LGBTQ Rights in Malta & Pride Week September 2019

Pride Week in Malta, like other Pride events around the world, is growing year on year as more people want to support the cause and join the celebrations. This is fantastic news for the LGBTQ community and is making Malta a more inclusive place to live and visit.

How Malta is leading the way for LGBTQ rights

Last year Malta was number one in the Rainbow Europe Map and Index as the friendliest place for LGBTQ tourists and residents. This was probably helped by the new same-sex marriage legislation and gender-neutral official documents, with discussions about gender neutral identity cards and passports being considered. Malta’s hospitality industry is also playing a large part in equality and Gayguidemalta.com has a huge directory of ‘Gay Friendly’ accommodation like Casa Ellul, bars and cafes, restaurants and leisure activities and now wedding planners too. The website also lists a full calendar of social activities and entertainment including drag and cabaret. There are LGBT club nights throughout the year like Lollipops and BeatBears and the wonderful clubs like The Birdcage in Rabat and Michelangelo Club Lounge in Paceville. In addition to the growing gay scene, Malta’s President Joseph Muscat is a committed advocate of LGBTQ rights and actively supports the cause via his social media channels therefore raising awareness and acceptance nationally.

Malta Pride Week in September

During Pride Week the streets of Valletta will be filled with celebration and the bars will be bustling. The whole city will be decorated with rainbows.

The week starts on Friday 6^th September with a fashion show, a Lip-Sync Battle on Saturday 7^th,a pool party on the Sunday and various talks and special club nights throughout the week.

The Pride march is the Grand Finale and main event of the week. It starts at 5pm on Saturday 14^th September at The Granaries in Floriana. Local groups and businesses will have brightly decorated floats and costumes, there will be live performances throughout the parade and speeches too. The procession ends at St. George’s Square in Valletta where there will be an outdoor concert until 11pm, but there is also the Official Pride After-Party at Gianpula Fields in Rabat.

To keep the event family friendly, protect the environment and observe local laws, there are some rules about nudity, balloons and confetti throwing, which are listed on www.gaymalta.com/pridemarch

Where to stay during Malta Pride Week

During Pride week you should definitely support the small businesses around Valletta that have been applauded in the lists of LGBTQ friendly places to stay. Boutique, family-run hotels like Casa Ellul in the city centre work hard to make all their guests feel welcome. This wonderful hotel has 9 luxury suites to choose from, including 2 that have rooftop jacuzzies, perfect for relaxing before or after the march and looking out over the city as everyone celebrates, plus just a short walk to all of the live events throughout the week.