Roxy and friends in Bridge Bar
Valletta at night.
I’ll let you in on a secret. As a female journo, LGBT press trips can often turn into a desperate game of “locate the lez”. Just like at home, the gay scene abroad seems to be overflowing with bear parties and twink nights and drag queens and dark rooms, with far less on offer for us girlies. I’ve spent whole visits using the same opening conversational gambit over and over, “Nice to meet you. Do you know or suspect anyone in this country of being a lesbian or bisexual woman?” I’ve even been known to download Tinder and frantically swipe right hoping to match with a friendly local and snag a few travel tips.