Quote from Alex bobby on June 29, 2025, 5:21 AM

Pro-LGBTQ+ Yet Anti-Abortion: Unpacking Malta’s Contradictory Social Policies

Malta, the tiny Mediterranean island nation, stands as a striking paradox in modern Europe. On one hand, it leads the continent in advancing LGBTQ+ rights, regularly topping international equality rankings. On the other, it maintains Europe’s strictest abortion laws, with a near-total ban that criminalises terminations even in cases of rape or severe foetal abnormalities.

So how does a country that celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride and legal equality also deny reproductive rights? The answer lies in a unique blend of religion, politics, culture, and public sentiment.

A Nation of Contrasts

Malta’s progressive LGBTQ+ record is impressive. Since 2013, it has legalised same-sex civil unions and marriage, granted adoption rights to same-sex couples, banned conversion therapy, and introduced gender self-identification laws. These reforms have not only won international praise but have also reshaped Maltese society.

Yet, the abortion debate remains deeply taboo. When Dutch journalist and pro-choice activist Belle de Jong shared her abortion story on Maltese TV in 2021, she broke a national silence. She also opened the floodgates to both support and hostility. Many women quietly thanked her for speaking up—some admitted to having abortions themselves—but the backlash was swift and vitriolic. Messages calling her a "baby killer" flooded her inbox, especially from older generations.

De Jong had her abortion in the Netherlands after her contraceptive pill failed. While it was the right decision for her, she described how isolated women in Malta feel. “You can’t even Google things without fear,” she said. “After a certain point, you’ll need to travel, and that takes money and planning. And all the while, you can't tell anyone. It's scary.”

Why LGBTQ+ Rights Advanced but Abortion Didn't

The reasons behind Malta’s uneven progress lie in societal values and political strategy. Robert Attard, from the Malta LGBTIQ Rights Movement, attributes the success of LGBTQ+ reforms to sustained activism and a shift in government. “When the government changed in 2013, our years of lobbying suddenly paid off,” he said.

However, LGBTQ+ rights—especially civil partnerships and marriage—didn’t threaten Malta’s cherished image of the family, Attard explained. “Let’s say a very Catholic woman finds out her neighbour’s nice son is gay. She sees he’s still a good person. That visibility changed minds.”

But abortion is another matter entirely. It directly confronts Malta’s family-centric, Catholic ideals. According to Prof. Marceline Naudi from the University of Malta, abortion is seen as a threat to family unity. “The anti-choice movement says ‘unborn children’ are part of the family,” she said. In contrast, LGBTQ+ rights were framed as expanding—not challenging—existing notions of love and family.

Political Will and Public Fear

Progress also requires political champions. LGBTQ+ reforms were spearheaded by Helena Dalli, a former minister who later became the European Commissioner for Equality. Activists say there has never been a similar champion for abortion rights.

Even pro-choice politicians tend to stay quiet. Prof. Isabel Stabile, a gynaecologist and member of Doctors for Choice, said many political figures express support privately but won’t speak publicly. “They don’t want a revolution on their hands,” she explained. “So they leave us to do our work quietly.”

Doctors for Choice offers information about abortion access abroad and supports women through the process. The number of women using abortion pills in Malta is rising—around 600 pregnancies were terminated last year, according to Stabile. Though abortions are criminalised, doctors can legally provide information and referrals, supported by European human rights rulings.

Yet the risk for women remains high. “If a woman ends up in hospital and the abortion is revealed, she faces up to three years in prison,” said Stabile. There have been no recent imprisonments, but the fear is real—especially for marginalised women.

A Slow Cultural Shift

Despite Malta’s abortion ban, public discourse is starting to shift. De Jong recently led the My Voice, My Choice campaign, gathering over 4,200 signatures in Malta for a European citizens' initiative advocating free abortion access across the EU. Most people signed online, fearing the stigma of going public.

“The campaign was an eye-opener,” said de Jong. “It showed that more people are pro-choice than we realised. But they won’t talk about it publicly yet.”

Experts agree that changing public opinion is key. Malta’s LGBTQ+ progress, while rapid, was built on visibility and dialogue. Reproductive rights may need the same long-term strategy.

Final Thought

Malta’s dual identity—progressive on LGBTQ+ rights but regressive on abortion—offers a unique case study in how social change unfolds. Visibility, activism, and political will helped transform LGBTQ+ rights in just over a decade. But abortion, tangled in the island’s religious identity and family values, remains the final frontier.

As more women speak up and public attitudes evolve, the hope is that reproductive rights, too, will one day be seen not as a threat to family—but as a fundamental part of personal freedom and healthcare.

Conclusion

Malta’s contrasting stances on LGBTQ+ rights and abortion reveal the complex layers of culture, religion, and politics shaping social progress. While visibility, activism, and political support helped advance LGBTQ+ protections, abortion remains deeply stigmatised—seen not as a healthcare issue, but as a challenge to the island’s family-oriented and Catholic identity.

Still, a quiet shift is underway. As more women share their stories and grassroots campaigns gain momentum, the conversation around reproductive rights is slowly entering public discourse. True progress may take time, but if Malta’s history of social change is any guide, public opinion—and eventually policy—can evolve when people are willing to speak up.

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Malta leads Europe on LGBTQ+ rights but maintains a strict abortion ban. Discover the cultural, religious, and political reasons behind this surprising divide — and how the conversation is slowly changing.