On the occasion of his inauguration, 20 January 2009 From Peter Tatchell British and international LGBTI human rights campaigner, and human rights spokesperson for the Green Party of England and Wales Dear President Barack Obama, Congratulations on the occasion of your inauguration. On this special day, the hopes of billions of people across our precious
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On 14 January the European Parliament adopted a report on the “Situation of fundamental rights in the European Union 2004-2008”, drafted by Italian MEP Giusto Catania. The report asks Member States and the European Institutions to adopt recommendations made by the Fundamental Rights Agency on homophobia as a matter of urgency. In addition, the Parliament
Ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted to be here. I would like to thank the French Minister of State for Human Rights, Ms Rama Yade, for co-hosting this event with us and for her inspiring words. The statement on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity that was [will be] delivered in the General Assembly
On 18 December 2008, in New York, the UN General Assembly was presented with a statement endorsed by 66 states from around the world calling for an end to discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The statement, read out by the UN Representative for Argentina Jorge Arguello, condemns violence, harassment, discrimination, exclusion, stigmatisation,
Did you have to read the title twice? Right. So did I. And then I glanced at the name and surname of the author of this doughty title Kazimieras Uoka, a member of the Parliament. He probably considers himself to be Casimir the Great. He decided to direct his bellicosity against gays in the
Šarūnas Birutis, a member of European Parliament from Lithuania, outraged by photographs of gays at the European Parliament. He states that sexual minorities conduct ‘aggressive policy’. “Sexual minorities lobbyists are particularly actively working at the European Parliament with an aim of legalising child adoption by same-sex couples” a statement distributed by the Euro parliamentarian’s office
In May next year three organisations from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will organise the first ever joint Pride event in Riga. The Pride event is aimed at drawing attention to the situation for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) people in the three Baltic countries and encouraging people of different sexual orientation to celebrate diversity
Five percent of Lithuanians admit to being intolerant, but only less than one third would be able to work and communicate with other foreigners, homosexuals or disabled, shows the poll by Center of Public Opinion and Market Research Vilmorus. Specialists explain this phenomenon as “hidden intolerance” – when a person thinks and claims to be
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Petras Vaitiekunas told the national parliament Monday that the country’s reputation for homophobia was justified. “This is true: Lithuania is one of the most homophobic countries in the EU. This has to be viewed as a fact,” Vaitiekunas said in response to a parliamentary question from Member of Parliament Ausrine Marija Pavilioniene.
The EU “For Diversity. Against Discrimination.” truck is travelling around Europe to promote diversity, tolerance and raising awareness about EU legislation prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of gender, disability, age, religion/belief, race/ethnicity and sexual orientation. While stopping in various destinations across Europe, it engages locals to learn more about EU anti-discrimination laws, co-operate with local
The Anti-Discrimination Truck touring Europe is not desirable in Kaunas, because the action will be joined by Lithuanian gays. Kaunas municipal authorities received an application to organise in the location near Akropolis shopping centre and St Cross (Carmelites) Church an event promoting tolerance. Upon the initiative of the European Commission, the truck decorated in the
A Delegation of the European Commission to Lithuania has asked for permission from the Vilnius City Municipality to organise an event that was banned last year—the appearance of the ‘tolerance truck’ at the Town Hall Square. Lithuanian gays are also getting ready for participation in the campaign. Contrary to last year, however, there is no