Malta - Europe’s hottest LGBTQ+ destination in 2022

The pandemic has been prohibiting journeys for over 2 years now, so many amazing plans were changed or canceled completely. You probably experienced this in the last few years. Luckily, most of Europe has opened its doors once more to everyone who wants to explore its beauty.  With the possibility of a season loaded with much-needed trips and quests, recovering the lost time, what is the present landscape in Europe for LGBTQ+ individuals? Because we need to feel safe and have our rights respected wherever we go, as residents or just as tourists. And there is no denying that, however, the reality is that some places are not LGBT-friendly yet, while some are suitable and perfect for the community to feel at home.

This year's ILGA Rainbow Europe Map rates 49 European states based on 74 separate criteria: some of these criteria are equality, inclusivity, gender recognition, hate speech, hate crimes, and asylum. Each nation gets a percentage between 0 and 100. Surprisingly or not, Malta is at the top of the list, scoring 92% in 2022 and being no 1 in respecting LGBTI rights 7 years in a row! Impressive! This small island is ahead of Denmark, the second most LGBTI-friendly country in Europe and Belgium. At the bottom of the list we find Turkey and Azerbaijan, with only 4% and 2%. This comes as no shock since Malta has an extended history of queer approval. It is one of the rare nations where LGBTQI+ freedoms are accepted and recognized at a constitutional level. It has established itself to be ahead of the curve when it arrives to growing LGBTQ+ fairness and abolishing biased lawmaking. In Malta, queer people have also been allowed to serve in the military ever since 2002.

Moreover, same-sex marriage and civil unions are legal. In 2016, Malta became one of few nations to introduce gender recognition reforms and dismiss excessive bureaucracy and surgical conditions for the recognition to be legal. In other nations, such laws have become “culture war” topics, but Malta pressed forward without publicity. Besides, conversion treatment is also prohibited for adults and minors. Being at the top of the Rainbow Europe rankings for the last 7 years successively, Malta is still aiming to extend LGBTQ+ rights, rather than sleeping on its stature. This year, Malta has dramatically decreased COVID restrictions just like other countries across Europe. Life has mostly returned to normality and tourists as well. The only conditions for visitors are a certificate of full vaccination, proof of recovery from COVID-19 in the past 6 months, or a negative COVID test. However, masks are no longer mandatory on flights or in public spaces, although you might feel comfier wearing one in crowded places.

Fortunately, easy access is a good thing because Malta has a lot to offer this year. If you haven't already, you might want to check out the International Wine Festival, where you can taste the world’s finest wines, and the International Arts Festival, where you can enjoy all kinds of graphic arts, dance, music, and theatre. If you're a music lover, don't miss the Malta Jazz Festival to see famous jazz artists perform. Plus, the Pride Week is taking place in the autumn and this year's theme is #LiveYourTruth. Join marches, shows, events, and concerts along with queer people from all over the globe.

If you missed the summer's events, no worries! Fortunately, Malta has more to offer for its LGBTI+ community throughout the year, not only in the summer. The country will be the host of EuroPride Valletta 2023, an extraordinary and one-of-a-kind event that strives to offer LGBTQ+ people across Europe and from North Africa and the Middle East, a safe space to express themselves. The event will be held in Valletta this autumn, featuring a remarkable opening tradition for all visitors and participants to a wide range of shows and parties. Because here, in Malta, we're talking about acceptance as an all-year-round priority. With hundreds of communities across the continent and all around the world facing a lot of setbacks and hard challenges in the last few years, Malta is the a unique exapmple of how fast things can adjust in a profound, significant way, without external interference and political obstacles. Sure, no country in the world has the perfect conditions for LGBTI+ people and communities, but Malta is living proof that one nation can strive continuously and make significant progress regarding people's rights, protection, and acceptance.