On 23rd August, 2017 Lithuanian news portal Delfi.lt announced its project’s “Lithuania’s most influential” list of the most influential public figures in Lithuania. For the first time in the country‘s history it features a prominent defender of LGBT* human rights.
Vladimir Simonko, Executive Director of the National LGBT* rights organization LGL, appears on the list, compiled by Delfi.lt and “Reitingai” magazine. The list of influential people was determined by surveying various elite focus groups within Lithuania, including politicians, business owners, economists, entertainers, athletes, journalists, public service workers, lawyers and many more.
Vladimir Simonko was named 42nd most influential public figure in Lithuania out of 70 nominees. This honor was awarded to LGL’s Executive Director by politicians, lawyers, journalists and other public figures who participated in the selection.
Vladimir Simonko is LGL’s Executive Director and one of its founders (in 1993). As an expert on national and international projects and frequent consultant in human rights conferences, he has many years of experience in the LGBT* human rights field. In 2015, Vladimir Simonko was elected to the Board of international LGBTI organization ILGA Europe. He was one of the primary organizers of Baltic Pride in 2010, 2013 and 2016. He is also a regular participant in Lithuanian Human Rights Coalition and National Equality and Diversity Forum activities.
