On April 1, 2017 a Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta published an article reporting about an arbitrary detention, torture and killing of gay and bisexual men on a mass scale in Chechnya (Russian Federation). The national LGBT* rights organization LGL together with the international human rights community has expressed a deep concern about the current situation

Baltic Pride 2016 Wins the National ‘Breakthrough of the Year’ Award

On March 29th, 2017 the Baltic Pride 2016 March for Equality was awarded with the ‘Breakthrough of the Year’ Award during the ceremony of the National Equality and Diversity Awards 2016, held in the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania in Vilnius. The Baltic Pride 2016 March for Equality, organized by the National LGBT*

The fourth annual National Equality and Diversity Awards took place in the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania on March 29, 2017. Honoring the works and initiatives, the awards were given to the people and organizations who contributed to the promotion and advancement of human rights last year. The National Equality and Diversity Awards

Lithuanian Minister of Health: Gender Reassignment Legislation Is A Challenge

On March 23rd, 2017 the Government of the Republic of Lithuania placed two Lithuanian ministries, i.e. the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Justice, under obligation to prepare legal acts that would enable gender reassignment procedure in Lithuania. Aurelijus Veryga, the Minister of Health of the Republic of Lithuania, claims that it will be

LGL Volunteers Participated in a Youth Exchange Programme in the Netherlands

Volunteers of the National LGBT* rights organization LGL share their experience in participating in a youth exchange programme “InterACTive Colors“ in the Netherlands. I come to Ommen for the second time. Everything looks just as I remember but at the same time a bit different. New faces, a new building have sprang in the yard

On March 23rd, 2017 the Government of the Republic of Lithuania placed two Lithuanian ministries under obligation to prepare legal acts that would enable gender reassignment procedure in Lithuania. The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Justice were required to submit the draft proposals on “providing treatment for persons with gender identity disorder” by

Lithuanian Parliament adopted it’s work agenda, preparing to debate on three legislative amendments and legislative initiatives that seek to restrict LGBT rights as well as the international commitments to uphold freedom of expression and to fight discrimination. The infamous amendment (XIIP-1217) to Article 38 of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania stating that “family

Baltic Pride 2016 Nominated for Breakthrough of the Year Award

The Office of Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson, the National Equality and Diversity Forum and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway in Lithuania present for the fourth time the annual National Equality and Diversity Awards. The Awards will honor persons, organizations, projects and initiatives which contributed to the advancement of equality and diversity in Lithuania. This

LGL Representatives Participated in a Project Partners‘ Meeting

On 3rd-5th May, 2017 representatives of the National LGBT* rights organization LGL participated in a partners‘ meeting of the project “Developing research capacity in Eastern Europe” in Warsaw, the capital of Poland. During the meeting partners discussed the upcoming activities of the project, the concept of a survey on LGBT issues in education and its

LGL‘s Executive Director Participated in a Conference on LGBTIQ Road Map in Malta

On February 22d-23rd, 2017 Vladimir Simonko, Executive Director of the National LGBT* rights organization LGL, participated in a high level ministerial conference on LGBTIQ road map, held on the occasion of the presidency of the Council of the EU in Malta. The conference on LGBTIQ road map witnessed the first reporting back on the European

Access to Registered Same-sex Partnerships: It’s a Question of Equality

There is a growing trend in Europe and beyond towards granting same-sex couples legal recognition for their relationships, which confers certain specific protections. The first country to provide “registered partnerships” was Denmark in 1989, while The Netherlands was first to adopt same-sex marriage in 2001. Today, 47 countries in the world, 27 of which are

Students from Vilnius University visited LGBT* centre

On 20th of February, 2017 students from Vilnius University, Faculty of Communication, visited LGBT* centre. In the beginning of the meeting, students shortly introduced themselves and spoke about their interests. Moreover, students shared their knowledge about LGBT* human rights issues. Some have admitted that they know at least one LGBT* person in their close environment,