U.N. appoints first-ever LGBT rights watchdog

The U.N. Human Rights Council on Friday announced it has appointed the U.N.’s first-ever independent expert who will specifically investigate anti-LGBT discrimination and violence around the world. Vitit Muntarbhorn is an international law professor at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. Muntarbhorn has been a member of the U.N. Human Rights Council’s Commission of Inquiry on Syria

Australians want same-sex marriage passed quickly in Parliament, poll finds

Australians oppose plans for a same-sex marriage plebiscite and want equality issue passed in Parliament, a poll has found. The country’s PM Malcolm Turnbull is trying to avoid a rift with his own ultra-conservative MPs by bringing forward plans to take same-sex marriage to the public in a non-binding plebiscite, instead of settling the matter in Parliament. However,

Parliament Elections 2016: Do Candidates Care About Family Diversity?

Before elections most of political parties leaders hurry to support idea of Partnership legislation not only for different sex couples, but for same sex couples too. But in today’s Delfi.lt article “Elections 2016: Most of the Leaders – For Homosexual Partnerships” situation looks much worse. Some leaders of political parties not even trying to deny

Activists launch a Pride flag into space to ‘claim’ it for LGBT people

LGBT rights have crossed another barrier – only this time it’s the atmosphere. Rights activists Planting Peace are renowned for their elaborate PR stunts – from creating a rainbow Pride centre opposite the Westboro Baptist Church and holding mock gay weddings, to erecting giant billboards in the hometown of Kim Davis, to ‘claiming’ Antarctica in

Jūratė Juškaitė. Shepherds of the Little Ones

Although I was avoiding it, taking a dog for a walk at night became unavoidable routine and gradually – a pleasant refreshment after a work day. Then I started to notice something moving in a playground. Teenagers came there to sit on swings or smoke illegal cigarettes. Ten years old and smaller children spent time

Scottish LGBTIs to expect more governmental protection from hate crime

LGBTI people in Scotland may expect more governmental protection from hate crime, according to a report released last Friday by the country’s Independent Advisory Group on Hate Crime, Prejudice and Community Cohesion. The group, which was established by Scottish ministers in 2015 to advise on the current state of these issues in Scotland, and to make practical suggestions for

To remind of the unity and the fun we had during Baltic Pride in June 2016 and create more wonderful memories, the National LGBT Rights Organization LGL organized the Baltic Pride Déjà vu Party that took place on September 24th 2016. The party was hosted by a cozy jazz bar Paviljonas, hidden amongst the trees

European Parliament urges Tunisia to decriminalise homosexuality

In a vote on EU – Tunisia relations, the European Parliament has urged Tunisia to decriminalise homosexuality. Currently, Article 230 of the Penal Code foresees three years imprisonment for ‘sodomy’. Over the past year a dozen of people have been arrested under this law. This stands in stark contrast with 2014 Constitution, which has been

Five Homophobic Bills Listed in Lithuanian Parliament’s Autumn Agenda

On September 14th the Lithuanian Parliament adopted its autumn agenda, preparing to debate on five legislative amendments and legislative initiatives that seek to restrict and openly violate LGBT rights as well as the international commitments to uphold freedom of expression and to fight discrimination. First, there is the infamous Article 38 of the Constitution of

Campaign #LAISVA_LT Presented on Lithuanian Television

Mėta Adutavičiūtė, Advocacy officer of Human Rights Monitoring Institute and one of campaign #LAISVA_LT initiators and implementers, yesterday presented the campaign of Lithuanian TV channel InfoTV program “Infodiena”. Recording of the show in Lithuanian:

LGBT Centre Hosted Annual LGL Members Meeting

On September 24th, 2016 the LGBT* centre hosted an Annual LGL Member Meeting. Narrative and financial LGL reports for 2015 and other organizational questions were discussed during the Annual LGL Member Meeting. During the Annual LGL Member Meeting Vladimir Simonko, Executive Director of the National LGBT* rights organization LGL, presented activities and projects implemented in

Trans couple make history after giving birth to baby

A South American couple, both of whom are trans, have made history by giving birth to their first child. This is the first baby to born to transgender parents in South America. Fernando Machado and Diane Rodriguez grew up in Ecuador, and met online, they told the BBC. ‘We are the same as other families.