U.S. Embassy in Malta

U.S. Embassy Joins EuroPride Valletta 2023 Celebrations

The U.S. Embassy is proud to announce its support for EuroPride Valletta 2023!  From September 11 to 16, the Gilbert Baker Foundation, a U.S.-based non-profit organization, will display the Flag in the Map exhibition in St. George’s Square, Valletta.  The exhibition is funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of State’s Educational and Cultural Affairs Bureau and American Voices Arts Envoy Program.  Supporting LGBTQI+ and minority rights is a cornerstone of the U.S. Department of State’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

Charley Beal, who is the president of the renowned Gilbert Baker Foundation, will curate the Flag in the Map exhibition, which features placards showcasing inspirational stories of LGBTQI+ persons from around the world and what the Pride Flag means to them.  The Gilbert Baker Foundation preserves and extends the legacy of Gilbert Baker, an American who created the Rainbow Flag in 1978.

Flag in the Map is a collaboration between the Gilbert Baker Foundation and ReportOUT, two organizations dedicated to advancing LGBTQI+ rights and visibility worldwide.  In October 2020, they issued an open call for submissions, inviting people from all corners of the globe to share their photos of proudly flying the Pride Flag.  The response was overwhelming, with submissions pouring in from countless countries.  Each photograph and accompanying story represent a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and courage, even in societies where the freedom of LGBTQI+ individuals is threatened.

Mr. Beal will also participate in other EuroPride engagements with U.S. Embassy Valletta’s support.  On September 11, he will deliver a presentation entitled Stories from the Art Department:  Setting the Scene for Milk (2008) during Screen Malta’s two-day Masterclass on LGBTQI+ Representation in Film.  On September 13, Charley Beal will address the opening ceremony of the Human Rights Conference.  Mr. Beal and U.S. Embassy officials will also join the EuroPride March on September 16.

Charley Beal is a lifelong social activist who worked closely with Gilbert Baker beginning in 1994 with the creation of the Mile Long Rainbow Flag for Stonewall 25.