Prominent LGBT Activist to Run for Chile Congress

A prominent LGBT rights advocate in Chile has announced he is running for a seat in the country’s congress. Luis Larraín, who is the co-founder and former president of Fundación Iguales, declared his candidacy for the Chilean House of Deputies in an interview that La Tercera, a Chilean newspaper. Larraín, 36, is a member of

On March 23rd, 2017 the Government of the Republic of Lithuania placed two Lithuanian ministries under obligation to prepare legal acts that would enable gender reassignment procedure in Lithuania. The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Justice were required to submit the draft proposals on “providing treatment for persons with gender identity disorder” by

Hundreds of Trans New Yorkers Change Gender Identity after Rule Change

Hundreds of transgender New Yorkers have legally changed their gender following a rule change. A total of 731 transgender residents of New York City have changed their legal gender following the rule change from 2014, enacted in 2015. The City Council and the Health Department, made it easier for trans people to change their gender

European Parliament: Greater Effort Necessary for LGBTI Equality at EU Level

In a key report  on gender equality adopted last Tuesday, March 14th 2017, the European Parliament has demanded to strengthen action on the rights of LGBTI people. In the annual report on gender equality the parliament urges the Commission to expand the scope of EU hate speech law, as to include incitement to hatred on

Lithuanian Parliament adopted it’s work agenda, preparing to debate on three legislative amendments and legislative initiatives that seek to restrict LGBT rights as well as the international commitments to uphold freedom of expression and to fight discrimination. The infamous amendment (XIIP-1217) to Article 38 of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania stating that “family

Colombia City Seeks to Promote Diversity, LGBT Acceptance

The director of Medellín’s Office of Social Inclusion, Family and Human Rights last Thursday said diversity is an integral part of the Colombian city’s public policy. “Medellín is a city that has understood diversity,” Luis Bernardo Vélez told the Washington Blade during an interview at his office in Medellín City Hall. Vélez, who was a

Intersex Advocates Pull No Punches in Historic Statement

Intersex advocates in Australia and New Zealand have come together to declare their community’s priorities for the future in a powerful statement. Over two days in Darlington, Sydney more than 20 advocates worked together at a retreat to create the ‘Darlington Statement‘. The statement identifies key priorities for intersex people. Some of these include; legal reform to

Next week, on Tuesday March 21st, 2017, another session of Book Club is going to happen in LGBT* community centre. This time with the epithet “Queer Feminist” we are going to discuss the non-fiction book Argonauts written by Maggie Nelson. It is already fifth time that we are going to meet at this opportunity. What

Baltic Pride 2016 Nominated for Breakthrough of the Year Award

The Office of Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson, the National Equality and Diversity Forum and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway in Lithuania present for the fourth time the annual National Equality and Diversity Awards. The Awards will honor persons, organizations, projects and initiatives which contributed to the advancement of equality and diversity in Lithuania. This

Malta’s minister for civil liberties has kicked off a conference on LGBTI rights across the EU with a call for politicians to swim against the tide by “helping shape public opinion, not to be led by it”. Helena Dalli was speaking in Malta on Thursday, 23 February 2017, at a high-level ministerial conference on LGBTI

On Wednesday, March 8, 2017, Belarusian historician Uladzimir Valodzin visited Vilnius and held the lecture about queer history in Belarus in LGBT* centre in LGL`s office. Uladzimir presented to a numerous audience his historical research on queer history of Belarus – stories and fates of the people who could we call today as queers. Although

Finland Same-sex Marriage Law Takes Effect

A law that extends marriage and adoption rights to same-sex couples in Finland took effect last Wednesday, 1st March 2017. Members of Finland’s Parliament approved a same-sex marriage bill — which also extended adoption rights to gay and lesbian couples — in 2014. The Associated Press reported more than 100,000 people signed a petition that