International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) will be marked in Lithuania by a week-long celebration of Rainbow Days, organised by the Lithuanian Gay League (LGL).

Rainbow Days will be opened at a press conference at Seimas on 16 May hosted by Member of Parliament Marija Aušrinė Pavilionienė, with speakers including Ambassador of the Netherlands Kornelis Spaans and John Finkbeiner, Political-Economic Chief at the Embassy of the United States.

Activities throughout the week (15–22 May) will include seminars, cinema screenings and ‘tolerance lessons’ given by LGL volunteers at the LGBT Centre in Vilnius, where participants will have the opportunity to question stereotypes and meet and talk with people who are often discriminated against and excluded from society.

A 30-metre rainbow flag will be unfolded in Vilnius as a public action, highlighting the importance of solidarity, unity and support. Rainbow Days will close with a celebration “Rainbow Café for All” featuring various Lithuanian DJs and performers.

Events will be held in both Vilnius and Kaunas. Rainbow Days will be organised in Lithuania now for the second time, with the intention of establishing the event as an annual tradition. Rainbow Days are supported by the PROGRESS programme under the European Commission, Open Society Foundations and Amnesty International.