Global appeal for protecting freedom of expression for LGBT people

LGL is sharing an appeal for protecting freedom of expression for LGBT people and encourages you to express your support! You can sign this appeal by sending an email to campaigns@ifex.org . Speak Up and Speak Out: Protecting Freedom of Expression for LGBT People  On the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO-T), May 17, we call

Despite opposition, Parliament takes stock of LGBT equality in new report

Today the European Parliament voted its annual report on fundamental rights in the European Union. The report includes an extensive overview of the situation for LGBT people, and recommendations to reach European equality standards laid down in the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Among other recommendations, MEPs ask that Member States guarantee thefreedom of movement of same-sex couples, their

Top homophobic politician heads to Strasbourg to represent Lithuania at the PACE

On January 15th the Board of Parliament signed the decision to send the delegation on a business trip to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) – one of the continent’s leading organizations for defending human rights in 47 countries. The members of the delegation will be the chair of the Lithuanian parliament

Yesterday, the European Parliament voted its annual report on human rights in the world. The report reviews the situation of human rights (including the human rights of LGBTI persons) worldwide, and makes annual recommendations for EU action. Initially drafted by Eduard Kukan, a Slovak MEP from the EPP group, this year’s annual report was mostly

Minsk Gay Pride 2013. Currently not rainbow

In Minsk on December 6  started Minsk Gay Pride 2013, however, instead of rainbow news, information about events related to the Gay Pride is more like police reports. Gay Pride organizers have faced problems in the first stage of activities. Institutions in which  planned Pride activities, one after another began to refuse to provide their

Europe must react to escalation of human rights violations in Lithuania

On 26 November 2013, Seimas (Lithuanian Parliament) voted to proceed with a consideration of an amendment to the country’s Code of Administrative Offences which aims to limit freedom of association, assembly and expression of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people. Seimas members voted to consider this amendment despite the fact that the parliamentary Human Rights Committee suggested

Croatia: 65% of voters approve same-sex marriage ban

The referendum to forbid marriage equality in Croatiahas won an overwhelming majority. The state’s electoral commission, citing close to complete numbers, noted that 65% of voters voted ‘yes’ on the following ballot question: ‘Do you agree that marriage is matrimony between a man and a woman?’ According to an ABC News report, 34% voted ‘no.’ The results

Today, at an event held alongside the European Union Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, The Equal Rights Trust (ERT), in partnership with the Belarusian Helsinki Committee (BHC), launched Half an Hour to Spring: Addressing Discrimination and Inequality in Belarus. This addition to the ERT Country Report Series is the first ever comprehensive account of discrimination

On 12-13 November 2013 the Fundamental Human Rights Conference (FRC) “Combating hate crime in the EU: Giving victims a face and a voice”, organised by the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency is taking place in Vilnius, Lihuania. The conference focuses on fighting hate crimes and seeks to establish and promote international cooperation among the EU

Greece ordered to open civil unions to same-sex couples

The European Court of Human Rights has ordered Greece to allow same-sex couples to enter into the same civil unions it allows for same-sex couples. Greece has had opposite-sex civil unions since 2008 for heterosexuals who do not wish to marry and the European court in Strasbourg found that it was discriminatory for Greece to