The First Transgender Person in Malta

Gender transition is a topic that’s received increasing amounts of media coverage in the last few years.

You might be forgiven for thinking it’s something of a modern story.

But Malta’s history of transitioning dates all the way back to 1774.

There was a shop selling animal feed in Valletta at that time, owned by Gużè Mifsud from Luqa, a town several miles away.

There were complaints about an employee at the shop who was allegedly harassing female customers, making them uncomfortable during their visits by being overly flirty and suggestive.

This was rather awkward for Gużè, because the shop worker was his 17-year-old daughter Rosaria, also known as Rosa.

An unusual request

When challenged, Rosa expressed her desire to live as a man because she identified with that gender.

However, due to strict rules imposed by the ruling Order of St John, disguising one’s identity, including cross-dressing, was strictly forbidden. This was to prevent potential espionage from the Ottoman Empire, regarded as the enemy of the Order.

Despite this, Rosa, showing great courage for a 17-year-old, sought permission directly from Grand Master Ximénez, the head of the Order, to live as a man, which would have been a groundbreaking ruling.

Considering this was the 18th Century, when gender transition was far from being accepted or understood, Grand Master Ximénez proved to be rather enlightened, especially for a man who was otherwise unpopular in Malta due to his austerity measures.

He ordered a thorough medical examination of Rosa conducted by the best doctors on the island.

The people from Rosa’s hometown of Luqa were also interviewed as part of the investigation, and the locals confirmed that they had always perceived Rosa as a man.

Some said they’d seen her standing up against a wall to urinate, for example.

Decision challenged

Based on the medical report, which highlighted Rosa’s more masculine voice, lack of breasts, and partially formed male and female sexual organs, the doctors concluded that Rosa’s male sex was dominant, supporting her request to live as a man.

There’s a twist, because a panel of seven doctors then appealed the decision of the Grand Court of the Order of St John to let Rosa be regarded as a male.

These (male) doctors all then got to scrutinise Rosa in a second examination – and promptly agreed with the original diagnosis. Perhaps they just wanted to see this remarkable case for themselves…?

Following the granting of this pioneering permission, Rosa lived the rest of her life as a man, choosing the name Rosario.

It is believed that she pursued a career as a tailor and was often seen around Valletta, impeccably dressed.

Rosario got a job making uniforms for the Maltese regiment of soldiers serving the Knights of St John.

More importantly, he was able to live the life he wanted, with the identity he felt most comfortable with.