Malta’s Rainbow Fades as It Drops to Second in LGBTIQ Europe Index

St. George’s Bay, a once-vibrant hub of Malta’s LGBTIQ scene, was eerily quiet last weekend. The usually bustling area, known for its rainbow-painted balconies and lively bars, seemed to reflect the recent shift in the country’s ranking in the Europe LGBTIQ Rights Index.

From Pioneer to Pursuer

Malta, once a trailblazer in LGBTIQ rights, has slipped to second place in the 2022 ILGA-Europe Rainbow Europe Index. The tiny island nation, which held the top spot for six consecutive years, now shares the podium with Belgium, while Portugal takes the lead. This news has left many in Malta’s close-knit LGBTIQ community wondering what went wrong and what lies ahead.

Under the Microscope: Malta’s Slip

The index, which ranks 49 European countries based on their legal and policy practices towards LGBTIQ people, found that Malta had regressed in several areas. While it still excels in legal gender recognition and hate crime provisions, it has slipped in areas like family rights, asylum, and freedom from discrimination in employment and education.

One local activist, who wished to remain anonymous, told Hot Malta, “We’ve become complacent. We’ve been so focused on celebrating our achievements that we’ve forgotten to keep pushing for more.”

: Malta’s Rainbow Future

Malta’s Minister for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, Owen Bonnici, has acknowledged the setback. “We’re not where we want to be, but we’re not where we were,” he said in a recent interview. “We’re committed to doing better, to learning from our mistakes, and to working with our community to ensure Malta remains a beacon of LGBTIQ rights.”

Bonnici has promised to introduce new legislation that will strengthen family rights and improve the asylum process for LGBTIQ refugees. He also hinted at plans to establish an LGBTIQ museum in Malta, a project that has been championed by local activists for years.

Meanwhile, the local LGBTIQ community is gearing up for this year’s Pride celebrations. The event, which will take place in Valletta’s City Gate Square on September 17, promises to be a vibrant display of resilience and hope. As one organizer put it, “We may have slipped, but we’re not out. We’re still here, we’re still fighting, and we’re still proud.”