A Maltese court has cleared Matthew Grech, the Maltese man who claims to have been cured of his homosexuality, and two hosts of an online programme of all charges that they promoted so‑called gay conversion therapy, a practice that is banned under Maltese law.Grech, along with PM News presenters Rita Bonnici and Mario Camilleri, faced prosecution after a 2022 interview on the online platform PM News, in which Grech spoke about his personal journey from being homosexual to identifying as heterosexual according to Times of Malta. Under Malta’s law, both conducting and promoting conversion therapy are illegal.However, Magistrate Monica Vella ruled that the discussion in the programme did not amount to promotion of the practice. In her judgment, she said the interview constituted a public discussion on the topic rather than an endorsement or advertisement of conversion therapy, and that the intention of the presenters was simply to provide a forum for debate. The magistrate also concluded that Grech’s contribution was a personal account of his experience rather than an attempt to encourage or market conversion practices. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lovin Malta (@lovinmalta)During the programme, Grech described how finding faith in Jesus Christ had led him to leave behind his previous homosexual relationships. He told the court his change was a “spiritual experience” rather than therapeutic treatment, and said he opposed forms of therapy that force participants into specific behaviours, instead characterising what he spoke about as conversation rather than coercion.Bonnici said she intended the show to be purely a discussion platform, and noted she had invited members of the LGBTQ+ community to participate, though none were available at the time. Camilleri likewise maintained the programme was centred on open conversation.In her deliberations, Magistrate Vella emphasised that while promoting conversion therapy is a crime, the law also protects open discussion and the exploration of personal experiences, provided no service or therapy is imposed on individuals. She added that the legislation applies universally and is not intended to shield any one segment of society from rational debate.As a result, all three accused were found not guilty.Credit: Matthew Grech via Facebook•