen how much the total will be for 2023, Bartolo’s announcement comes as Malta hosts the Mediterranean Tourism Forum Minister’s Summit.

During the summit, Malta’s tourism minister stated how due to constant changes around the world, it is vital that tourism in the Mediterranean needs to be put into a rethinking process.

Bartolo highlighted that the modus operandi of 10, 5 or even 3 years ago cannot be applied for 2023 and 2024, and that the impacts on the world mean that the tourism sector needs to be rerouted to sustainability and authenticity.

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