On 7 June 2024 the National LGBT rights organization LGL organized an international Lithuanian Pride conference “LGBTQI+ Inclusive Education for a Change in Diverse Society”, which took place in Vilnius City Municipality Conference Hall.

During the international conference, the need to ensure education without discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, the right to inclusive and science-based sex education, the empowerment of LGBTQI+ youth in the fight against bullying, the good experience of Nordic and other countries in the aforementioned areas was discussed. The conference was organized in cooperation with Nordic Council or Ministers Office in Lithuania, Friedrich Ebert Foundation and Vilnius City Municipality. Inclusive education specialists and experts were invited to participate in the conference and the event attracted a number of experts from Nordic and other countries to Vilnius.

The conference was opened by an exclusive performance by Kungsholmens school choir and welcoming speeches by Dr. Arūnas Šileris, Vice Mayor of Vilnius; Dr. Erika Leonaitė, Seimas Ombudsperson and Head of Seimas Ombudsperson Office; Helén Nilsson, Director of Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Lithuania; and Vladimir Simonko, Executive Director of the National LGBT rights organization LGL.

British Drag Icon and Academic Dr. Cheddar Gorgeous gave an inspiring keynote speech on unity, diversity and progress.

Dr. Anna Siverskog, Researcher and PhD at the Gothenburg University presented the health, well-being and life conditions of young LGBTI persons in the Nordic countries.

Vytautas Valentinavičius, PhD cand. in political science at the Kaunas University of Technology and Monika Antanaitytė, Lawyer at the National LGBT rights organization LGL gave insights on the National LGBTIQ Equality Plan in the context of LGBTIQ inclusion in education and beyond.

The presentations were followed by discussions on LGBTQI+ inclusive sexuality education in Lithuanian schools; anti-LGBTQI+ bullying and its implications to school climate and access to education; and the positive impact of LGBTQI+ inclusive businesses.

© Augustas Didžgalvis photography