Vladimir Simonko (57), the Executive Director of the National LGBT rights organization LGL, chose a difficult life 30 years ago. Back then, when the Soviet Criminal Code was in force, which provided for maximum three years imprisonment for sexual intercourse between two men, he decided to openly admit that he was gay, made his story
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Experiences of transgender teens and children remain a taboo in Lithuania. Oftentimes, parents take their children to exorcists and self-taught psychiatrists, leading to depression or even suicide. Lithuania does not permit gender reassignment surgery, and transgender individuals who go through the treatment abroad have to go to court to have the entry on sex changed
In June, Hungary became the second country in the EU to pass the anti-gay proaganda law, as Viktor Orbán’s ruling party intensified its campaign against LGBTI rights. Since 2009 Lithuanian LGBTI community has been struggling with the Law on the Protection of Minors against the Detrimental Effect of Public Information containing a similar anti-LGBTI provision. According to its article
Gender-neutral partnership bill was registered in the Lithuanian Parliament on May 21, 2021, returning the question of same-sex union recognition to political agenda after staggering four-years break. While it does recognize same-sex unions, the bill does not reference the concept of family, nor it addresses regulations related to child adoption. It does not make a reference to
The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT) was commemorated at an event organized by the National LGBT rights organization LGL together with the Embassy of Sweden in the courtyard of the Embassy in Vilnius on 17 May, 2021. The event was attended by LGBT rights activists, LGBT-friendly diplomatic missions, socially responsible business, media
Newest ILGA-Europe’s annual Rainbow Europe Map and Index, ranking the legal and policy situation of LGBTI people in 49 European countries found that the past 12 months have marked an unprecedented year in the Map’s 12-year history, with virtually no positive legislative change for LGBTI people in Europe. Lithuania contributes to this negative general trend,
Lithuanian entrants at the Eurovision Song Contest “The Roop” send a message of support to the LGBT community, inviting everyone to participate at the Baltic Pride 2022, which will take place on June 2-5, 2022 in Vilnius. “The Roop” will perform their song “Discoteque” in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in
The National LGBT rights organization LGL has released a video urging to consider the needs of LGBT children during COVID-19 restrictions. During the difficult period of the COVID-19 restrictions, LGBT children face emotional health challenges. Like all children, they feel isolated due to limited social contact. Children spend all their time at home, studying remotely
IT courses organized by the National LGBT rights organization LGL are ongoing and it will help young people under the age of 29 who are not studying and cannot find a job for a long period of time to find employment in the IT sector. The courses are implemented as part of the project “Direction Employment”,
The National LGBT rights organization LGL is proud to announce the annual report for 2020. Transparency and independence from any political or financial interests are one of the most important goals for our organization in order to achieve effective inclusion and social integration of local LGBT community. LGL’s annual report for 2020 comprehensively presents organization’s
R.I.S.E. invites all members of society to get to know and connect with LGBTI families and their daily struggles arising from the lack of both legal recognition and social acceptance. Personal stories allow to see the issues of family rights recognition through the eyes of LGBTI people and their loved ones while calling for development of the
In December 2018, OSCE Moscow Mechanism rapporteur’s independent report on the situation in Chechnya found ‘clear evidence of the successive purges against LGBTI persons’ in Chechnya as well as of numerous other grave Human Rights violations. The report documented that LGBTI persons in Chechnya had been subjected to systematic harassment, persecution, arbitrary arrests and detentions,