Commissioner Jourová committed to LGBTI action plan in 2015

In a debate with the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) on Tuesday, Justice commissioner Vera Jourová confirmed her commitment to create a roadmap or action plan on LGBTI rights. In response to oral questions by Sophie in ‘t Veld MEP and Helga Stevens MEP, Vice-President and Member of the LGBTI Intergroup,

European LGBT* Community Praises Lithuania’s Eurovision Performance

Lithuania’s performance at the Eurovision semifinals, which took place on the evening of May 28th, 2015, featured two same-sex kisses and has attracted a great deal of support from the international media and the LGBT* community. The LGBT* news service pinknews.co.uk reports that Eurovision fans worldwide are celebrating the performance of Vaidas Baumila and Monika

Rainbow Days 2015 Events in Klaipėda Generate Great Interest

Although the entirety of Lithuania travels to Klaipėda every summer anyways, the national LGBT* rights organization LGL paid the city an extra visit. Klaipėda has always had its queer charm with its boats, waves and mist shining in the sun. Our friends by the sea have always been more beautiful and liberal! On May 20th,

“Eurovision” Song Contest: Building Bridges between West and East

Building Bridges, the motto of the “Eurovision” Song Contest, is all about uniting the east and west. Lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) communities from this year’s host country, Austria, and abroad used the opportunity of the world’s biggest LGBT-friendly music event to make the statement that Europe must improve the rights of its

German opposition calls on Merkel to follow Ireland on equal marriage

The German Green Party has called on Angela Merkel to follow Ireland in introducing same-sex marriage. The Republic of Ireland overwhelmingly voted to introduce same-sex marriage in a referendum last week, with 62.1% voting in favour and 37.9% voting against. Following the victory, political leaders in a number of other countries – including Northern Ireland, Australia and Italy

Greenland legalizes same-sex marriage

On the 26th of May, 2015 Greenland’s parliament  voted unanimously to adopt Danish laws legalizing same-sex marriage and adoption. Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark and has been self-governing since 2009. The Arctic nation adopted Denmark’s civil union law in 1996. But it did not do the same when Denmark legalized same-sex

Rainbow Days 2015 Comes to Kaunas

Every spring, as the breeze carries fresh green leaves, the longest rainbow flag in the country waves proudly. On May 19th, the national LGBT* rights organization LGL brought the events of Rainbow Days 2015 to Kaunas. LGL invited the public to the LGBT* Myth Busters Workshop and a Rainbow Days film screening. At 16:00 on

MEP A. Guoga: “Deliver Lithuania from Fear”

I’m happy about the success of Lithuania’s performance on the 21st of May, 2015. I returned from Strasbourg to Brussels in time to watch the duo’s Eurovision performance together with all of Lithuania. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to vote from Belgium, but I definitely did during the finals. However, the joy of making it into

On the 16th of May, 2015, the national LGBT* rights organization LGL received a notice from the Equal Opportunities Ombudsman’s Office of the Republic of Lithuania stating that the company ‘Julturas’ violated Article 8, Part 1 of the Law on Equal Opportunities of the Republic of Lithuania by refusing to rent a bus to LGL

Northern Ireland is facing increasing pressure over its stance on same-sex marriage after Ireland voted Yes in Friday’s (22 May) referendum. Unlike in the rest of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland still prohibits same-sex marriage;  England, Wales and Scotland legalized it last year. Last month was the fourth time the Northern Ireland Assembly rejected a

Ireland same-sex marriage referendum passes

On the 23d of May, 2015 Ireland has become the first country in which same-sex couples have received marriage rights through a popular vote. The Irish Independent is reporting the referendum passed by a 62-38 percent margin. “It is about removing discrimination,” Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny told NBC News during an interview after voting

On Thursday May 21st, Vaidas Baumila and Monika Linkytė, the representatives of Lithuania at the Eurovision Song Contest, performed in the Austrian capital Wien scoring a Eurovision first with not one, but two same-sex couple sharing a kiss on stage. Watched by millions of television across the world, singers Vaidas and Monika opened the show