The EU “For Diversity. Against Discrimination.” truck is travelling around Europe to promote diversity, tolerance and raising awareness about EU legislation prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of gender, disability, age, religion/belief, race/ethnicity and sexual orientation. While stopping in various destinations across Europe, it engages locals to learn more about EU anti-discrimination laws, co-operate with local

The Mayor: I Share Traditional World View

The Anti-Discrimination Truck touring Europe is not desirable in Kaunas, because the action will be joined by Lithuanian gays. Kaunas municipal authorities received an application to organise in the location near Akropolis shopping centre and St Cross (Carmelites) Church an event promoting tolerance. Upon the initiative of the European Commission, the truck decorated in the

‘Tolerance Truck’ Knocks at the Gates of Vilnius Again

A Delegation of the European Commission to Lithuania has asked for permission from the Vilnius City Municipality to organise an event that was banned last year—the appearance of the ‘tolerance truck’ at the Town Hall Square. Lithuanian gays are also getting ready for participation in the campaign. Contrary to last year, however, there is no

Gays of the world watch Lithuania

A homophobic country where gays and lesbians often have to hide their sexual orientation, cannot kiss in public or otherwise demonstrate their romantic feelings; and due to intolerance in society, they are often forced to emigrate—this is how Lithuania is described by leaders of the oldest gay and lesbian organization COC Netherlands. Currently, the organization

The Seimas eventually managed to pass the Law on Equal Treatment by which discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and other grounds was banned. Yet, before voting took place, a provision appeared in the bill which allowed non compliance with the equality principle in educational and training institutions of religious communities. On Tuesday, 64

Equal treatment bill stalls in Lithuanian parliament

Not enough MPs turned up to vote for a new equality law in the Lithuanian parliament and the legislation will have to be rescheduled. In total eight MPs voted against, 17 abstained and 59 MPs have voted in favour of a proposal to include sexual orientation, age, disability and religion as grounds of prohibited discrimination into

Press release of the Lithuanian Gay League

Yesterday Republic of Lithuania Seimas (parliament) after holding discussions approved the draft law amending Law on Equal Opportunities No. XP-2384 (6*) EU), containing the amendments passed during the meeting. During the discussions, the proposal made by MP Egidijus Klumbys was approved, by which the concept “on the basis of age, sexual orientation, social status, disability,

Lithuania criticized in Amnesty report

In its 2008 report on the state of human rights worldwide, Amnesty said: “Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) peoples’ human rights were not respected and several LGBT events were cancelled in a discriminatory manner. (The Lithuanian) parliament also discussed banning information which would put homosexuality in a positive light to minors.” The report also

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) peoples’ human rights were not respected. Several LGBT events were cancelled in a discriminatory manner and parliament discussed banning information which would put homosexuality in a positive light to minors. On 21 May, the mayor of Vilnius, Juozas Imbrasas, refused permission for a European Union (EU) sponsored anti-discrimination truck

Human Rights Puzzles: LGBT People in Lithuania

Artūras Tereškinas A foreign observer visiting Lithuania would be puzzled: on March 11, 2008, Lithuanian neo-Nazis marched the streets of Vilnius with no official permit or interruption from the police, shouting xenophobic and anti-Semitic slogans. Yet other social groups, most notably gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender (LGBT), have not had this freedom. The Council of

A Media for Diversity

An initiative of LGL, this publication is based on a desire to change the way LGBT is often presented in the media. A pilot initiative with the potential to grow, it constitutes a toolkit for LGBT activists and media professionals alike, on how to work with each other in the best possible way. The fundamental

Lithuanian Government respond to CoE on gay rights

Any peaceful demonstrations, including those of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals, cannot be prohibited just because some people are hostile to their rights. The state’s responsibility is to guarantee that all legally organized demonstrations are peaceful, Lietuvos rytas daily reported. These were the sentiments expressed by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg