Lithuanian Bishops’ Conference: Family Should Be Associated with Marriage

On November 25th, 2015 the Committee on Legal Affairs of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania held a hearing on a proposal to amend the Article 38 of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, which states that “family emanates from a marriage between a man and a woman”. The participants of the hearing,

Trans people win right to change name and gender in Bolivia

Transgender people in Bolivia will soon be able to legally change their name, sex and gender, Bolivia’s justice minister has announced. Virginia Velasco Condori unveiled the new policy last Wednesday, meaning trans Bolivians will soon be able to register legal documentations using their new identities. In a statement regarding the change. Condori said that people who wan

Civil unions to become a reality in Cyprus

The Cypriot parliament has voted in favour of the Civil Partnership Bill, meaning that same-sex couples in Cyprus will be legally recognised for the first time. The legislation, which has generated lots of debate nationally, will offer couples the same rights as civil marriage. However, joint adoption rights are not included as part of the

On the occasion of the International Human Rights Day, the members of the National Equality and Diversity Forum (NEDF) cordially invite to the seminar-discussion “Human Rights in Lithuania. NGOs’ Perspective”, which will take place on December 9th, 2015 at 2:00-4:30 PM at the premises of the Embassy of Finland (K. Kalinausko str. 24, Vilnius). In

Syphilis: what is it and why should gay men be concerned?

Health authorities in the US, Australia and UK have all highlighted an alarming increase in rates of syphilis among gay and bisexual men Although HIV receives much attention in the press – particularly following last week’s announcement by the actor Charlie Sheen that he is HIV positive – it is not the only sexually-transmitted infection

Vietnam passes landmark law recognizing transgender people

Ban on gender reassignment surgery has also been lifted Vietnam has passed a landmark law legally recognizing transgender people and lifting a ban on gender reassignment surgery. More than 80% of lawmakers Tuesday (24 November) voted in favor of the law change, which will come into effect on 17 January 2017. Under the new legislation, those

British Columbia prisons implement reforms for transgender prisoners

The Canadian province of British Columbia will no longer confine transgender people in the prisons that are meant for the gender they were assigned at birth Prisons in British Columbia will no longer jail transgender women in men’s prisons and transgender men in women’s prisons after its Department of Corrections changed its policies. Previously only

Portuguese lawmakers approve same-sex adoption bill

Portuguese lawmakers on Nov. 20 approved a bill that would extend adoption rights to same-sex couples. All but one member of the Socialist Party and other center-left parties that have a majority in the Portuguese Parliament voted for the measure. Nineteen members of the center-right Social Democratic Party also backed the bill. Advocates began their

Transgender Day of Remembrance

“Being Transgender is not a choice. Choosing to hurt someone is.” About the Transgender Day of Remembrance The Transgender Day of Remembrance was set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. Over the last decade, more than one person per month has died due to transgender-based hate or prejudice,

LGL‘s social videos feature experiences of Lithuanian transgender persons

In November, 2015 the national LGBT* rights organization LGL filmed 2 social videos for its social campaign „#TRANS_LT“, aiming to increase visibility of transgender persons in Lithuania. The social videos, filmed by a creative team of LGL and local movie director Romas Zabarauskas, feature the members of the local trans* community sharing the challenges they