The massive party that celebrates everything Malta stands for

Green explained that EuroPride in Malta had familiar elements – such as parades, human rights conferences and empowering live performances – but this week also contained nods to a uniquely Malta experience, such as QUEERing Faith, a forum taking place tomorrow (Saturday) discussing the intersection of faith and sexuality.

He said: "With over 90% of the population identifying as Roman Catholics, religion is an important part of Maltese culture, and this discussion will gather individuals from the LGBTQ+ community, their loved ones and allies to explore how diverse faith experiences have empowered people from various religious backgrounds to embrace their love and unique identifies."

Malta has long been a trailblazer for LGBTQ+ rights – the island nation decriminalised same-sex relationships in 1973, legalised same-sex marriage in 2017 and last year made it legal for all genders, irrelevant of sexual orientation, to be allowed to donate blood.

For the last eight years in a row, Malta has occupied the number one spot on the Rainbow Europe Index, which monitors both the positive and negative impacts on the LGBTQ community, taking into account a wide range of factors, including legal gender recognition, family and marital issues and rights to asylum. It also ranked first place in the world on the gay travel index by Spartacus, which compares the situation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people (LGBT+) in 203 countries and regions.

Green said: “Malta has continuously been recognised for its leadership in this space – it is one of only a few countries in the world to have made LGBTQ+ rights equal at a constitutional level. Visitors will find that a vast majority of Maltese people are gracious and welcoming hosts.”