European members of parliament, including that body’s gay and lesbian working group, as well as human rights groups are weighing their options regarding a response to a bill passed by Lithuania’s parliament that would ban the dissemination of information to young people seen as promoting homosexuality.
“This is crazy and un-European and totally out of thinking for me and many others,” said Ulrike Lunacek, a new EU parliamentarian and member of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian rights.
As Europe has long been held up as a global beacon on progressive legislation regarding gay rights – same-sex marriage or some version thereof is legal in many EU countries – the bill passed in Vilnius seems like an unexpected slap in the face. It brings back memories of cultural battles that many in western Europe at least thought were largely behind them.
Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Gays and lesbians in former Soviet countries have a harder time finding acceptance
“But we have to be aware there are still forces out there who want to deny equal rights to gays and lesbians,” she said. “We still have to convince people that equal rights for gays and lesbians doesn’t mean taking away the rights of heterosexuals.”
Now she and others are considering the next steps, which include encouraging the new president of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, to express his concern to the Baltic nation that the new law could be prejudicial to understanding and tolerance of homosexuals.
“The new law contradicts the values of the European Union where minority rights are and should remain respected. It is the duty of the President of the European Parliament to ensure that all minorities are treated equally,” said Michael Cashman, President of the Intergroup, in a statement.
