On the 6th of May, 2015 the Lithuanian Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs decided that civil partnerships for same-sex couples are consistent with the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, says Deputy Chair Stasys Šedbaras. “The majority voted that the project does not violate the Constitution,” Mr. Šedbaras told to Lithuanian news agency BNS. On

In a gala ceremony on the 28th of April, 2015, the 2014 National Equality and Diversity Awards were handed out to individuals, organizations and initiatives that contributed most to promoting equality and diversity in Lithuania. The annual event was organized by the National Equality and Diversity Forum, including the national LGBT* rights organization LGL, alongside

LGL Co-organized the 2014 National Equality and Diversity Awards

On the 28th of April, 2015, the member organizations of the National Equality and Diversity Forum, including the national LGBT* rights organization LGL, alongside the Equal Opportunities Ombudsman’s Office of the Republic of Lithuania organized the 2014 National Equality and Diversity Awards in Vilnius, which honoured Lithuania’s most notable individuals, organizations and initiatives in the field

Invisible Shadow of Domestic and Dating Violence in the Lesbian Community

Data provided by the EuroBarometer Report by the European Commission showed that five years ago almost 43% of women in Lithuania were victims of domestic and dating violence. Despite the lack of research on the topic, the number of women victims of domestic and dating violence is expected to have increased in recent time. However,

Lithuanian Transgender Entertainer Experienced Transphobia in a Gym in Vilnius

Women exercising together with the Lithuanian transgender entertainer Agness Landau in a Vilnius gym did not wish to change their clothes in the same locker room. The gym, which has locker rooms for both women and men, refused to comment upon the situation to Lithuanian TV journalists. However, the spokesperson of a gym claimed that

Since the major political parties in Lithuania – Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP), The Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats and the The Labour Party – are in the process of electing their new leaders, the LGBT* community in Lithuania demands a change in the management bodies of the latter parties. The representatives of the

LGL’s Representative Spoke at the Council of Europe

On the 21st of April, 2015 trans activists from Ukraine, Turkey, Ireland, France and Lithuania spoke at the Council of Europe on their battle for human rights. The audience heard their testimonies of what it is to live as a trans person in Europe. Tomas Raskevicius, the national LGBT* rights organization LGL, Lithuania: “Trans people’s

Human Rights Conference at Seimas: Equality Policies in Europe and in Lithuania

On Monday the 20th of April, the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania Seimas hosted a Human Right Conference Equality Policies in Europe and in Lithuania: Current Challenges and Future Perspectives. The event was organized by the National Equality and Diversity forum (NEDF) in cooperation with the Office of Equal Opportunities Ombudsman of the Republic

3,000 Euro Fine Issued for a Hate-motivated Crime against an Openly Gay Man

The Lithuanian courts have issued a verdict on the criminal case of Laurynas Baltrūnas. Ruslanas Kirilkinas, an openly gay performer, pressed charges against Mr. Baltrūnas, who launched a homophobic attack against the singer, pelting him with eggs during a performance. Although Mr. Baltrūnas has successfully evaded imprisonment for his offenses, the courts are requiring him

It has long been the case that international corporates have acted as sponsors for LGBT* events in capital cities throughout the world. From New York City’s annual Pride event to Berlin’s St. Christopher Street Day festivals, corporates play a huge role in providing funding streams, quality programming and networking opportunities for the LGBT* community and

Vaidas Baumila and Monika Linkytė, Lithuania’s representatives in the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest, presented an official video clip for their song “This Time” on the 13th of April 2015 that features a same-sex kiss. An idea of a video clip to show different couples kissing was developed by the Lithuanian team for this year’s Eurovision

A Director of Pilaitė high school in Vilnius Zotikas Popovas was “horrified” to receive a publication about homophobic bullying in Lithuanian schools, sent as a gift to schools and educational institutions throughout the country by the national LGBT* rights organization LGL on the 3rd of April, 2015. The publication “Homophobic Bullying in Lithuanian Schools: Survey