Maltese and foreign personalities from various sectors have been honoured with the MVINTAGE Pride Award for their distinct and exceptional contributions to the advancement of respect and equality for the LGBTIQ+ community in Malta and on the international scene.
European Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli received the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her vision and determination to lead the equality agenda. Both as Malta's Minister for Equality and as the first European Commissioner for Equality, Dr. Dalli made a lasting impact with a series of policies, laws, and directives in the field of equality for LGBTIQ+ individuals, which have been acknowledged with several other awards in recent years.
Singer Glen Vella won the Public Award not only for his professional career but also for the way he has consistently embraced his identity.
Sylvana Attard was honoured for her unwavering love and support for her transgender child, Miles Alexander. Against all prejudice, Sylvana set an example by defending her child and the rights of LGBTIQ+ individuals.
The award ceremony was organized by Allied Rainbow Communities and took place in the Pride Village as part of EuroPride Valletta 2023. Among the honourees was Michelle Cilia, Head Nurse at the Gender Wellbeing Clinic, recognized for her contributions to ensuring equal access to healthcare services.
The couple Glenn and Kurt Zammit Freeman received the 'Influence and Impact' award for their years of spreading messages of love, inclusion, and diversity. They have been a shining example of celebrating love while providing a safe social space for LGBTIQ+ individuals.
Hungarian activist Viktoria Radvanyi was awarded the prestigious 'Excellence in LGBTIQ+ representation worldwide' award for her advocacy work combating anti-LGBTIQ+ policies in her country.
In the sports category, Australian footballer Joshua Cavallo was recognized for publicly coming out as gay during his career, challenging stereotypes and promoting acceptance of gay individuals in sports competitions.
Romeo Roxman Gatt was honoured for his contributions to the artistic field, where he has promoted the rights of LGBTIQ+ individuals in Malta and across several European countries. He is the founder of Rosa Kwir, a collection of stories and experiences of individuals from the community who have faced discrimination and prejudice over the years.
Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms and Equality Rebecca Buttigieg expressed her joy for the honourees and emphasized that they were visionaries and pioneers in the journey towards respect and civil rights for LGBTIQ+ individuals, ensuring they enjoy fundamental human rights like everyone else. She added that the winners of these awards were a testament to the theme of EuroPride Valletta 2023 - Equality from the Heart, which will remain at the centre of political and social work until prejudice against this community is eradicated.
The ceremony concluded with a concert by the first Maltese Queer Choir. Led by Luke Saydon and with musical arrangements by Matteo Depares, the choir provided a unique and safe space for queer individuals, allies, and friends to come together and freely express themselves through the universal language of music.