LGL invites to the Launch of #TRANS_LT Videos and Exhibition “TRANZ”

The National LGBT Rights Organziation LGL, in cooperation with the movie director Romas Zabarauskas, artists ARCANA FEMINA photography and Shaltmira and the art space 5 MALŪNAI invites to an unique event “#TRANS_LT: Launch of Videos and Exhibition “TRANZ”“. In the course of the evening the first social videos with the view of raising awareness about

Indian minister says country’s gay sex ban needs to be ‘reconsidered’

Arun Jaitley says India cannot simply ‘nudge off’ its LGBT community. India’s finance minister has spoken out against the harsh laws criminalising gay sex in the country. Arun Jaitley says that the country must reconsider the “conservative” ruling made by the Supreme Court in 2013, as it ignores the needs of “millions of people” across

Lithuanian Bishops’ Conference: Family Should Be Associated with Marriage

On November 25th, 2015 the Committee on Legal Affairs of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania held a hearing on a proposal to amend the Article 38 of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, which states that “family emanates from a marriage between a man and a woman”. The participants of the hearing,

Trans people win right to change name and gender in Bolivia

Transgender people in Bolivia will soon be able to legally change their name, sex and gender, Bolivia’s justice minister has announced. Virginia Velasco Condori unveiled the new policy last Wednesday, meaning trans Bolivians will soon be able to register legal documentations using their new identities. In a statement regarding the change. Condori said that people who wan

Civil unions to become a reality in Cyprus

The Cypriot parliament has voted in favour of the Civil Partnership Bill, meaning that same-sex couples in Cyprus will be legally recognised for the first time. The legislation, which has generated lots of debate nationally, will offer couples the same rights as civil marriage. However, joint adoption rights are not included as part of the

On the occasion of the International Human Rights Day, the members of the National Equality and Diversity Forum (NEDF) cordially invite to the seminar-discussion “Human Rights in Lithuania. NGOs’ Perspective”, which will take place on December 9th, 2015 at 2:00-4:30 PM at the premises of the Embassy of Finland (K. Kalinausko str. 24, Vilnius). In

Syphilis: what is it and why should gay men be concerned?

Health authorities in the US, Australia and UK have all highlighted an alarming increase in rates of syphilis among gay and bisexual men Although HIV receives much attention in the press – particularly following last week’s announcement by the actor Charlie Sheen that he is HIV positive – it is not the only sexually-transmitted infection

Vietnam passes landmark law recognizing transgender people

Ban on gender reassignment surgery has also been lifted Vietnam has passed a landmark law legally recognizing transgender people and lifting a ban on gender reassignment surgery. More than 80% of lawmakers Tuesday (24 November) voted in favor of the law change, which will come into effect on 17 January 2017. Under the new legislation, those

British Columbia prisons implement reforms for transgender prisoners

The Canadian province of British Columbia will no longer confine transgender people in the prisons that are meant for the gender they were assigned at birth Prisons in British Columbia will no longer jail transgender women in men’s prisons and transgender men in women’s prisons after its Department of Corrections changed its policies. Previously only

Portuguese lawmakers approve same-sex adoption bill

Portuguese lawmakers on Nov. 20 approved a bill that would extend adoption rights to same-sex couples. All but one member of the Socialist Party and other center-left parties that have a majority in the Portuguese Parliament voted for the measure. Nineteen members of the center-right Social Democratic Party also backed the bill. Advocates began their

Flying High: Baltic Pride 2016 meeting with Estonian and Latvian Partners

In September, 2015 the representatives of the partner organizations met to discuss the upcoming Baltic Pride 2016 in Vilnius. The topics included Pride Voices, International Human Rights Conference, Pride March, Pride Park and Pride House. Security, fundraising, political and legal situation, official slogan and preliminary program – within only two days the whole Pride Week

Transgender Day of Remembrance

“Being Transgender is not a choice. Choosing to hurt someone is.” About the Transgender Day of Remembrance The Transgender Day of Remembrance was set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. Over the last decade, more than one person per month has died due to transgender-based hate or prejudice,