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,
News / Human Rights
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
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
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
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
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
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
No cultural, traditional or religious values can justify hate crimes against LGBT* people. Such was the basis of the third international forum for the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT), which was held in Montenegro and serves as a message to European governments. The event was organized by the Montenegrin government, which was represented
A Latvian journalist has felt the wrath of the Lithuanian president after asking several questions that “have not been agreed upon”. The president insistently, and rather gracelessly, refused to answer questions about LGBT* rights in Lithuania. In the run-up to the Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga, journalist Gundars Reders of Latvia’s LTV channel interviewed President
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people remain among the most vulnerable in Lithuanian society; however, Lithuania displays a striking lack of political will with respect to creating and implementing the policies and legislation needed to combat this issue. Furthermore, it is clear that the Inter-Institutional Action Plan on Non-Discrimination for 2015-2020 (adopted on January 28th,