Malta’s Rainbow Flag Folds: How We Dropped to Second in Europe

Imagine walking down St. George’s Square in Valletta, the sun casting a golden glow on the grand buildings. A few years back, you’d see the rainbow flag flying high, a symbol of Malta’s progressive stance on LGBTIQ rights. Today, that flag might not be as prominent, as we’ve slipped to second place in the ILGA-Europe Rainbow Europe Index.

From Pioneer to Second Place: What Happened?

Malta was once a trailblazer. In 2016, we became the first country in the world to outlaw discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. We legalized same-sex marriage and gender reassignment. But fast forward to 2023, we’ve dropped to second place, behind Belgium.

The ILGA-Europe Index scores countries based on their legal and policy practices. Malta’s drop isn’t due to a regression in our laws, but because other countries have caught up and even surpassed us. Belgium, for instance, has introduced non-binary IDs and allows self-determination of gender.

Local Voices: Malta’s LGBTIQ Community Speaks Out

We caught up with Alex, a long-time activist and member of Malta’s LGBTIQ community. “Malta’s drop in the rankings isn’t a cause for despair,” they told us. “It’s a call to action. We’ve set the bar high, and now we need to keep pushing forward, to innovate and adapt.”

Alex isn’t alone. Many in the community are calling for more action, more visibility. They want to see more education in schools, more protection against hate speech, and more representation in politics and media.

: What’s Next for Malta’s Rainbow?

Malta’s drop in the rankings is a reminder that progress isn’t a destination, but a journey. It’s a call to keep fighting, keep innovating, keep pushing for a more inclusive society.

, let’s remember the words of Malta’s first openly gay MP, Alex Muscat. “We’ve come a long way, but there’s still work to be done. We need to keep fighting, keep pushing, keep making Malta a better place for everyone.”