Country Overview
Malta
At a glance
Same-sex Relations for Men Legal Throughout the Country?
Same-sex Relations for Women Legal Throughout the Country?
Legal Gender Recognition Possible?
LGBTI Orgs Able to Register?
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Malta is progressive in recognizing the rights of LGBTIQ people, particularly in recent years. Same-sex couples may marry and adopt, and transgender people can change their legal gender markers without medical intervention. Regardless of gender, people can use the gender-neutral marker ‘X’ on their passports. The constitution bans discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender, and conversion practices are also banned. Medically unnecessary surgeries on intersex infants are illegal. Gender-affirming surgery is not currently free, but in 2022 the Prime Minister stated that they would soon be covered as part of Malta’s publicly-funded national health service. Public opinion has become more LGBTIQ-friendly, and a majority of people in Malta now support same-sex marriage and believe that LGBTIQ people should enjoy the same rights as other people. Major political parties have moderate to strong support for the equal rights of LGBTIQ people, while some right-wing parties oppose equal rights. Despite these legal protections, discrimination in Malta still occurs, and HIV treatment and prevention provisions can be difficult to access.
Global Impact
Sub-Saharan Africa
Outright supports LGBTIQ organizations in Sub-Saharan Africa and works with mainstream human rights organizations to respect human rights and influence positive changes in laws, policies, attitudes and beliefs that cause discrimination against LGBTIQ people.
United Nations
Our work at the United Nations centers around advocating for the advancement of the rights of LGBTIQ people.
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Our work in Asia promotes acceptance of sexual and gender diversity at all levels of society.
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In the Middle East and North Africa, we partner with local groups in various countries as part of our international solidarity work. We also work with our local partners on different topics through capacity building, advocacy, research and holistic security.
Europe and Central Asia
Outright International partners with activists to fight for an end to human rights violations based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in Europe and Central Asia, where most of our work involves emergency responses to harassment, discrimination, violence, and most recently, Russia’s brutal and expanded invasion of Ukraine.
Americas
Our work in the Americas continues to build on the fundamental and positive transformation of human rights protections in recent years. We partner with groups in the Caribbean that focus on ending gender-based violence and eradicating discrimination against trans people.
Pacific
Our work in the Pacific aims to increase the visibility of activists, respond to human rights emergencies, and actively bridge local, regional, and international activism to achieve equality and justice.
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Human Rights Research
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