Every September, Malta and Gozo light up with colour, celebration, and courage as Pride Week takes centre stage. Yet, while Pride represents love, inclusion, and equality, it also brings a troubling rise in hate speech—especially online. This surge often comes from religious extremists, far-right voices, and individuals gripped by misinformation or prejudice. And while Malta ranks highly for LGBTI+ rights on paper, the reality for many Maltese and Gozitan queer people is often more complex—and dangerous.
What is hate speech?
The Oxford Dictionary defines hate speech as “abusive or threatening speech or writing that expresses prejudice on the basis of ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or similar grounds.” It can take many forms—not just words, but also emojis, memes, or images —and it can occur both online and offline.
Unlike bullying, which targets individuals repeatedly, hate speech often targets entire communities, seeking to dehumanise, humiliate, or exclude. It can include slurs, conspiracy theories, or language portraying certain groups as animals or threats to society.
It’s important to understand that hate speech isn’t always illegal, and that’s what makes it so pervasive—it often hides behind the veil of freedom of expression.
Hate speech vs. freedom of expression
Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of any democratic society. We all have the right to share our views, including views that others may disagree with. However, when speech incites violence, discrimination, or hostility, it crosses a line—and ceases to be protected under international or national law.
In Malta, Section 82A of the Criminal Code criminalises threatening, abusive, or insulting language or behaviour that incites violence or hatred, including based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The Press Act also imposes sanctions, although it falls short of explicitly protecting queer identities.
Freedom of expression comes with responsibility. It cannot be used to justify harm, exclusion, or violence.
The ripple effects of hate
Hate speech is not just “words”—it has real, harmful consequences. A 2019 study by the Institute for Social Research in Norway found that one in four LGBTI+ individuals had experienced hate speech. And that was before the global surge in far-right populism and anti-woke rhetoric, which has only intensified hostile attitudes.
More recently, a 2024 survey conducted by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) explored the experiences of over 100,000 LGBTIQ people aged 15 and older across the EU and neighbouring countries. In the year leading up to the survey, more than half of respondents in the EU (54%) reported facing at least one incident of harassment because of their LGBTIQ identity.
Today, that figure is likely even higher—especially in small, close-knit communities like Malta and Gozo, where deep-seated mistrust of law enforcement, fear of being outed, and the retraumatising effects of legal proceedings often deter victims from reporting such incidents.
Hate speech disempowers minorities, causes depression and anxiety, leads to social isolation, and can even push those affected toward suicide. For individuals who hold multiple marginalised identities—like queer people of colour, asylum seekers, trans and non binary individuals, or those with disabilities—the impact is even greater. In the FRA study one in three respondents aged 15–17 years (30 %) and a similar proportion of respondents with severe limitations due to disabilities (33 %) had thought ‘often’ or ‘always’ of suicide during the year before the survey.
Worse still, hate speech can escalate. When tolerated, it lays the groundwork for hate crimes—physical assaults, threats, vandalism, and more. History shows us that genocide and systemic violence often begin with words. Dehumanising rhetoric turns neighbours into enemies.
The digital battlefield
Malta’s news portals and comment sections become battlegrounds during Pride. Social media algorithms prioritise engagement over ethics, allowing hateful comments to gain traction. Often, these spaces are poorly moderated, if at all.
But silence allows hate to grow. So what can we do?
Fighting hate with love (and action)
The opposite of hate isn’t indifference—it’s love. And that love can be active. Here’s how to respond:
- Lovebombing:
If you see a hateful thread, flood it with positivity. Get your friends and followers to reply with uplifting comments, facts, personal stories, or emojis that show love and support. This pushes the hate further down, reducing its visibility and impact. - Counterspeech:
Speak up, calmly and firmly. Refute misinformation with facts. Share personal perspectives. Use empathy. Research shows that empathy-based responses can significantly reduce hate speech, especially on platforms like X. - Call it out, but stay safe:
If someone is spreading hate, say something—but not at the cost of your own safety. Defend others, report offensive content, and reach out to those targeted to offer support. - Educate and elevate:
Start conversations with friends, family, or students. Teach the difference between freedom of speech and hate speech. Share public campaigns and educational resources. Advocate for stronger moderation on social media and call out media outlets that allow hate to fester in their comment sections. - Report it:
Most platforms let you report hate speech easily. In Malta, serious cases should be reported to the police or the Victim Support Agency. Screenshot the evidence before it’s deleted, but do not edit or share it publicly, especially if you intend to take legal action. Contact Victim Support Agency (116006), who can assist in processing the report themselves, or go to your local police station to report.
Malta’s legal framework
As noted, hate speech is criminalised under the Maltese Criminal Code when it incites violence or hatred. However, there’s room for improvement. Sexual orientation and gender identity are not yet fully included in all protective laws, such as the Press Act. There is also a gap in enforcement. Laws are only as strong as their application, and many queer Maltese feel that their complaints are dismissed or downplayed. “Pinkwashing” – the appearance of progress without real action – only deepens the wounds.
What institutions can do
● Police must be trained to understand the effects of hate speech and take reports seriously. The act of reporting is traumatic enough without being de-escalated.
● Educators should address hate speech as part of digital literacy and civics education.
● NGOs like LGBTI+ Gozo, Allied Rainbow Communities, and MGRM play a crucial role in providing support, lobbying for legal reform, and countering misinformation.
Exciting initiatives like HateDemics, an EU project carried out in part by SOS Malta, are harnessing AI to help civil society fight hate speech and misinformation. Such tools will be introduced in schools to show the connection between fake news and hate—and to help build counterspeech campaigns rooted in truth and empathy. Meanwhile in Slovenia, the Ljubljana Pride Association have created an app to help ‘de-contr-aminate’ discriminatory graffiti. Hateful graffiti is identified, recorded and neutralised by overlaying a positive message or pro-active sticker.
The power of you
Hate thrives in silence. It multiplies when left unchecked. But it withers when exposed to light—when people speak up, educate others, and replace hate with love, facts, and action.
So this September, as the rainbow flags wave and the parades march on, remember that Pride is more than a party. It is a protest. It is a plea. It is a promise—to celebrate love, to honour difference, and to fight, always, against hate.
Get Support!
Phone: National Helpline: 179; Emergency Services: 112; Victim Support Agency: 116 006
Appogg Domestic Violence Unit: 2295 9000; Social Work Unit-Gozo: 2215 6630
LGBTI+ Gozo: 9935 662; Rainbow Support: 7943 0006
Online chat: kellimni.com
OLLI chat: run by Richmond Foundation
Warren is a heritage professional and content writer whose work explores identity and food pathways. He also works freelance as a community officer with LGBTI+ Gozo and is an active advocate for human rights, freedom of expression, and environmental sustainability.
Follow the journey at warreninwords.com
