Written by Kristina Micallef Pulè
Recent polls carried out to measure which countries are most LGBTIQ+ friendly stated that Malta was voted the tenth safest globally. Considering how many countries there are in the world, a number ten ranking is really not that bad; but is it accurate? The reality of Malta’s LGBTIQ+ friendliness is debatable and open to interpretation.
Pride Month is still celebrated every September here in Malta; with a plethora of activities and events organised, including the Pride March that is held in our capital, Valletta. If Malta is already so LGBTIQ+ friendly, why do we still celebrate Pride? In honour of Pride Month here in Malta, let’s take a look at why we still need Pride.
LGBTIQ+ Phobia is Still a Thing
LGBTIQ+ rights here in Malta have improved in recent years. That doesn’t mean that LGBTIQ+ phobia isn’t still lurking among us. Last year, a police report was filed against a man who was matching with people through a gay dating app, misleading them into meeting, and physically attacking them. Even more recently, two women were violently kicked out of a bar in Paceville for kissing. Transphobic attacks of a cyber nature were also observed, aimed at transgender Maltese people who have a social media presence.
These are the events that were spoken about publicly, receiving some attention from the media; who knows what goes on implicitly, behind closed doors, or isn’t even spoken about?
Members from the LGBTIQ+ community have reported feeling uncomfortable simply holding hands with their significant others in public. They fear eliciting a dirty look, or having someone tell them they’re rubbing their relationship in their face. You don’t see people doing that to heterosexual couples who hold hands in public.
Gay Conversion Therapy is Still Happening
Back in 2016 a law passed in Malta making the practice of gay conversion therapy illegal after psychological studies showed that the practice is harmful and unethical.
“Not only does it reject a group of individuals on the basis of unfound prejudice and lack of tolerance for diversity, but also because it impinges on the international recognition of
(Malta Chamber of Psychologists, 2016)
LGBTIQ rights; also supported by progressive trends to depathologise such individuals from mental health statistical manual classifications.”
Despite this law being passed, organisations and communities claiming to be ‘ex-gays’ and ‘ex-LGBT’ are still surfacing. Not only are they claiming to be ‘cured’ from a homosexual lifestyle, but they are pushing a disguised, dangerous narrative that lures vulnerable people into their grasp, promising them that they can change and be ‘saved’ too. This way of thinking perpetuates the deeply flawed notion that being part of the LGBTIQ+ community is something to be ashamed of. It continues to marginalise a community that has worked tirelessly for centuries to be accepted and treated with respect.
We Owe it to our Ancestors
Pride originated from the Stonewall Riots which were protests in response to police raids held in New York in 1969. These people stood up, fought and risked their lives with the authorities. They made it possible for LGBTIQ+ people to live normal lives and to be accepted by society.
Pride celebrates diversity and embracing your true self. It’s also a time to commemorate those who fought relentlessly to change the course of history for the better. It’s a time where we can keep marching in their footsteps.
If There’s LGBTIQ+ Pride, why isn’t there ‘Straight Pride’?
Some might argue that it is a form of inequality for the LGBTIQ+ community to celebrate Pride when those who do not fall into that category do not. They might say that the Pride March is annoying; a nuisance to people who aren’t part of the community. That it tends to get too loud and too flamboyant. In fact, following the 2018 Pride March in Malta, an antigay ‘Rosary Rally’ was organised by an extremist religious group. It was a warped attempt to ‘repair’ the damage that was done to God. Every now and again we are also made aware of plans for a ‘Straight Pride’ to be organised.
Think About it… Is there really the need for a ‘Straight Pride’?
People who do not identify with the LGBTIQ+ community were never banned from attending and celebrating Pride. It’s a safe space for all, so long as everyone’s accepted and treated with respect.
However, to those who are still adamant on a ‘Straight Pride’, I ask:
- Has your identity only been legal and depathologized for the past 48 years?
- Can you be dismissed from your job and kicked out of your own house based solely off your sexuality?
- Can you be beaten up or killed just for being part of the LGBTIQ+ community?
If you answered ‘no’ to the above questions, then you don’t need a Straight Pride.
To Answer the ‘Pride’ Question…
Pride doesn’t discriminate. It’s an opportunity, a celebration, and most importantly a moment where you can be wholeheartedly at peace with your identity. Pride is a safe environment where you can be unapologetically yourself.
It’s true that Malta has come a long way since the first Pride celebration in 2004, but that doesn’t mean we should stop celebrating altogether. We still have a long way to go, and even in a perfect world where LGBTIQ+ Phobia does not exist, we would still need Pride.
Read The Third Eye’s interview with ARC here!
