LGL’s Board Chair nominated at Ireland’s LGBT* Awards “The Galas 2015”

The national LGBT* rights organization’s LGL Board Chair Vladimir Simonko has been honoured with a nomination for the International Award at Ireland’s LGBT* awards ceremony, “The Galas 2015.” This award is given for activism in the field of LGBT* rights in countries where the LGBT* community most often faces discrimination. The National Irish LGBT* Federation

LGL Board Chair: “If Marriage has Become Obsolete – Punish us with it”

27 years together with his partner. What a model family! “It was you who said that word – not I,” noted the Board Chair of LGL Vladimir Simonko with a smile, for whom this word holds great meaning. Vladimir’s surname recently echoed throughout the country once again. During the music awards ceremony M.A.M.A., V. Simonko

EP Vice-President Criticizes Lithuania for Violating LGBT* Rights

Amid the European Commission’s (EC) analysis whether the Lithuanian Law on the Protection of Minors against the Detrimental Effect of Public Information is in line the EU acquis, a group of MEPs on February 26th, 2015 criticized the Baltic state for the continuing discrimination of LGBT* people, reports Lithuanian news agency BNS. “I think we

On the 26th of February, 2015 the Civil Liberties Committee of the European Parliament (LIBE) had a debate on the Lithuanian anti-propaganda law and the situation of the rights of LGBT* people in Lithuania. Dutch Member of the European Parliament Sophie in ‘t Veld (ALDE/D66) asked for a debate with the European Commissioners after the

Following a submission to the European Commission by the national LGBT* organization LGL, the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee of the European Parliament is preparing to discuss the ‘homosexual propaganda’ legislation in Lithuania, reports Lithuanian news agency BNS. Lithuania’s representatives in the European Parliament, however, claim that they do not see a problem

Lithuania’s Ban on ‘Homosexual Propaganda’ is under EU Scrutiny

Following a submission to the European Commission by the national LGBT* organization LGL, the EU institutions will follow closely the ‘homosexual propaganda’ legislation in Lithuania, reports Lithuanian news agency “BNS.” The Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee of the European Parliament will discuss the situation in Lithuanian situation on Thursday. The European Commission (EC)

On February 18th, 2015 the District Court of Klaipėda Region affirmed the order by the District Court’s of Klaipėda City to dismiss a formal complaint about hateful online comments regarding a same-sex kiss picture by two students. The initial complaint was filed by the national LGBT* rights organization LGL. As stated in the current judgment,

LGL proposed that the ‘Lithuania Post’ commemorate the IDAHOT

On February 10th, 2015, the national LGBT* rights organization LGL proposed that the stamp publishing department of the ‘Lithuanian Post’ include the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia– celebrated on May 17th– in its 2016 stamp-planning contest. In its letter, LGL emphasized that the contest, organized by the ‘Lithuania Post,’ would provide an opportunity for

LGL social video clip finally aired on Lithuanian television

The video clip created over half a year ago by the national LGBT* rights organization LGL will finally reach television audiences and shall be aired without restrictions. As of February 13th of this year, the network “Info TV” will be showing it from 6pm onwards, during the most-watched timeslot. The video clip is a part

LGL Board Chair Faces Crowd of Fifteen Thousand: “Music Makes Everyone Equal”

On January 30th, 2015 the Board Chair of the national LGBT* rights association LGL Vladimir Simonko was invited to present the ‘Band of the Year’ award in the course of the Lithuanian Music Awards “M.A.M.A.” Despite the fact that Mr. Simonko was not warmly welcomed by some members in the audience, the appearance of the

NEDF Advocacy Training: Creativity with a Common Objective

On 2d and 3d of February, 2015 LGL organized the National Equality and Diversity Forum (NEDF) advocacy training for NEDF‘s organizations. The training was designed to increase the NEDF‘s partners‘ skills to actively represent the general objectives and priorities of the forum and it‘s public policy. The two-day training focused on advocacy and engaging in

Police Refuses to Start Investigation into Threats Made against LGL

On January 29th, 2015 the national LGBT* rights association LGL received a decision by the Senior Investigator from the Vilnius Country Police Headquarters refusing to start a pre-trial investigation into the previous warning from the Lithuanian MP Algirdas Vaclovas Patackas about LGL facing a “massacre [as] in Paris”. The Senior Investigator concluded that “the Member