Gozo Pride is returning for its fifth edition this September, bringing two weeks of events to the island under the theme ‘Pride Without Permission’.Organised by LGBTI+ Gozo, this year’s Pride will culminate on Saturday 5th September, with a Pride Village, march through Victoria, live performances and an official after-party. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lovin Malta (@lovinmalta)“The theme ‘Pride Without Permission’ is a declaration that nobody needs permission to exist authentically, to love openly, or to live with dignity,” LGBTI+ Gozo said.The organisation stressed that Pride is not simply a celebration, but also an act of visibility, solidarity and remembrance, highlighting ongoing discrimination, hate speech and violence faced by LGBTIQ+ people both locally and internationally.The programme begins with the Pride Without Permission Exhibition at Villa Rundle, running from 28th August until 12th September and exploring identity, visibility and resistance through art and storytelling.On 4th September, Bell & Bastion in Victoria will host a screening of excerpts from the documentary Inventing the Enemy: Gender, Fear, and Disinformation, followed by an Open Mic Night celebrating queer creativity.Gozo Pride Day will then take place on 5th September, beginning with a morning Pride Village at Villa Rundle from 10:30am, followed by an afternoon programme from 4pm.Participants will gather at it-Tokk at 6:30pm, with opening speeches at 7pm before the Pride March makes its way through the streets of Victoria from 7:30pm.The march will arrive at Villa Rundle at around 8:15pm, followed by live performances, before celebrations continue with the official Gozo Pride After Party at Flamenco from 10pm.“Because no one should ever need permission to be themselves,” LGBTI+ Gozo said, inviting members of the LGBTIQ+ community, families, friends and allies to take part.Photos via LGBTI+ Gozo•