In an unprecedented show of political support for the rights of LGBTI people, representatives from all the main parliamentary parties signed an equality pledge in Athens. Representatives from Syriza, PASOK, New Democracy, DIMAR, The River and Enosi Kentroon signed a pledge stating their commitment to registered partnership, family law reform, legal gender recognition and
News / Human Rights
The Church of Norway has approved a measure to allow same-sex couples to marry in its churches. The church’s General Synod voted on the issue last week. ow all churches in Norway will be able to offer marriage to same-sex couples, and can immediately begin preparations to do so. As with many religious
New York City will host WorldPride in 2019, it has been confirmed – 50 years on from the Stonewall riots. The city has been chosen as the latest host of the international LGBT Pride event, which celebrates equality in cities around the world. WorldPride was last held in 2014 in Toronto, and has previously been
The National LGBT* Rights Organization LGL congratulates the decision by the Vilnius City Municipality Administration of October 21st, 2015 to facilitate the Baltic Pride 2016 March for Equality on the central avenue in the downtown of Vilnius. The event will take place on June 18th, 2016 (Saturday) on the Gediminas Avenue. The march will culminate
The World Medical Association has adopted new transgender guidelines for doctors. At its annual general assembly in Moscow on the 18th of October, 2015, nearly 60 national medical associations agreed that affordable transgender healthcare should be made available to everyone who experiences gender dysphoria. The guidelines, which were proposed by the German Medical Association, aim
On October 19th, 2015 the MP and one of the leaders of the Lithuanian conservative party “Homeland Union” Vilija Aleknaitė-Abramikienė in the course of an interview to the radio station “Žinių radijas” regarding the possible legislation on civil partnerships claimed that “based on the current legal situation, we have to propose a public referendum on
Italy has finally begun debating a bill to allow same-sex couples to enter civil unions. The debate began on the 14th of October, 2015 on the long-awaited bill, which has the support of Premier Matteo Renzi. Although the debate began this week, campaigners are not holding their breath as the issue is a contentious one,
On September 17th, 2015, the autumn work agenda of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania was approved and contains a long list of initiatives seeking to limit LGBT* rights. Firstly, there is the infamous amendment to the Law on the Fundamentals of Protection of the Rights of Child of the Republic of Lithuania, prohibiting
LGL welcomes the European Parliament’s adoption of the Zaborska Report [1] on equal opportunities and equal treatment of men and women in matters of employment and occupation. Amongst other things the report also calls for trans people’s improved access to justice, proactive measures, non-discrimination laws, and trans-friendly workplaces. It is to highlight in particular that
On October 14th, 2015 the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania rejected a bill on registered partnership that had been drafted by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania and proposed to introduce the institution of registered partnership for different-sex couples. 27 members of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania voted in
A new HIV vaccine – developed by the scientist who discovered the virus causes AIDS – has begun human trials. Robert Gallo, who also invented the HIV blood test, and a team at the University of Maryland School of Medicine launched its Phase 1 clinical trial on Thursday (8 October). ‘Our HIV/AIDS vaccine candidate is designed to
Puerto Rico’s Education Minister has announced changes to a school uniform code that lets boys wear skirts. Minister Rafael Roman confirmed changes today that are intended to make the US territory’s strict uniform policy more LGBT-inclusive and less restrictive. The Puerto Rico Department of Education requires all students to wear school uniforms – only providing exemptions