LGBT DISCUSSION WITH BALTIC-AMERICAN FREEDOM FOUNDATION (BAFF)

When: May 15th (Tuesday), 6:30 PM

The National LGBT* rights organization LGL, in cooperation with the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation (BAFF), invites former and present BAFF program participants and coordinators to discuss LGBT human rights in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and also in the United States (USA). It is no secret that the global LGBT movement started back in 1969 with Stonewall riots in New York City. How has the legal and social situation of LGBT people in the United States changed ever since, and what lessons can be learned from this experience when dealing with tolerance and diversity issues in the Baltic States?

Every year, the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation provides an unique opportunity for dozens of young people from the Baltic States to intern in the US-based companies and organizations, thus gaining useful professional experience. One of the main conditions of the program is to “bring back” the acquired knowledge to the Baltic States and to apply it in practice in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia for two years after an internship. In 2014, Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius, Human Rights Policy Coordinator of the National LGBT* Rights Organization LGL, also made use of the opportunities offered by the BAFF programme. Tomas has been working for the Brooklyn Community Pride Center for twelve months in the borough of Brooklyn (New York City).

What has been learnt and what kind of useful experience has been gained during the internship? What and how has he been able to apply in practice after returning to Lithuania and joining the national LGBT movement? Learn answers to these and other questions during an interactive discussion on human rights!

Event on the social network FaceBook.

Where: LGBT* community center, Pylimo Str. 21, Vilnius

OPENING OF RAINBOW CROSSING IN VILNIUS CITY CENTER

When: May 16th (Wednesday), 6 PM

To mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT), National LGBT* Rights Organization LGL plans to decorate the crossing outside its office at Pylimo St. 21 in rainbow colors. As the link between LGL’s LGBT community center and the jazz club Pavilijonas, which often hosts LGBT community events, the crossing is a significant one to the Vilnius LGBT community. This rainbow crossing in the city center will show Vilnius residents and guests that Vilnius is an open and LGBT-friendly city.

The opening of the rainbow crossing will be the inaugural event of the Rainbow Days 2018 festival programme. Lithuanian Parliament members, city council representatives, the local LGBT community, residents and tourists are all invited to attend. During the opening event, a 30-meter-long rainbow flag will be unfurled symbolizing the local LGBT community’s solidarity in celebrating Lithuania’s 100 years of statehood.

Where:  LGBT* community center, Pylimo Str. 21, Vilnius

“LGBT VOICES” IN VILNIUS

When: May 16th (Wednesday), 6:30 PM

After the opening of the symbolic rainbow crossing, the National LGBT* Rights Organization LGL would like to invite the local LGBT community and allies to the community event of LGBT Voices. This event is a unique opportunity not just to spend some time together, but also to talk about the LGBT “umbrella” and the differences between our varying identities. A panel will be held featuring people belonging to various LGBT subgroups – gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender. What do we have in common, and how do we differ? Does the Lithuanian LGBT movement include and represent the interests of everyone under the LGBT umbrella? Does this umbrella give us unique solidarity and resilience, or are we just individual members of society who have little in common? Our hostess Grytė Ruzgė will be helping our participants respond to these and other complex questions, as well as looking at issues relevant to the community from a new persepctive: is a bearded man in a skirt an appropriate character to express the LGBT community’s political demands?

Participants in the discussion will also be able to enjoy the tastiest cocktails in the city from Pavilijonas. The evening will conclude with an acoustic performance by a rising star who is a proud part of our LGBT community! It is going to be legendary!

Event on the social network FaceBook.

Where:  Jazz Club “Paviljonas“, Pylimo Str. 21B, Vilnius

RAINBOW BUS VISITS LITHUANIAN STATE INSTITUTIONS!

When: May 19th (Saturday), 12 o’clock

In order to draw attention to legal, social and cultural challenges faced by the Lithuanian LGBT community, the National LGBT* Rights Organization LGL is inviting the community to unfurl a 30-meter-long rainbow flag in front of four of Lithuania’s primary state institutions, namely: the Parliament, the Government’s Office, the President’s Palace and the Cathedral. We hope that this action will encourage Lithuanian legislators and policy makers to take direct action so that Lithuania, as it celebrates its 100 years of statehood, will be a welcoming place for everyone to live and LGBT people will be able to contribute to their full extent to a flourishing state.

Those wishing to attend as spectators are invited to gather in front of the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania (Gedimino Av. 51) on Saturday, May 19^th at noon. The impressive rainbow flag will be transported to the location by a Rainbow Bus full of bright colors, music, shouts of “For equality!” and human rights activists greeting Vilnius locals and guests alike along the way. If you would like to ride on the Rainbow Bus, register by e-mail with Mindaugas (mindaugas@gay.lt) before May 17^th.

The meeting in front of the Parliament will last until 12:30 PM. Attendees are welcome, if space allows, to join the bus on its furhter journey. The Rainbow Bus will continue to its next station, the Government’s Office, where the 30-meter flag will be unfurled once again at 1 PM, followed by Simonas Daukantas Square at 1:30 PM and the Cathedral Square at 2 PM. This symbolic act in Vilnius’ city center is aimed at promoting the image of Vilnius as an open and tolerant European city. Positive energy and good vibes are guaranteed!

Event on the social network FaceBook.

Where: Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania (Gedimino Av. 51, Vilnius)

THEATER PLAY “TRANS TRANS TRANCE” & DISCUSSION

When: May 27th, (Saturday), 6 PM

The National LGBT* Rights Organization LGL, in cooperation with Oskar Koršunov’s Theatre and the director Kamilė Gudmonaitė, invites you to a free performance of the play “Trans Trans Trance”. It’s a play whose inception began from the topic of sexual identity and femininity. Its plot was based not on an existing script, but on material created and discovered during rehearsals. It was born from open discussions about femininity, but over time the creative team has expanded the theme to ask a much broader question – how much are we determined and shaped by our gender identity? Is femininity and masculinity a social construct, or a law of nature? What happens when we go beyond the generally recognized norms of femininity? What are the limits of gender? Can you be a man and a woman at the same time? The social environment, the media and societal norms make it easier for us to explain what is male and female, but does the binary gender system limit our thinking? What happens to a person if their inner-self does not fit their outside appearance? How hard is it to accept yourself if the society itself does not always accept you? The play “Trans Trans Trance” was nominated for the Rainbow Award in the National Equality and Diversity Awards this year.

“Coming out does not happen only once in a person’s life. It is a daily journey that we all need to participate in to find ourselves so that we might endure the next day.” (A quote from a transperson)

After the play, we will invite you to the discussion “From Zero to Hero: Transgender Human Rights Situation in Lithuania.” The participants of the discussion will include transgender people, who were able to change their identity documents without the compulsory requirement for gender reassignment surgery in Lithuania, as well as the director and the actors of the play. The discussion will be moderated by Grytė Ruzgė, a psychologist.

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Director – Kamilė Gudmonaitė
Cast: Dovilė Kundrotaitė, Jovita Jankelytė, Adelė Šuminskaitė

The number of seats for the play is limited. You can collect a ticket at the LGBT* community center (Pylimo Str. 21, Vilnius) from May 17th (Thursday) until May 25th (Friday).

Where: Oskar Koršunov’s Theater, Ašmenos Str. 8, Vilnius