Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms and Equality Rebecca Buttigieg, together with the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Malta Djoeke Adimi, inaugurated the Amsterdam Dress at Spazju Kreattiv. This remarkable garment, originally showcased at EuroPride in the Netherlands in 2016, found its new home during Malta’s EuroPride Valletta 2023 celebration.
Michela Buhagiar, a Maltese model, had the honour of wearing the Amsterdam Dress, a piece of artistry and symbolism crafted from flags representing countries where being an LGBTIQ+ individual remains illegal.
In her address, Parliamentary Secretary Rebecca Buttigieg emphasised that while Malta celebrates a decade of civil rights advancements for the LGBTIQ+ community, it cannot overlook the ongoing discrimination and persecution faced by these individuals. The Amsterdam Dress serves as a poignant reminder that equality remains a universal aspiration.
Dutch Ambassador, Djoeke Adimi, highlighted the designers’ intent behind this symbolic dress – to spark conversations and raise awareness about the imperative for inclusion and equality as universal rights across all nations.
Notably, this dress, now part of the Amsterdam Museum’s collection, features flags from eight countries where homosexuality can still be punishable by death.
The inauguration ceremony also welcomed Arnout van Krimpen, representing the Amsterdam Dress Foundation and serving as one of the dress’s designers.
Photos: DOI, MHSR_PS
