For Moviment Graffitti, Pride month is a time to reflect on the rights of the LGBTIQ+ community. The Pride march, which is the culmination of activities during Pride week, for us is not just a colourful celebration but a political manifestation.

We have been participating in the Pride march from the very beginning, 20 years ago. Since then, in Malta, we have seen a great deal of progress where legislation and policies protecting the LGBTIQ+ community are concerned. However, this does not mean that there is only place for celebration and no place for political action.

One may think that Malta is LGBTIQ+ heaven but unfortunately this is far from the truth. We should not stand on our laurels and pretend that all is fine.

The Gender Wellbeing clinic in Paola is a case in point. The clinic has not been functioning as it should, for more than a year. There is a long waiting list for new cases to be considered to start their gender transitioning process. The clinic is running without a psychiatrist at the moment since the only psychiatrist who used to work at the clinic is no longer available. This is causing a great deal of frustration. Many young people who have been waiting for the service have had to resort to private healthcare since the state service has left them hanging. They felt they could no longer postpone the process of affirming their gender identity.

Another issue that has been neglected, despite an electoral promise, is the provision of free pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) from hospital. Although Malta has one of the highest rates of HIV diagnoses in Europe, the Maltese authorities have still not invested in the prevention of HIV infection. Therefore, those who are at risk of HIV infection, such as sexually active gay men, and can afford it, have to buy the medicine themselves. Those who do not, risk contracting the virus and further spreading it in the community.

Despite the fact that Malta occupies the top position in LGBTIQ+ rights in Europe, not all members of the LBGTIQ+ community are protected by existing legislation and  policies. LGBTIQ+ migrants do not feel included or safe in our country. LGBTIQ+ asylum seekers face illegal detention and risk being deported because they cannot easily prove their sexual orientation. Malta considers eight of the countries that criminalise homosexuality as safe, putting LGBTIQ+ migrants at risk of having their application for asylum rejected. If they are sent back to these countries, they can face years of imprisonment, persecution or even death. LGBTIQ+ asylum seekers are not safe living in detention centres, risking discrimination and stigma as well as abuse.

LGBTIQ+ asylum seekers and asylum seekers with HIV face double discrimination since they are not separated at initial reception centre. In addition, essential services, including life-saving antiretroviral therapy and gender-affirming health care services that include initiation or continuation of hormonal treatment is very difficult, if not impossible to access. This is an essential healthcare service for transgender and nonbinary people as well as for people with HIV.

Moviment Graffitti would be proud of being in the top position on the LGBTIQ+ ILGA Europe index only when the rights of the whole LGBTIQ+ community are protected. It calls on the authorities to take the opportunity to act in favour of the LGBTIQ+ community not just march with them.

Dr Angele Deguara is an academic, an LGBTIQ+ ally and a Moviment Graffitti activist.

Main photo: Alexander Grey