Gay friendly - How a conservative island became a leader in LGBTIQ+ rights

In May-June 2023, eight participants took part in the first ever Online Creative Residency from Europeana’s Digital Storytelling Festival. They worked with mentors in animation, social media stories and new writing relating to LGBTQ+ culture and communities.

Malta, a small island in the Mediterranean Sea is gay friendly for a reason. Using an Instagram carousel, Audrey Rose Mizzi explores how this historic island went from being conservative to being a leader in LGBTIQ+ rights.

Explore her post and find out more about Audrey below.

About the author

Who am I?

My name is Audrey and I'm work in Marketing and Communications as an executive at Spazju Kreattiv, Malta's National Centre for Creativity. I've studied Art History, Preventive Conservation as well as Museum and Gallery Studies and have worked with institutions on different jobs from front of house to documentation and collections care.

Why did I apply to the Digital Storytelling Online Creative Residency?

I applied for the residency as I find storytelling intriguing - whether you're using it to tell a story that is fiction or non-fiction. In social media, I've learned that stories are important especially when they come from individuals who have experienced, or are closely related to the subject you're discussing. The residency focused on LGBTIQ+ stories, so I was a bit out of my depth, but similarly I wanted to look into subjects like this and contribute to the ever-growing discourse.

What have I got out of the residency?

For me personally, it was important not to harm the community and bring it into focus. The topic I chose is also very sensitive, and can easily lead down a rabbit hole of negativity. Malta being deemed the safest place for LGBTIQ+ individuals for the 8th time in a row is surprising, considering that socially there's so much more to be done. Whether it's fear of the unknown, or religion, what's written on paper is not translated in real life. That's what I wanted to work on, and am still working on.