ADPD Deputy Chairperson and Spokesperson on European Union & Civil Rights Mina Jack Tolu said that this EuroPride has brought about a lot of mixed feelings: it’s been great to connect with LGBTIQ+ communities from across Europe and the rest of the World in various conferences, discussions and other intimate occasions where one discovers the hope of what can be achieved when one works together.
At the same time, a number of issues have been highlighted during this week, in particular about the implementation of laws in Malta, and how certain policies and practices are actually leading to increased red tape and bureaucracy. Tolu mentioned the examples of the additional hurdles being faced by trans-children to access legal gender recognition or for trans people who are neuro-atypical/neuro-divergent to access trans specific healthcare where even more steps are being added in between their access to healthcare and their starting point in their transition.
In the case of LGBTIQ+ migrants who are not coming from safe countries who seek refuge in Europe and seek asylum in Malta, whereas they should be safeguarded in LGBTIQ+ legislation they face the risk of being sent back to countries which Malta considers safe even if homosexuality is criminalised. The barriers these migrants face when accessing legal aid, in communicating with local NGOs and LGBTIQ+ organisations that can support them in their application for asylum is unacceptable.
ADPD appeals that every step to support these persons who come to Europe to find an LGBTIQ+ community that accepts them but instead are faced with a lot of bureaucracy and closed doors, concluded Tolu.
Kira Marie Peter-Hansen, Danish Member of the European Parliament and Vice-President of the Greens-EFA group concurred with the previous speaker that although Malta is at the forefront in civil rights there are still steps to be taken in order to ensure gender equality and equality for LGBTIQ+ people.
Across Europe there is currently a backlash sweeping against rights of all minorities as Conservative parties move to the Right and joining forces with Extreme Right parties. She singled out Italy, Spain, Sweden, Finland and even in the US and globally.
“It is therefore important that we keep uniting progressive forces in driving the change to ensure equal rights and opportunities in all of Europe”. Peter-Hansen concluded by auguring that Malta will remain in the forefront of this struggle.