Statement on LGBT rights read in Lithuania’s UPR session

In the final session of the United Nations Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Lithuania, held in Geneva on 16 March, a statement prepared by LGL together with COC Netherlands and ILGA-Europe was read. The statement is below and can also be watched here. – – – Madam Vice-President,   We would like

Lithuania ignores UN Human Rights Council recommendations on LGBT rights

Lithuania has responded to recommendations made by various member states of the Human Rights Council at its Universal Periodic Review of Lithuania in October 2011, dismissing the concerns raised about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in Lithuania. According to a statement issued by Lithuania’s Ministry of Justice and approved by the Government, recommendations

MPs rioting at gay march back to trial

The Court of First Instance will re-hear the case of Petras Gražulis and Kazimieras Uoka, the members of the Lithuanian Parliament (Seimas) who resisted police officers at the Baltic Pride march in Vilnius two years ago.   Having heard administrative law violation cases regarding the actions of Gražulis and Uoka at the Baltic Gay Pride march,

LGBT rights highlighted during the Universal Periodic Review of Lithuania

LGL participated on 21 February in a meeting of the Lithuanian Human Rights Coalition hosted by Ambassador David Hunt at the British Embassy. LGL presented comments and recommendations made at the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Lithuania regarding LGBT rights to the meeting participants, including several ambassadors to Lithuania. The Working Group on the Universal

Ministry of Health seeks advice from the Lithuanian Gay League

The State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service has received a query concerning children’s psychological health. The question was passed to the Ministry of Health, which started an investigation into the matter. On 29 December 2011, a 53-year-old inhabitant of Vilnius Mr. V. D. turned to the State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service, under

The European Parliament took a stand against Russia’s LGBT censorship laws on February 16th by adopting a resolution denouncing laws which forbid the public mention of homosexuality or gender identity to minors. The resolution, presented by five political groups, reminds Russia that it is subject to human rights agreements. The text mentions the law approved

Lithuanian fined for anti-gay comment on Facebook

A 37-year-old man from Vilnius has been ordered in court to pay a fine of 450 euros (1560 Lithuanian litas) for a comment he posted under an article on Facebook about the world-famous singer Lady Gaga’s criticism of the Lithuanian Government. According to Delfi.lt, the First District Court of Vilnius City judged that, in his

Only 4% of Lithuanians support same-sex partnership

The market research company RAIT has conducted a poll on civil partnership among 1003 Lithuanian inhabitants aged from 15 to 74. The survey, commissioned by the Baltic News Service, was carried out in November 2011. According to the survey, seven out of ten Lithuanians believe that civil partnership status should be made legal, but only between

Seimas aims to tie concept of family to marriage

On 21 December, the Lithuanian Parliament (Seimas) accepted a draft amendment to the Constitution which states that “the family is created by a free marriage agreement between a man and woman”, with 62 members of Seimas in favour and 8 against. The proposal will next be considered by the Committee on Legal Affairs, and is

Swedish Green Party delegation visits LGL

On the 8th of December LGL had the pleasure to host a visitation from a Swedish Green Party delegation, who were on a fact-finding tour of Lithuania, including visits to NGOs. The guests were a group of 8 persons, with a broad representation including members of parliament, county council members, city council members and special

United Nations Human Rights Council, logo

International Human Rights Day – 10 December 2011

Strasbourg, 09.12.2011 – Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland today warned that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Europeans continue to face discrimination in many parts of the continent. “Homosexuality has been decriminalised all over Europe, but prejudice and hypocrisy still exist towards LGBT persons in Europe. Recently, discriminatory laws have been proposed or

LGBT Activists from Around the World React to Secretary Clinton’s Speech

December 9, 2011 – For this historic moment in the LGBT movement, the Council for Global Equality was privileged to bring 14 prominent LGBT activists from around the world to Geneva to be present for Secretary Clinton’s Human Rights Day speech. The Council applauds both Secretary Clinton for the pitch-perfect speech as well as President