On November 12, 2015 the notorious “anti-gay propaganda” bill was removed from the Lithuanian Parliament’s agenda for the time being. 65 members of the Lithuanian Parliament voted for the proposition to remove the consideration of the draft amendment to the Code of Administrative Violations No. XIP-4490(3), which seeks to introduce administrative liability for any public

New rule allows refugees to bring same-sex partners to U.S.

Refugees and asylees from 23 countries can now ask to bring their same-sex partners with them to the U.S., even if they are not legally married.   The State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration in an Oct. 1 letter to Congress notes it will “allow a qualifying individual” to request their same-sex partner

Open letter to Lithuanian Parliament: Reject bill targeting LGBTI people

The Parliament of Lithuania will vote tomorrow on a bill that seeks to introduce fines for any public denigration of “constitutional family values.”   According to the proposal, actions as carrying out public speeches, demonstrating goods, posters, slogans and audio-visual materials, as well as organizing public events such as Baltic Pride would result in an

France ends ban on gay men donating blood

Gay men in France will now be allowed to donate blood, authorities have announced. The ban had drawn criticism from civil rights groups claiming it was discriminatory. France’s health minister announced the government was lifting its decades-long ban on gay men donating blood. The lifting of the ban would be enacted over an extended period

Lithuanian Parliament to Vote on Russian Style “Anti-Gay Propaganda” Law Again

On November 10th, 2015 at 11 AM the notorious “anti-gay propaganda” bill unexpectedly appeared on the Lithuanian Parliament’s agenda again. The consideration of the draft amendment to the Code of Administrative Violations No. XIP-4490(3), which seeks to introduce administrative liability for any public denigration of the “constitutional family values” was postponed until the final hearing

Top Colombia court rules same-sex couples can adopt children

Colombia’s highest court on Wednesday ruled same-sex couples in the South American country can adopt children. The Colombian Constitutional Court in a 6-2 ruling cited international treaties and standards that support adoption rights for gays and lesbians. “The court signaled that scientific studies and evidence that supports the process clearly demonstrated, or that adoption by

Gay couple opened their home to 24 refugees

gay couple have sought to dispel claims that refugees are bringing a tidal-wave of homophobia to Europe – after hosting 24 of them in their home. Europe is currently experiencing an influx of refugees and migrants from Syria and across the Middle East, many of whom are fleeing from conflict or terorrist group ISIS. A

China response to HIV/AIDS epidemic questioned

The conservative government’s resistance in promoting safe sex nationwide, for example, at schools and colleges is a major hurdle in educating the masses about HIV/AIDS. The China AIDS walk tries to draw attention to this and the stigma and widespread discrimination in education and employment are also reasons why it has become a firm fixture

Poll: Anti-LGBT discrimination, attitudes common in Balkans

A poll released last week indicates anti-LGBT discrimination and attitudes remain commonplace throughout the Balkans.   The National Democratic Institute, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Gay and Lesbian Victory Institute and Civil Rights Defenders polled 655 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia

LGL’s Executive Director Elected to the ILGA-Europe Executive Board

On the 31st October, 2015 Vladimir Simonko, co-founder and Executive Director of the Lithuanian National LGBT* rights organization LGL, was elected to the ILGA-Europe Executive Board for the period of 2016-2017 during the elections by the Annual Conference, held on October 28th – 31st, 2015 in Athens (Greece). “I am sure that active participation in