On 28 September 2026, the National LGBT Rights Organisation LGL, in cooperation with Valandėlė sau, held a focus group with LGBTIQ+ community members and young activists. The meeting in Šiauliai aimed to hear about the barriers people face in everyday life and the changes they expect from public institutions.

Participants discussed the public policy issues that matter to them, experiences of discrimination, gaps in institutional responses and possible solutions. The focus group created space to talk about what statistics alone cannot fully convey: how public decisions affect a person’s ability to feel safe, be themselves and receive the support they need.

“We want the people whose lives are directly affected by these decisions to help shape our advocacy priorities. That is why we listen first, then look for ways to turn the problems they identify into concrete proposals,” says LGL Project Manager Monika Antanaitytė.

The insights gathered in Šiauliai will be analysed alongside the findings of a focus group planned in Vilnius. Comparing experiences from the two cities will help identify shared challenges as well as issues requiring specific attention. The analysis will inform policy recommendations and materials for meetings with decision makers.

LGL thanks all focus group participants for their time, trust and willingness to share their thoughts. Their personal experiences will be used responsibly, with their privacy protected.

The focus group was organised as part of the EU-funded project “Pride for Equality: Strengthening LGBTIQ+ Rights and European Union Values in Lithuania” (No. CERV2-K3-0003).

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them.