An essay on the situation of LGBT rights in Lithuania by Kjetil Duvold & Inga Aalia*, published in the Baltic Worlds, analyzes the recent political and cultural developments in the Lithuanian society through the lens of public discourse on sexual orientation issues. The comprehensive analysis of legal and policy consideration regarding LGBT community is accompanied by more insightful comments about the processes of democratization, nation-building and EU integration under the Lithuanian circumstances.
Despite the fact that Lithuania, as an EU Member State, has to a large extent set up institutional mechanisms to combat homophobia and has implemented anti-discrimination laws that are roughly in line with EU norms, at the same time the country does not provide for any legal recognition of same-sex relationships and substantially hinder effective enjoyment of fundamental rights and freedoms (e.g. freedom of assembly) to the LGBT community. The greatest problem, note the authors, is that the political and cultural climate remains deeply hostile towards homosexuality and towards recognizing the rights of individuals of a minority sexual orientation.
In addition to its analytical value, this contribution provides a comprehensive compilation of statistical data. It not only relies on a comparable data-set of attitudes towards homosexuals in the EU, but also diversifies certain attitudinal aspects in Lithuania by social categories.
This interesting and comprehensive essay merits strong recommendation not only to generally interested readers, but also to researches, who are willing to acquire more in-depth understanding on the development of the LGBT rights in Lithuania.
* Inga Aalia holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Vilnius and a master’s degree from the University of Oslo. Born in Vilnius, and has lived, studied and worked in the United States, Norway, France, and Romania. Kjetil Duvold, PhD in political science. Positions at Södertörn, Humboldt, Vytautas Magnus, and Vilnius universities. Among his books is Making Sense of Baltic Democracy: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania between the Soviet Union and the European Union (2010).
