On 5 June 2026, the international Lithuanian Pride 2026 conference, “Rainbow Families: Towards Legal, Social and Institutional Equality”, took place at the Vilnius City Municipality. The event brought together experts, policymakers, researchers, human rights advocates and community representatives from Lithuania, the Nordic and Baltic countries, and Ukraine. The conference aimed to strengthen dialogue on the rights, well-being and equal opportunities of rainbow families across the region.
During the conference, participants were introduced to the international report “Mapping Realities of Rainbow Families: Challenges and Needs. A Transnational Desk Research Report”, which explores the experiences of rainbow families in the Nordic-Baltic region and Ukraine. Discussions focused on legal recognition of families, parenthood and maternity issues, institutional invisibility, discrimination, and the impact of data gaps on the everyday lives of rainbow families. Recommendations for policymakers, educators and public institutions were also presented.
The first conference session featured representatives of organisations from Lithuania, Iceland, Denmark and Ukraine, who shared insights into the situation of rainbow families in their respective countries. Participants discussed key challenges in education, healthcare and social services, as well as strategies for strengthening community resilience and enhancing international cooperation.
The conference also included a political dialogue on ensuring safety, dignity and equal opportunities for rainbow families. Speakers highlighted the need to strengthen child protection systems for LGBTIQ children, improve access to public services, and ensure that family diversity is adequately reflected in national child welfare policies.
A dedicated session addressed domestic violence against LBT women and non-binary people. Experts and representatives of human rights organisations discussed barriers to accessing support, gaps in legal protection, and effective measures for prevention and strengthening community-based support systems.
The event concluded with a discussion on LGBTQ+ inclusive workplaces and the role of businesses in creating a safer and more inclusive society for rainbow families. Representatives of leading companies shared best practices related to equal employee benefits, psychological safety and the implementation of diversity and inclusion policies in the workplace.
The national LGBT Rights Organisation LGL extends its sincere gratitude to all speakers, partners, sponsors and participants for their meaningful discussions, valuable insights and shared commitment to building a society in which every family can live with dignity, safety and equal rights.
© LGL and Augustas Didžgalvis photos
The conference is organised as part of the project “Connecting families, educators and policymakers to combat violence and improve the well-being of LGBTIQ children in the Nordic-Baltic region and Ukraine”, co-funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers’ programme “Prosperous Future”.
The conference is organized as part of the project “Visible and Heard: Responding to Gender-Based Violence Against LBT Women and Non-Binary Individuals”.
Funded by the European Union. However, the views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them.
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