Thousands of gay and bisexual men were posthumously pardoned for historic gay sex crimes last month on January 31, 2017. The Policing and Crime Bill, known as ‘Turing’s Law’, gives pardons to anyone who has died with a crime on their record but only if it would not be considered a crime today. ‘This is
News / LGBT Guide LT / From EU
Last week, on Thursday February 2, 2017, the European Parliament adopted a report (533 +, 41 -) demanding the automatic recognition of domestic adoption orders across EU Member States. The report stipulates that the recognition should happen without discrimination, including on the basis of the parents’ sexual orientation. The report highlights that the lack of
The Church of Norway has approved a new liturgy inclusive of same-sex weddings taking place in churches there. The measure was approved by 89 of the members of the general synod at the Evangelical-Lutheran church in Trondheim on Monday. Delegate Gard Sandaker-Nilsen said of the vote: “This is the day when a prayer and a
Belgian fashion model Hanne Gaby Odiele has revealed she is intersex and that she has gone public in an attempt to reduce the stigma around the condition and encourage other people to embrace their status. The 29-year-old was born with internal testes and without a uterus or ovaries due to a condition called androgen insensitivity
An appeals court in Estonia has overturned the ruling of a first-tier court and ordered the Harju County Government to enter a marriage concluded between two men in Sweden into the national population register, gay rights nonprofit MTÜ SEKY said on Tuesday, 24 January 2017. In 2015, the county government refused to enter into Estonia’s
Last Thursday, January 19, 2017 the European Parliament adopted a resolution in which it condemns the growing intolerance towards LGBTI people in Indonesia. In the resolution, the European Parliament “strongly condemns all acts of violence, harassment and intimidation against minorities” and “calls on the government and lawmakers to refrain from further restricting the rights of
A Polish couple who received death threats on their coming out video are getting a sweet taste of revenge, as their haters have made their dreams of marriage a reality. Polish TV presenter and journalist Jakub Kwieciński and his partner David have been granted special permission to get married in Madeira, Portugal. The couple had
Dozens of LGBT activists and their supporters have gathered for a pride event in Podgorica on Saturday, December 17, 2016. Activists marched through the Montenegrin capital carrying banners that read “born this way” and “equality for everyone”. The Balkan country is known for having highly conservative attitudes towards the gay community, with one survey finding
Slovakia’s time at the helm of the EU’s rotating presidency has not been completely smooth sailing and its successor, Malta, will hope to guide the bloc’s agenda controversy-free. Recent successes in social issues point towards a presidency quite different from the last. During its six months holding its first EU presidency, Slovakia faced criticism about
On December 13, 2016, the European Parliament adopted a new comprehensive report on fundamental rights in the EU. The report assesses how fundamental rights are implemented in the EU, and what must still be done to reach standards laid down in the Charter of Fundamental Rights. The document includes an extensive snapshot of the situation
On December 5th, 2016 the European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBTI Rights has addressed the European Commission regarding its “shockingly passive” position on clear discrimination against LGBT* people in Lithuania. On November 7th, 2016 the European Commission informed the National LGBT* rights organization LGL that it would take no action over a 2013 law that claims
The king of the Netherlands met with members of a Dutch LGBT advocacy group last month. King Willem-Alexander met with COC Nederland staff and volunteers in The Hague on Nov. 22. He also spoke with LGBT youth, seniors and those with bicultural or religious backgrounds. The meeting coincided with COC Nederland’s 70th anniversary. “It’s a