In a meeting room of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania, a conference entitled “Prospects of securing transgender persons´ human rights in Lithuania” took place.  Among all the voices in the conference, one of them stood out, despite the fact that it was not in the official programme. That was the voice of Tovaldas;

LaDiva Live: “Progress is Being Made in Lithuania”

On a stage he is the colorful performer LaDiva Live, but without the makeup and the dress, he turns back to 40 year-old French-Algerian Hocine. “But do not call me transgender, it would not be true. I am a gay man who embodies a stage persona,” explained drag artist visiting Vilnius for the second time.

On 30th May, 2017 the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania voted for the proposal (XIIIP-750) to amend the Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania to regulate cohabitation by way of cohabitation agreement. The authors of the amendment to the Civil Code propose a term “agreement for cohabitation” that would allow two or more

LGL Takes Part in a Working Group on Legal Gender Recognition

On May 24th, 2017 the working group on legal gender recognition of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania concluded its first official meeting. The working group includes Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius, the Policy Coordinator (Human Rights) of the National LGBT* Rights Organization LGL. The working group is preparing a draft bill with the

LGL Member Ieva Ruzgytė Participated in LGBT* Forum in Salzburg (Austria)

Ieva Ruzgytė, member of the National LGBT* rights organization LGL participated in an international LGBT* forum, held on 14th-19th May, 2017 in Salzburg (Austria). LGL member shares her experience regarding the fifth international LGBT* forum in Salzburg, held to commemorate the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT). By participating in the forum, LGL member

Liberals Denounce EU Parliament’s ‘Anti-gay’ Bill

Liberal MEPs want to re-open an already adopted European Parliament position on audiovisual services reform, saying that it justifies discrimination of lesbian, gay, bi- and transsexual (LGBT) people. The overhaul is an update of EU-wide rules on media services and TV advertising. The problem, according to the liberals, is that the reform sets out to

State Leaders Expressed their Views on Same-Sex Partnerships in Lithuania

Since the discussions at the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania regarding the possibility of legislating same-sex partnerships in Lithuania has been renewed, the Lithuanian state leaders were asked whether they would support such move. The comments by the President of the Republic of Lithuania, the Speaker of the Lithuanian Parliament and the Prime Minister

Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union Political Group of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania together with other members of the Lithuanian Parliament have registered a draft amendment to the Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania proposing to regulate partnerships by way of cohabitation agreement. According to the members of Lithuanian Farmers and Greens

Lithuanian MPs Registered a Proposal to Legislate Gender Neutral Partnerships

Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Aušrinė Armonaitė and Simonas Gentvilas, members of the Liberal Movement Party and the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania, have registered a proposal to amend the Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania, aiming to recognize the legal status of both different-sex and same-sex couples. “A couple of reasons encouraged us to propose

“Rainbow Days” 2017: Quizzes in Klaipėda & Kaunas

On May 20th-21st, 2017 the National LGBT* rights organization LGL and the Office of Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson of the Republic of Lithuania invited to the “Rainbow Days” 2017 Quizzes in Klaipėda and Kaunas. Who are the “famous” LGBT* people? What is the history of the LGBT* human rights movement? What is the legal reality of

Lithuania’s Parliament marked the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia this week. Marked on May 17 around the world, IDAHOT raises awareness of persecution and hate crimes faced by lesbian, gay, bisexuals and transgender people around the world. The day is heavily marked in countries that are already progressive on LGBT rights, but it is

“Rainbow Days” 2017: Quiz in Vilnius

On May 17th, 2017 in celebrations of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT), the National LGBT* rights organization LGL and the Office of Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson of the Republic of Lithuania invited to the “Rainbow Days” 2017 Quiz in Vilnius in a bar “Peronas”. Who are the “famous” LGBT* people? What is