09/06/2026
In a recent interview with *MaltaToday*, Nationalist MP Conrad Borg Manche argued that Malta no longer needs Pride and suggested that Pride itself divides the very community it seeks to bring together. He further implied that the LGBTQIA+ community has effectively achieved acceptance in Malta, pointing to legislative progress and comparing the present situation to the realities of previous generations.
Let us be clear: despite the progress that has been made, LGBTQIA+ people in Malta continue to face discrimination, violence, and hostility. Only last year, an individual was assaulted solely because of his sexual orientation. Furthermore, as recently as this year, a political party included in its manifesto proposals to repeal rights currently enjoyed by LGBTQIA+ people. These realities stand in stark contrast to any suggestion that full acceptance has already been achieved.
It is also worth recalling that during the television programme in which Dr Borg Manche himself participated, several debates concerning LGBTQIA+ issues featured arguments that many recognised as the same narratives used against our community two decades ago and beyond. The persistence of these arguments demonstrates that LGBTQIA+ people are still too often expected to justify their existence, their identities, and their right to equal treatment.
Pride celebrates difference because, for many members of our community, difference has historically been met with exclusion rather than celebration. Pride affirms that people do not need to conform to rigid expectations rooted in traditional or conservative norms in order to be valued and respected. It celebrates journeys of self-discovery, belonging, and community. Most importantly, Pride celebrates unity across diverse identities and experiences, welcoming not only LGBTQIA+ individuals but also the countless allies who stand beside their friends, family members, colleagues, and loved ones.
Pride is both a celebration and a protest. It is both a parade and a march. It celebrates the progress that has been achieved while recognising the work that remains unfinished. If Dr Borg Manche takes issue with this reality, he may wish to reflect on his party's own commitments during the recent election campaign, when it pledged to work hand in hand with the LGBTQIA+ community.
As for concerns that children should not be exposed to Pride because it may somehow influence them, history provides a straightforward answer. LGBTQIA+ people grew up surrounded by heterosexual relationships, traditional gender roles, and heteronormative expectations, yet this did not determine their identities. The presence of Pride will not determine a child's identity either. What it can teach is something far more valuable: that every person deserves dignity, respect, and acceptance for who they are.
Dr Borg Manche also argued that because the community has gained equality, Pride is no longer necessary. This misunderstands both the purpose of Pride and the nature of equality itself. Equality means recognising that people can be different while enjoying the same rights, protections, and opportunities as everyone else. That principle lies at the very heart of Pride.
And so, Dr Borg Manche, you remain welcome to join us during Pride, alongside political leaders from across the spectrum and thousands of members of the community and their allies. Should you choose not to attend, that is of course your prerogative. But Pride will continue to exist for as long as visibility, solidarity, and equality remain necessary—and today, they unquestionably are.
Allied Rainbow Communities (ARC)
