Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1503554
6 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 12 JULY 2023 NEWS NEWS KARL AZZOPARDI MALTA will be hosting the Eu- roPride 2023 next September, and as part of the run-up to- wards the celebrations, organis- ers have been hosting a number of events to raise awareness on equality. Last Saturday, the latest col- ourful EuroPride 2023 event brought people of all ages to- gether in the capital for 'Danc- ing With Pride'. Despite the event happening last Saturday, a blurry photo from behind the stage featur- ing drag artist Olivia Lilith sent conservative voices alarmed by the photo into overdrive on so- cial media late on Monday. The out of context photo, shared by household names such as John Bundy spread like wildfire, as Facebook commen- tors started sounding the alarm bells on how "children should be left alone". But what really happened on Saturday? Dancing With Pride Dancing With Pride was or- ganised in front of the parlia- ment building at City Gate in Valletta, and was open to people of all ages. From break-dancers to line dancers, English school students and passers-by, all par- ticipated in the events being or- ganised in the capital. During the event, a flash mob routine, which had been an- nounced for weeks, was thought to those present. Organisers behind the event said the event looked to raise awareness on the fight for equality, and looked to bring to- gether different groups in socie- ty for the cause. All children were accompa- nied by a parent or guardian, and had given their consent to being filmed. Olivia Lilith not part of the event Speaking to MaltaToday, the drag artist Olivia Lillith said she was not part of the event, but had seen posters for the event and felt it was a fun event to at- tend. "I saw the event, and felt that I needed to attend. Given it was a pride event, I felt it appropriate to attend as Olivia Lillith," she said. She said there were a handful of children at Dancing With Pride, and they were all accom- panied by a parent. "To me that is beautiful. Unlike what some are trying to portray, children, tourists, and all kinds of people attended willingly, and wanted to be part of the celebration." Lillith said the event was not addressed for a specific audi- ence or minority, but was open to all. "The event wanted to celebrate love through dance by bringing people together, and it managed to do that," Lillith said. Drag artist triggers conserva- tive mob The photo which kicked off the social media outrage was first shared by popular pre- senter John Bundy, in which he warned authorities to not "cross the line" or else risk los- ing everything they strived for. The comment section under the post was flooded with com- ments insisting children should be left out of such events. The post has since been deleted. Many followed suit, as oth- er Facebook posts started to spring all over Facebook. Former Nationalist MP Edwin Vassallo, known for his social conservative stance and who regularly speaks out against civ- il liberties was among the first to jump on the bandwagon, saying children should not be attending such events. His ranting continued on Tuesday morning, with the for- mer MP saying children are not the state's property, and gov- ernment should not indoctri- nate children. The PN's education spokes- person Justin Schembri also had his say, posting the out of con- text photo to his social media profile, questioning "why chil- dren are being involved or used" in such demonstrations. "I always argued, and insisted, to let children be," Schembri said. Dancing with Pride: how out-of-context photo sent conservatives into overdrive A EuroPride 2023 event looked to bring people together through dance, but a photo taken out- of-context sent social media into a misinformation frenzy The Dancing With Pride event held last Saturday The Facebook post uploaded by John Bundy which has since been deleted