Vilnius, LITHUANIA, 23 September 2010 Today, the Lithuanian parliament (Seimas) adopted its autumn agenda, preparing to debate and come to a final decision regarding the legislative amendments which would criminalize the “promotion of homosexual relations in public places.” These amendments have the potential to go into effect as early as December 2010. “Any move by

ILGA-Europe (the European Region of the International Lesbian and Gay Organisation ILGA) has brought a landmark case before the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ). In Jürgen Römer vs. City of Hamburg the Advocate General asks the Court to decide that same-sex couples must have access to employment benefits for married couples in

European MSM Internet survey (EMIS) on knowledge, attitudes and behavior as to HIV and STIs has started in June 2010 and ran for three months. It was promoted online and offline through media for gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM). As of August 18, 2010, the questionnaire has been completed

STRASBOURG, 16 June 2010 — Today the European Parliament adopted a strong position in favour of safeguarding transgender people’s fundamental rights. The Parliament officially acknowledged discrimination on grounds of gender identity, calls for accessible gender reassignment procedures, and insists future EU gender equality initiatives should address issues linked to gender identity and gender reassignment. The

Monday, May 17 marks the International Day Against Homophobia. Europe has seen important progress in addressing the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people — but there is more to be done. In March, the representatives of the 47 member countries of the oldest European organization  the Council of Europe, agreed that all

Raimondas Petrauskas, Lithuania’s Interim Attorney General and Stanislovas Buškevičius, member of the Kaunas City Council, on 3rd May have applied to the court to ban the Baltic Pride/March for Equality scheduled for 8th May, which was previously authorised by the Mayor of Vilnius. Their appeal was motivated by concerns over potential security risks. According to

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS – Lithuania’s Supreme Administrative Court ruled on Friday that Baltic Pride, a gay rights rally planned for Saturday in the capital, Vilnius, would be able to go ahead after all, overturning a ban by a lower court. The move comes after the European Commission made it known its concerns about the earlier

On 8 April 2010, the United Kingdom (UK) Parliament passed the Equality Act 2010. The Act harmonises existing equality law which previously had been spread across numerous separate pieces of legislation. The new Equality Act not only combines existing equality legislation into a single comprehensive Act but levels up protection for several grounds of discrimination

Lithuania is on purpose portrayed as intolerant in the West. With this, attempts are made to block the West’s “appetite for the independence of the Baltic States”. Vilija Aleknaite-Abramikiene, member of Seimas, expressed such fears on Saturday, in Homeland Union- Lithuanian Christian Democrats’ (TS-LDK) conference. She said her wish was to express the professors worry,

Tolerance is different for national minorities, for the disabled, and for those with a different sexual orientation. A lot depends on their own behavior. Jews, for example, are demanding for the return of the property, but they engage in constructive discussions. Representatives of Polish nation since they want to write their first and last names

“Lithuanians would like to not see gays in public, but a large majority of Lithuanians reacts calmly to a march with such slogans as  “Lithuania- for Lithuanians”. Westerners on the other hand are of an opposing opinion- gay parades are good, but the nationalist parade should elicit a serious response” – well known Lithuanian journalist