Brussels to hear complaint on restricted broadcast of LGBT video in Lithuania

“The commission’s services will consider your complaint in the light of the applicable European Union law,” the EC Directorate of Communications Networks, Content and Technology said in a letter.

Under the document, acceptance of the complaint does not automatically mean start of a formal violation procedure against Lithuania.

A copy of the letter was received by BNS from the Lithuanian Gay League.

Some Lithuanian television channels last week refused to broadcast a social advertisement about LGBT issues, quoting an expert conclusion endorsed by the inspector for journalist ethics.

According to the conclusion, the video about LGBT people may have a negative impact on “emotional, spiritual and mental development and health of underage persons”.

The experts noted that the video implies that a family may “consist of persons of the same sex, expressing a call to change the attitude towards same-sex families”. A law meant to protect minors against harmful public information expressly restricts exposure of material that is deemed contrary to the “constitutional concept” of marriage, namely, as only between a man and a woman.

The Lithuanian Gay League said the video was aimed at combatting the stereotypes about LGBT individuals.

The organization said a complaint had been filed in connection to an earlier ban, as well, when the Lithuanian national television decided to restrict broadcasts of two videos inviting to the Baltic Pride 2013.