Below follows a Pride Month Statement by Minister For Equality Samantha Sacramento:

Today, 28th June is the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots or Stonewall Uprising as it is also called,  an event that happened in New York in 1969. Many people may already know the meaning of this  historic event and what its eventual consequences were. However, I think it is still important to  repeat this for the benefit of people who do not know, so that they can appreciate the importance  of Pride Month in Gibraltar and why our Government has introduced different initiatives to  commemorate it. 

In the early hours of the 28th June in 1969, the New York Police Department raided the Stonewall  Inn, a gay club in the Greenwich Village in New York. During this raid the Police roughly mistreated  and removed patrons from the club. As a result, there were 6 days of violent clashes with the police.  This event proved to be a catalyst for gay rights movements across the USA and in other places  around the world. It is evident that LGBTQ+ people have suffered a great deal in the past and  continue to be victimised today in many parts of the world. 

This year, to mark the start of the Pride Month, HM Government flew LGBTQ+ Pride flags at  different locations, including the land frontier and at No 6 Convent Place on the 1st June. The flags  are again flying today to commemorate the Stonewall Riots. The Moorish Castle was also brightly  lit up with the rainbow colours on the 1st of June and again will be lit up this evening. The symbols  of four pedestrian crossings were changed to show LGBTQ+ symbols. Whilst it was planned to  display these during the month of June, I now feel that it is necessary for these to remain for the  time being, in order to raise more awareness and to help instil inclusive attitudes by all in our  community. Attitudes still need to change, some reactions to the Pride month initiatives this year  have made this very clear. 

I am happy to see that the Pride initiatives this year have been very welcomed by the LGBTQ+  Community. Visibility is key and this is a solid step in the journey towards inclusion. However, some  of the comments on social media, particularly in relation to the rainbow flags and the new  pedestrian crossing symbols have been quite appalling and it has shown that a minority in Gibraltar  are still very homophobic. The comments I have read have shown a blatant disregard for other  Gibraltarians. This is precisely why we need a Pride Month. It has saddened me to see how some 

people cannot embrace, understand, accept or at least even tolerate other human beings because  of their sexual orientation or their gender identity. 

Attitudes are changing, I am certain of this, as evidence is all around for us to see. In the past  members of the LGBTQ+ community would have had no choice but to live “in the closet” in hiding,  in a form of survival mode, afraid of displaying any sort of sign that would indicate and make anyone  think that they were gay. It was only until 1993 that legislative changes decriminalised homosexual  activities in Gibraltar. Public signs of affection was something heterosexual couples could naturally  do without any repercussions, but this was not the case for gay couples. Thankfully, we live in a very  different world nowadays and it is very reassuring to see gay couples showing signs of affection in  public - this definitely demonstrates that we are moving in the right direction. Further legislative  changes by this Government have now allowed same sex couples to marry and also have children  together, something which not so long ago seemed like a sheer impossibility. It is easier for the  LGBTQ+ community to live their lives openly in Gibraltar, there can be no doubt that we are making  progress, but we are not quite there yet. 

I am thrilled to announce that today sees the launch of the first LGBTQ+ online survey for Gibraltar.  Hearing directly from stakeholders is vital in a democratic society which upholds the key values of  diversity and inclusion. I am very proud of this, not only because it will be the first time a  Government has done this in Gibraltar, but because it will also give a voice to many people from the  LGTBQ+ Community. The results of the survey will provide us with a better insight on the different  issues that might affect the LGBTQ+ Community. Everybody from the LGBTQ+ Community is  welcome to participate and can do this by directly accessing the following  link: https://govgibraltar.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_a4R5XLjCJdXGO9g or by clicking on the link  on the Department of Equality’s website: www.gibraltar.gov.gi/department-equality. The survey  can also be accessed by scanning the QR code at the bottom of this page. 

We have often spoken proudly of Gibraltar as a tolerant community. My hope, however, is that we  move beyond tolerance and work towards building a truly inclusive society where no one is the  same, but everyone is equal and equally valued. Where no one is the same but everyone can be  authentically themselves. 

The Pride rainbow flag has been flying proudly in my office throughout this month of June. I am glad  that it, as many of our visible initiatives, have been conversation starters. That is how we create  awareness and progress to education so that we can achieve proper inclusion. I look forward to  receiving the results of the online survey and I encourage everyone in Gibraltar’s LGBT+  community to participate, this will be the first time that an analysis of this type has been carried out  and will provide the Ministry for Equality with a benchmark which to develop our future policies  and strategies. 

As Gibraltar’s first Minister for Equality I very proud to see how attitudes in our community are  finally evolving and I see a Gibraltar where LGBTQ+ people have the same rights as everybody else,  are shielded from violence, malice and criticism and can live their lives freely and openly to the full.