Politics
Lithuanian parliament speaker ‘not ready’ for same-sex partnerships
The Lithuanian society is not ready for same-sex partnerships, Speaker of the Lithuanian Seimas Loreta Graužinienė believes. […]
LGBT rights
Society
Strasbourg court ruling on same-sex unions relevant for Lithuania, lawyer says
The new practice of the European Court of Human Rights on regulation of same-sex relationships is significant for Lithuania, says a lawyer of the Vilnius-based Human Rights Monitoring Institute. […]
Society
Brussels to hear complaint on restricted broadcast of LGBT video in Lithuania
The European Commission (EU) plans to look into the complaint filed by the Lithuanian Gay League, an LGBT rights NGO, about the restrictions to air its video ad on television. […]
Opinion
A very good week for President Obama
On Friday morning whilst he was preparing the eulogy for the nine murdered black people in Charleston, South Carolina, United States President Barack Obama received the last piece of good news in a week that had plenty to celebrate for the White House administration. Shortly after the the Supreme Court announcing marriage equality, President Obama issued a statement. “It’s been a significant morning. It’s been a significant couple of days. And it’s certainly been a significant month.” […]
Society
Lithuania grapples with homophobia
Lithuania has recently started discussing its attitudes towards homosexuality, in what remains a novelty for a country ranked among the most homophobic in the EU. […]
Defence
Lithuanian army claimed to discriminate against gay servicemen
Lithuania’s defence minister has been forced to reassure that the country’s military does not discriminate against gay men after an army psychiatrist claimed that homosexuality was an exclusion criteria in selecting servicemen. […]
Society
Lithuanian parliament speaker speaks out against same-sex marriage
Lithuania’s Parliamentary Speaker Loreta Graužinienė says she opposes same-sex marriages, giving no clear answer about partnership. […]
Society
Lithuania’s civil partnership bill to be reviewed by catholic church
Final adjustments to a bill on registered partnership, drafted by the Lithuanian Ministry of Justice, are being made with the Catholic Church, and the document would shortly be submitted to the government for deliberation, Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius says. […]
Society
Human Rights Watch criticizes Lithuanian justice minister’s stance on same-sex partnership
The Lithuanian justice minister’s blanket rejection of a gender neutral bill to allow civil partnerships contravenes European standards, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to Justice Minister Juozas Bernatonis released on Thursday. […]
Opinion
Opinion: Homophobia and the ambiguous problem of individual freedom
The recent sensation around the homophobic Facebook post written by the Lithuanian DJ “Ten Walls” (Marijus Adomaitis) has generated – as usual in these cases – a number of polarized reactions, but most of all has re-opened once again the Pandora’s vase of the admittedly-difficult relation that Lithuania has with homosexuality, especially in times like this, when (finally, if I may add) issues of same-sex marriage are being addressed. […]
Society
Lithuanian president comments on homophobic Facebook rant by DJ Ten Walls
The recent homophobic rant by Lithuanian DJ and producer Marijus Adomaitis, known internationally as Ten Walls, and the following outcry will benefit Lithuania, as it will trigger an even more open discussion on homophobia and intolerance, says President Dalia Grybauskaitė. […]
Politics
Lithuanian justice minister: Same-sex couples are more propaganda than reality
Lithuania’s Ministry of Justice has drafted a bill that, if passed, would introduce the institution of partnership into the country’s Civil Code. However, the bill spells out that the possibility to form partnerships would only apply to opposite-sex couples. According to Justice Minister Juozas Bernatonis, there is no need to legalize same-sex partnership because there are hardly any same-sex couples in Lithuania. […]
Society
Lithuania might violate human rights convention by legalizing opposite-sex partnership only, expert says
By treating opposite-sex and same-sex partnerships differently, Lithuania might violate the European Convention of Human Rights, Vilnius University Professor of Law Vytautas Mizaras says. […]
Politics
Lithuanian president snaps at Latvian journalist after being asked about gay rights and basketball
A Latvian journalist has felt the wrath of the Lithuanian president after asking several questions that “have not been agreed upon”. The president insistently, and rather gracelessly, refused to answer questions about gay rights in Lithuania, a supermarket roof collapse in Riga and basketball. […]
Society
Lithuanian LGBT* activists ride down streets of Vilnius on Rainbow bus
At noon on Sunday, the Lithuanian Gay League, LGBT* rights organization, took a ride on a rainbow bus down the streets of central Vilnius. […]
Society
LGBT individuals in Lithuania afraid to report discrimination at work for fear of losing job
Although Lithuania is on the bottom of the European Union (EU) list in terms of the situation of LGBT people, there have been very few discrimination complaints, especially about mistreatment at work. […]
Society
Homophobic lawmakers and restrictions on free expression mar Lithuania’s LGBTI rights record
Azerbaijan, Russia and Armenia are the worst countries in Europe for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) rights, according to an annual report published by ILGA-Europe, an LGBTI rights group, while the United Kingdom, Belgium and Malta top the list of most queer-friendly places. […]
Opinion
Opinion: Who are these people?
They were burned at the stake, “treated” with electroshock therapy, but represented and do represent 7-15% of the population. […]
Society
Lithuanian LGBT community to celebrate IDAHOT and Rainbow Days
From the 14th to the 20th of May, the National LGBT* Organization LGL is ready to lead off the dance for Rainbow Days and IDAHOT 2015 and proud to offer a wide agenda of political, social, cultural and artistic events in Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipėda. […]