From November 1-4, the Polish capital Warsaw hosted the largest LGBTI human rights event in Europe: the 21st annual international LGBTI rights conference organized by ILGA-Europe. It was also the largest conference that ILGA-Europe has organized to date, drawing around 550 LGBTI human rights activists from Europe, Central Asia and other parts of the world.

Lithuanian Parliament Proposes Total Ban on Legal Gender Recognition

On November 10th, 2017 the group of 31 MPs in the Lithuanian Parliament registered a legislative proposal, which aims at banning legal gender recognition (i.e. change of identity documents for transgender persons) and all medical procedures pertaining to gender reassignment treatment. This proposal stands in a sharp contrast with the jurisprudence of the national courts,

Board games event

On 9th November 2017 it took place another Board Games Event in the LGBT* Community center, attended by many people, local and international, came together to meet new friends and have a relaxing evening playing funny games. The National LGBT* Rights Organization LGL is often organize this type of events, with the intent for the

The National Equality and Diversity Forum and Office of the Equal Opportunity Ombudsperson are preparing to hold the National Equality and Diversity Awards in Lithuania for the fifth time in spring 2018. Since 2014, when the event was organized for the first time, the initiative has grown into a yearly celebration that activists working in

Shocking Sex-Ed Lessons in Lithuania Teach that Gay People are “Mentally Ill”

Lithuanian broadcaster INFO TV reported in an episode of its news program “Info Day” that twelfth-graders in Lithuania have been receiving sexual education lessons not about traditional family planning, nor about perceptions of sexuality and accepting others, but how awful it is to be gay. Curriculum materials explain that homosexuality occurs due to “insufficient attention

LGL’s Executive Director re-elected to ILGA-Europe Board for the Second Term

On November 1-4, 2017 during the 21st Annual ILGA-Europe Conference, organized in Warsaw, LGL’s Executive Director Vladimir Simonko was re-elected to the organization’s Board for the period of 2018-2019. “I’m pleased that for the 2018-2019 term, Lithuania will remain visible with a representative on the Board of the international LGBTI organization,” commented the Executive Director

2nd Nordic Rainbow History & Art Month comes to Vilnius

On October 25th 2017, the 2nd Nordic Rainbow History & Art Month took place in Vilnius, with participants from numerous countries including Great Britain, Sweden, Portugal, U.S.A, Italy and Lithuania. There were three main speakers, Tony Fenwick from Schools OUT UK, Giordano Campanelli, an EVS volunteer at LGL and Bill Schiller from Tulipak (Network of Nordic Rainbow

Epidemic of Hate in Lithuania: To Report, or Not to Report?

“Burn the faggots!”, “Kill them!” – said a flood of Facebook comments a few years ago on a picture of two young hay men kissing, which the couple had taken to celebrate the start of their relationship. “So you really were not trying to ‘hit on’ this person who attacked you?” – a gay Italian

Lithuanian Parliament Adopts Family Law: No to Same-Sex Families

On 19 October 2017 the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania adopted the Law on Strengthening Families. The law established the family model exclusively based on a marriage between a man and a woman, thus discriminating other alternative families. 60 MPs voted in favor of the new legislation, 5 MPs voted against and 9 MPs

“Humanity and Its Rights” Workshop with University Students

Yesterday, 17th October, a team from LGL visited the Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU). This visit was due to a workshop on LGBT* issues organized in partnership with the local ESN VGTU group. 13 participants including LGL members Kamila, our volunteer coordinator, Tatiana, our EVS volunteer and Cintia, our intern, attended the workshop entitled “Humanity

On September 5th, 2017 the Lithuanian news portal “Delfi.lt” published an article on ideological views of some Lithuanian Government officials. Kristina Paulikė, an advisor of Linas Kukuraitis, the Minister of Social Affairs and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania, has secured a place among them. Prior to her appointment at the Ministry of Social Affairs

“Baltic Pride” 2016 Photo Book Now Available Online

The National LGBT* rights organization LGL proudly presents the “Baltic Pride” 2016 photo book now available online! Baltic Pride 2016 Photo Book, 2016 There are only a few copies of tastefully packaged hardcover edition of the Baltic Pride 2016 Photo Book left in LGL online store! Order the “Baltic Pride” 2016 photo book including unforgettable