As EuroPride Valletta 2023 came to a close, Equality Parliamentary Secretary Rebecca Buttigieg has described the 29th edition of EuroPride as having been a success, with a sense of satisfaction felt by its organisers as well as the European Pride Organisers Association.
A sizeable attendance was recorded during EuroPride events on Saturday 16th September. Over 38,000 people were present for the Pride March and the headlining concert near the Triton Fountain, the government statement read. Buttigieg noted that with thanks to attending foreigners, the Pride March was the largest in the last 20 years from those organised in Malta.
Following the Pride March - which commenced in St. Anne Street and concluded in the main streets of the capital - the headlining concert took place at Floriana's Granaries. It featured some of the best talents from the local music scene as well as international pop star Christina Aguilera as the concert's main attraction.
Across the ten days of EuroPride Valletta 2023, 80 activities were held in Triton Square; the Pride Village was the heart of many of these activities. The theme of this year's EuroPride was of "Equality from the Heart".
"EuroPride's 10-day programme included concerts and a variety of exhibitions, films, a 3-day human rights conference, an international forum that included the participation of foreign politicians from various countries, and discussions on relevant issues for LGBTIQ+ people and the rest of the society."
"This celebration also bared witness to a humungous pride flag. The flag - which was originally designed by Gilbert Baker in 1978 - displayed the iconic rainbow colours across a length of nearly 25 metres."
The Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms and Equality Rebecca Buttigieg expressed her satisfaction at the widespread participation of people during this edition of EuroPride.
Stating that many members of civil society outside of the LGBTIQ+ community were in attendance across these past ten days, Buttigieg was confident that this EuroPride spurred on a necessary discussion across the country as the festival provided an educational platform to overcome existing prejudices against the LGBTIQ+ community.
Buttigieg said that this major event should continue to help change the perception of some people who, due to a lack of knowledge or awareness, have not yet recognized the necessity to work in favour of an equal society.
She continued that this all complements national reforms that have been carried out in the Maltese islands in favour of equality. Moreover, the Parliamentary Secretary described how this EuroPride has strengthened Malta's political will to continue carrying out reforms in this direction to sustain Malta's first place in the European index of equality.
Malta has now passed on the mandate for next year's EuroPride celebration to take place in Thessaloniki, Greece.