Baltic States have joined 35 other countries in a statement of support coinciding with the 28th Budapest Pride Festival in Hungary. Issued by the U.S. Embassy in Hungary, the statement is in effect a call for Budapest to rescind legislative amendments which are seen as discriminating against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI+) persons

Olena Globa: We are Together, and we are Powerful and Unconquered

When the war started in Ukraine Olena Globa spent six days in the basement in Kyiv trying to survive during the Russian shelling. In a time of need she received help from the US LGBTQ+ organization PFLAG. Olena was able to flee to the United States where her son lives and is now using every

In 2020, Colin Ratushniak made history of La Ronge, when he was elected as the first openly gay mayor of the town, situated in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada. His activism continues to transform La Ronge into community that is accepting inclusivity and diversity. In the past Colin was a professional ice skater, having toured the world

Rainbow Map 2021: Any Real Progress in Lithuania is Still Waiting to Happen

Newest ILGA-Europe’s annual Rainbow Europe Map and Index, ranking the legal and policy situation of LGBTI people in 49 European countries found that the past 12 months have marked an unprecedented year in the Map’s 12-year history, with virtually no positive legislative change for LGBTI people in Europe. Lithuania contributes to this negative general trend,

Equal Rights Coalition statement on human rights violations in Chechnya

In December 2018, OSCE Moscow Mechanism rapporteur’s independent report on the situation in Chechnya found ‘clear evidence of the successive purges against LGBTI persons’ in Chechnya as well as of numerous other grave Human Rights violations. The report documented that LGBTI persons in Chechnya had been subjected to systematic harassment, persecution, arbitrary arrests and detentions,

New TGEU report on trans parenthood and freedom of movement in the EU

TGEU is publishing the report, “Stuck on the swing: experiences of trans parents with freedom of movement in the EU”. TGEU spoke with 18 trans parents from across Europe, who spoke about their grief, anxiety, and fear for their own safety when travelling. But mostly, they were concerned about their children. We would like to

Nearly one-quarter of LBQ women are parents

New research from the Williams Institute finds nearly one-quarter of LBQ women ages 18 to 59 and an estimated 24% of female same-sex couples have had children. Parents were more likely to be bisexual, in a relationship with a man, and non-urban. Bisexual parents reported greater psychological distress, less life satisfaction and happiness, and less

GENEVA, 27 April 2020—UNAIDS and MPact Global Action for Gay Men’s Health and Rights are extremely concerned that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people are being singled out, blamed, abused, incarcerated and stigmatized as vectors of disease during the COVID-19 pandemic. UNAIDS and MPact are also deeply troubled that this discriminatory action is

Active Citizens Fund has been launched in Lithuania

On 23 October 2019, the Active Citizens Fund (ACF) in Lithuania financed by the EEA Grants was launched. In 2019-2024 the ACF will allocate EUR 9 million to the strengthening of civil society and empowering vulnerable groups. Lithuanian non-governmental organisations will have an opportunity to submit applications and receive funding for their activities in order

LGL Continues Successful Cooperation with the Royal Norwegian Embassy

On 3rd October, 2019, the Ambassador of the Royal Norwegian Embassy, H.E. Mr. Karsten Klepsvik was awarded with a special symbol of gratitude for supporting the monumental Baltic Pride 2019 festival at the National LGBT Rights Organization LGL. During the warm meeting, representatives of the Embassy and LGL recalled the most impressive moments of the

  Europe is at a dangerous crossroads and that’s why this is a critical time for the Commission to adopt a comprehensive LGBTI strategy over the next five years, says ILGA-Europe, in advance of the Finnish Presidency conference on advancing LGBTI equality in the EU.  On 23 September The Finnish Presidency of the Council of

Countries without same-sex marriage saw rise in homophobia, study shows

European countries that do not legally recognize same-sex relationships, including Lithuania, have seen a rise in homophobia over the last 14 years, a new study by Hungarian researchers suggests. The study, co-authored by Judit Takacs of the Hungarian Academy of Science, shows that, by contrast, acceptance of gay and lesbian relationships increased in countries that