Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/519957
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 31 MAY 2015 News 3 TIM DIACONO AROUND 250 people took to the sunny streets of Valletta yesterday to celebrate LGBTI+ rights in the annual Pride March. It was the first pride march since a law on gender identity was en- acted earlier this year and the mood was a visibly jovial one as the marchers made their way from City Gate and down Merchants' Street, before circling back along Republic Street. Balloons were waved, loud music was blared off a float, and plac- ards were raised proudly – notable ones bearing the words 'Break the Gender Binary', 'Queers Against Israeli Apartheid', and a particu- larly eye-raising 'If Zonqor Point was gay, Joseph wouldn't have given it away'. It was a first pride march for the newly-formed 'Gender Liberation', an NGO set up earlier this year to focus on transgender rights. "LGBTI+ rights in Malta have greatly improved over the last two years," Gender Liberation spokes- man and PN councillor Alex Man- gion said at the march, referring to the gender identity law and the introduction of civil unions. "The next step simply involves getting to know us, ensuring we are truly included in society." The two laws have pushed Malta all the way up to third in the In- ternational Lesbian-Gay Associa- tion's 'Rainbow Europe' league. However, Malta Gay Rights Movement coordinator Gabi Calleja warned that greater chal- lenges lay ahead in the quest for true inclusion. "We must now focus on imple- menting these laws in practice and ensuring that institutions change their practices to conform with the law," Calleja said. "This will take more of an effort than enact- ing the laws themselves, whereby we only needed to convince politi- cians. "Take prisons, for example. We need to ensure that trans-prison- ers have full access to the gender identity law and are transferred from one section of the prison to another accordingly." 'Now an issue of mentality' – Muscat, Busuttil Numerous politicians from the two major parties turned up for the event, with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat making a brief ap- pearance among the crowds before the march began. "While we will continue updat- ing our laws, it is now an issue of mentality," Muscat said of the status of LGBTI+ rights in Malta. "One of the most famous figures that was bandied about before the government enacted the civil un- ions law was that 70% of the public were against it. I believe that the percentage is much lower now." Just over a year since being at the receiving end of loud boos from an LGBT crowd for his abstention in the civil unions vote, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil appeared fully at ease mingling with the marchers. "Society has progressed and laws have been enacted, but a lot of work remains to be done," Busuttil said. "Our presence at this march will hopefully send out a message that our mentality needs to change so as to render our society one that is truly in favour of equality." Civil Liberties Minister Helena Dalli highlighted the government's work on a strategy to ensure that the new LGBTI+ legal rights are truly being put into practice. "Obviously, a lot of education and attitude changes are required for our society to become more equal," Dalli said. "However, the new laws and the ensuing public debate helped people understand that gay, transgender and intersex people don't choose to be born that way, and that society must therefore appreciate diversity." Pride March enlivens sunny Valletta Pride Marchers in jovial mood in their first such activity since the gender identity law was enacted and since the introduction of civil unions Win a MacBook Air or Sony TV* Super Savings on Home and Car Insurance Citadel Insurance p.l.c. t Casa Borgo t 26 Market Street t Floriana FRN 1082 t Tel: 2557 9000 t Freephone 800 72322 t E-mail: info@citadelplc.com t www.citadelplc.com Branches: Il-Gżira 2133 2151 t Ħaż-Żebbuġ 2146 4873 t In-Naxxar 2141 9198 t Paola 2180 6247 t San Ġwann 2733 0044 tIl-Mosta 2143 8880 t Iż-Żejtun 2180 7779 t Victoria 2156 6660 t Tied Insurance Intermediaries: Malta t Gozo Citadel Insurance p.l.c. is a company authorised to carry on general and long term business of insurance and is regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority. FREE PLANT on the occasion of World Environment Day ** *Terms and conditions apply. ** Free plants will be distributed on the 3rd, 4th & 5th June, upon renewal or purchase, until stock lasts. Terms and conditions apply. A gay couple in an embrace at the Pride March in Valletta A Pride Marcher makes a topical point in a poster It was not adults only who enjoyed themselves