In its annual report concerning the state of human rights throughout the world, the international non-governmental organization Amnesty International criticized Lithuania’s violation of LGBT* rights. “The law designed for the ‘protection of minors’ against the detrimental effect of public information violates the freedom of self-expression of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people,” states the
News / Human Rights
On February 4th, 2015 lawmakers in Slovenia extended all marriage rights, including adoption, to gay couples by a vote of 51 to 28, with five absentations. The measure passed in the Slovenian Parliament by a 51-28 vote margin. United Left MP Matej Vatovec said parliamentary support ensured Slovenia would become a ‘truly tolerant and inclusive
The national LGBT* rights organization’s LGL Board Chair Vladimir Simonko has been honoured with a nomination for the International Award at Ireland’s LGBT* awards ceremony, “The Galas 2015.” This award is given for activism in the field of LGBT* rights in countries where the LGBT* community most often faces discrimination. The National Irish LGBT* Federation
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry formally introduced Randy Berry as the special U.S. envoy to promote global LGBT rights on February 27, 2015. “We have a moral obligation to speak out against the persecution and the marginalization of LGBT persons,” said Kerry during a State Department reception where he formally introduced Berry. “The United
27 years together with his partner. What a model family! “It was you who said that word – not I,” noted the Board Chair of LGL Vladimir Simonko with a smile, for whom this word holds great meaning. Vladimir’s surname recently echoed throughout the country once again. During the music awards ceremony M.A.M.A., V. Simonko
Amid the European Commission’s (EC) analysis whether the Lithuanian Law on the Protection of Minors against the Detrimental Effect of Public Information is in line the EU acquis, a group of MEPs on February 26th, 2015 criticized the Baltic state for the continuing discrimination of LGBT* people, reports Lithuanian news agency BNS. “I think we
On the 26th of February, 2015 the Civil Liberties Committee of the European Parliament (LIBE) had a debate on the Lithuanian anti-propaganda law and the situation of the rights of LGBT* people in Lithuania. Dutch Member of the European Parliament Sophie in ‘t Veld (ALDE/D66) asked for a debate with the European Commissioners after the
Following a submission to the European Commission by the national LGBT* organization LGL, the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee of the European Parliament is preparing to discuss the ‘homosexual propaganda’ legislation in Lithuania, reports Lithuanian news agency BNS. Lithuania’s representatives in the European Parliament, however, claim that they do not see a problem
Following a submission to the European Commission by the national LGBT* organization LGL, the EU institutions will follow closely the ‘homosexual propaganda’ legislation in Lithuania, reports Lithuanian news agency “BNS.” The Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee of the European Parliament will discuss the situation in Lithuanian situation on Thursday. The European Commission (EC)
The State Department on Monday announced it has named Randy Berry as its special envoy to promote global LGBT rights. Berry, who is openly gay, has been the consul general at the U.S. Consulate in Amsterdam since August 2012. He was the consul general at the U.S. Consulate in Auckland, New Zealand, from 2009-2012 and
On February 18th, 2015 the District Court of Klaipėda Region affirmed the order by the District Court’s of Klaipėda City to dismiss a formal complaint about hateful online comments regarding a same-sex kiss picture by two students. The initial complaint was filed by the national LGBT* rights organization LGL. As stated in the current judgment,
On February 10th, 2015, the national LGBT* rights organization LGL proposed that the stamp publishing department of the ‘Lithuanian Post’ include the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia– celebrated on May 17th– in its 2016 stamp-planning contest. In its letter, LGL emphasized that the contest, organized by the ‘Lithuania Post,’ would provide an opportunity for