Speaking during a discussion at the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania on June 3rd, the only openly gay member of the Lithuanian Parliament and the Conservative Party Rokas Žilinskas insisted that the adoption of the Partnership Act, proposed by nine members of the Parliament from the Social Democratic and the Liberal Movement parties would
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By treating different-sex and same-sex unmarried couples differently, Lithuania would violate the European Convention of Human Rights, Professor of Law Vytautas Mizaras from Vilnius University argued on the June 3rd, 2015. The Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania is intending to propose a partnership law that would apply only to different-sex couples. According
The Minister of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania Juozas Bernatonis (Social Democratic Party) has proposed to register a bill that would introduce registered partnerships only for different-sex couples. According to the Minister of Justice, many unmarried couples today are living together in Lithuania; thus there is a pressing need to regulate this “widespread form
TRANS PEOPLE in Ireland will now not have to rely on testimony from psychiatrists or endocrinologists to have their gender recognised by the state. Instead, their self-declaration will be accepted, for the purpose of updating passports, driving licences, obtaining a new birth cert, and getting married. Tánaiste Joan Burton announced this evening that the Cabinet
The National LGBT* Organization LGL welcomes the release of the report that the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights issued on Monday. The report assesses that anti-LGBT discrimination and violence persists around the world in spite of continued progress in the expansion of rights to people based on their sexual orientation and
As a foreigner volunteering in one of the most homophobic countries in the European Union, I admit I did not know what reactions would have generated the Rainbow Days 2015, the set of initiatives organized in Lithuania for IDAHOT (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia). Since I moved to this country, not many positive events
Several gay rights activists have been arrested by police after attempting to stage a gay pride rally in Moscow. One of the activists attempted to unfurl a rainbow flag as they were arrested by police. During the incident, around 30 counter-demonstrators threw eggs at those participating in the pride parade. It is understood that the
Ireland’s tourist board is not wasting any time in promoting the country as a same-sex wedding destination. The Republic of Ireland overwhelmingly voted to introduce same-sex marriage in a referendum last week, with 62.1% voting in favour and 37.9% voting against. Although by passing the referendum the public has given approval to the concept of
The Australian Prime Minister has dismissed the idea of his country holding a referendum on same-sex marriage after Ireland’s historic vote on 23 May. Tony Abbott acknowledged it was important to millions of Australians and said he was taking the matter seriously, but marriage equality would be dealt with by the Federal Parliament. ‘Referendums are
On the 28th of May, 2015 Poland has rejected civil unions for the fourth time. The parliament voted to table the discussion of the proposed law which would allow same-sex couples to have similar rights to opposite-sex married couples. Less than a third of MPs, 146, voted for the discussion, with 215 voting against. 24
In a debate with the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) on Tuesday, Justice commissioner Vera Jourová confirmed her commitment to create a roadmap or action plan on LGBTI rights. In response to oral questions by Sophie in ‘t Veld MEP and Helga Stevens MEP, Vice-President and Member of the LGBTI Intergroup,
Lithuania’s performance at the Eurovision semifinals, which took place on the evening of May 28th, 2015, featured two same-sex kisses and has attracted a great deal of support from the international media and the LGBT* community. The LGBT* news service pinknews.co.uk reports that Eurovision fans worldwide are celebrating the performance of Vaidas Baumila and Monika