Katya Saunders

Katya Saunders (10 April 1957 - 27 January, 2019) was a Maltese LGBTIQ+ icon who was one of the first openly transgender women and gay activists in Malta.

[4][5] Saunders is credited as being responsible for starting an LGBTIQ+ community in Malta[6] and was closely associated with the City of London Bar in Sliema, where her photos are still displayed prominently.

[7] Her passing was marked by tributes from members of the LGBTIQ+ community, who described her as a mentor and an inspirational figure for past and current gay activists.

[9] Saunders’ life is detailed in a biography titled Katya: Easy on the Tonic, written by journalist Ramona Depares and published by MGRM in 2022.

[10] The publication was accompanied by an exhibition at Spazju Kreattiv in Valletta, showcasing her clothes and memorabilia, curated by Charlie Cauchi and Romeo Roxman Gatt.