The Gozo Pride event has been held for the fourth consecutive year, the Ministry for Gozo and the Parliamentary Secretariat for Reforms and Equality said, as they described the event as one of diversity, expression, and love.
They said that the event is also a powerful testament to the respect, inclusiveness, and solidarity that the Gozitan and Maltese people believe in.
Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri said that the ministry is proud to be part of the journey to continue strengthening support so that every citizen feels welcomed and appreciated. “Gozo, which for a long time was considered a conservative island, has in recent years fully joined Malta in the clear message that we want to convey through Gozo Pride, which is that every person has the right to express themselves freely and without fear.”
Camilleri continued that this is not only a matter of individual freedom, but also of social maturity, “where as a society we show that diversity is not something that divides us, but that unites us”. He said that the ministry had granted the first official space to the LGBTI+GOZO organisation a few years ago so that it could begin its work from an office in Victoria, in the heart of the Gozitan community. He said that this was a clear symbol that the government wanted to make the voice of the LGBTI+ community heard, as well as provide the tools for that voice to be strengthened.
He also spoke of how Gozo had hosted the Europride celebrations in 2023, which he described as a historic moment that put the island on the international map as a destination that welcomes everyone.
Parliamentary Secretary Rebecca Buttigieg said that it is gratifying to be attending the fourth edition of Gozo Pride. She said that the representation of LGBTIQ+ people in Gozo has increased in the last four years, but added that certain prejudices still persist. She said that she will continue to support the initiatives of LGBTIQ+GOZO, and added that fundamental human rights must be for everyone, including members of this community.
“The Pride celebration is a manifestation of the achievements and advances that this community has made in terms of civil rights. At the same time, it is a call to continue reforms in favour of inclusiveness and diversity and against all forms of discrimination,” she stated.
Camilleri concluded by saying that the government is committed not only to continuing to support these initiatives, but also to continuously work so that the rights it has granted over the years are protected, strengthened and accessible to all.