The Labour Party is setting up a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) section within its structure, opposition leader Joseph Muscat announced last night.

This section will be represented in the party’s general conference, he said during a meeting with a delegation from the International Lesbian and Gay Association.

“This is not tokenism,” he said, adding the party knew it would be difficult and was expecting criticism from a conservative society.

The party believed it was high time new initiatives were taken when it came to gay rights, and LGBT Labour would be the “first step to a new era”.

Dr Muscat expressed hope that other political parties would follow in the PL’s footsteps. He expressed his belief that although the country was conservative, things were changing.

An LGBT section was set up recently within the party’s youth section.

Dr Muscat said the party had chosen to break new ground, adding it was time to stop being hypocritical about the issue of gay rights.

Louise Ashworth, a member of the international association, stressed how important it was for people in high places to stand up for gay rights.