As we prepare to take to the streets for Malta Pride 2025, we do so with both joy and defiance in our hearts. Pride has always been more than a parade — it is a protest. And this year, more than ever, we are calling for Pride to return to its roots.

Here in Malta, we have much to be proud of. For the tenth consecutive year, Malta has ranked first on ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map, reflecting our nation’s commitment to advancing LGBTIQ+ rights. However, this achievement does not mean our work is complete. Challenges remain, including the need for comprehensive recognition of non-binary individuals across all official documents and the implementation of a renewed LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy and Action Plan.

Our events throughout Pride Week will celebrate how far our communities have come — but we will march with a purpose. It will be loud, it will be proud, and it will be a powerful reminder that our fight is far from over. Starting with Gozo Pride on the 6th of September, right through to the Malta Pride on the 13th of September.

Across the world, from Hungary to the United States and beyond, the rights of LGBTQIA+ people are under attack.

In Hungary, the government has enacted a constitutional amendment banning public LGBTQIA+ events, including Budapest Pride. This legislation also permits the use of facial recognition technology to monitor attendees and defines gender strictly as male or female based on birth, effectively erasing the identities of transgender and intersex individuals.

In Uganda, the Anti-Homosexuality Act was reintroduced with harsher penalties, including life imprisonment and even the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality.”

In Saudi Arabia, homosexuality remains punishable by death. Discrimination is rife and so-called ‘honour’ killings are an ever-present danger.

Honour-based violence against LGBTIQ+ people remains a hidden epidemic in many rural areas of India and other parts of South Asia.

When Taiwan legalised same-sex marriage in 2019, it became a beacon of hope in Asia. However, this progress sparked counter-movements in neighbouring countries like Indonesia, where new laws criminalising extramarital sex (including same-sex relationships) were passed in 2022.

In the United States, as of early 2025, 27 states have enacted bans on gender-affirming care to some extent. These laws vary in scope, with some states banning all forms of medical transition, while others prohibit specific treatments such as hormone therapy or surgery.

Just recently in the UK we heard the deeply concerning Supreme Court ruling that undermines the rights of trans individuals to self-identify and be recognized under the law. This decision sets a dangerous precedent and sends a chilling message to queer communities across Europe. At Malta Pride, we reaffirm our commitment to protecting and uplifting trans rights. Equality is not negotiable—trans rights are human rights.

Even locally Malta, despite its status as top of the European Rainbow Index, has much that needs to be done if 2025 has taught us anything.

From students being removed from schools by parents unwilling to accept the possibility of a gay teacher educating their children; to Carnival enjoyers being told by officers it was illegal for them to publicly kiss, of which there are no laws for public displays of affection of this nature; to actual entrapment, assault and mugging of young man by a group of youths due to his sexuality, something that was admitted to and constitutes nothing short of a hate crime, only for these youths to get off on a light sentence with no real punishment other than paying bail and a curfew.

Malta remains a beacon of progress, and we will continue to honour the victories we’ve won.

We march for those who cannot. We raise our voices for those who are being silenced. And we stand in solidarity with our siblings worldwide — because Pride began as a protest, and in the face of rising hate, it must continue to be one.

Let’s celebrate. Let’s march. Equality from the Heart.

We encourage everyone to join us, to make your voices heard, to show your support to our community, to your friends and family, your neighbours, to everyone both here in Malta and Gozo and around the world. That we will not rest until we have equality for everyone and that we want everyone to be on the right side of history. Our safety and our rights are never guaranteed and we shall not be complacent.

Maria Azzopardi and the Allied Rainbow Communities Executive Team

We will announce in the coming months our program of events including community discussions, the 3rd edition of our Out@Work HR Conference, social gatherings and much more.

Malta Pride 2025 – 5th to 14th September 2025