LGBT rights in Malta
| LGBT rights in Malta | |
|---|---|
Location of Malta (dark green)
– in Europe (light green & dark grey) |
|
| Same-sex sexual activity legal? | Legal since 1973 |
| Gender identity/expression | Transgender people allowed to change gender without surgery |
| Military service | Gays, lesbians and bisexuals allowed to serve openly |
| Discrimination protections | Yes (both sexual orientation and gender identity) |
| Family rights | |
| Recognition of relationships |
Civil unions since 2014; Same-sex marriages performed abroad recognised since 2014 |
| Adoption | Yes, as individuals and jointly if in a civil union |
– in Europe (light green & dark grey)
– in the European Union (light green) – [Legend]
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in Malta have evolved significantly over the course of the last decades. Throughout the late-20th century, the rights of the LGBT community received more awareness and same-sex sexual activity became legal in 1973, with an equal age of consent. Malta has been recognized for providing a high degree of liberty to its LGBT citizens. In October 2015, the European region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA-Europe) ranked Malta 1st in terms of LGBT rights out of 49 observed European countries. Malta is one of the only few countries in the world to have made LGBT rights equal at a constitutional level. In 2016, Malta became the first country in the European Union to ban conversion therapy.
Discrimination regarding sexual orientation and gender identity and expression has been banned nationwide since 2004. Gays, lesbians and bisexuals have been allowed to openly serve in the military since 2002. Gender identity and intersex rights in Malta are of the highest standard in the world under the Gender Identity, Gender Expression And Sex Characteristics Act. A law passed creating civil unions equal to marriage in all but name, with the same rights and obligations including joint adoption rights, was enacted in April 2014. However, same-sex marriage and both IVF and surrogacy access are still banned for same-sex couples. A 2015 opinion poll indicated that a majority of the public support same-sex marriage, with a significant increase over a decade. During the Maltese general election, 2017 both major parties (Labour Party and Nationalist Party) have agreed on legalising same-sex marriage at constitutional level. According to Helena Dalli, same-sex marriage is likely to be introduced in late 2017.
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