Lithuania must issue a residence permit to a foreigner, who entered into the same-sex marriage with a citizen of Lithuania in another state, in this way partially recognizing marriages concluded by homosexual individuals abroad. This judgement was pronounced by the Constitutional Court of the Lithuanian Republic (Constitutional Court) on the January  11, 2019 Nevertheless, what

Active Citizens Fund has been launched in Lithuania

On 23 October 2019, the Active Citizens Fund (ACF) in Lithuania financed by the EEA Grants was launched. In 2019-2024 the ACF will allocate EUR 9 million to the strengthening of civil society and empowering vulnerable groups. Lithuanian non-governmental organisations will have an opportunity to submit applications and receive funding for their activities in order

No Challenge in UN Third Committee on the Renewal of Independent Expert on SOGI

The Third Committee of the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution presenting the Annual Report of the Human Rights Council today without challenge to the extension of the mandate of the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination on the basis of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (IE SOGI). In 2016 when the mandate

Apparently opinions were bound to polarize after LRT, the national broadcaster of Lithuania, published a social documentary portraying a parenthood journey of a married gay men couple from United Kingdom at its internet portal lrt.lt Although plenty of people praised such a rare instance of the diversity representation, several, likely right-wing affiliated activists appealed to

LGL Gave an Award to Representative of Barclays

On 21st October, 2019 representatives of the National LGBT rights organization LGL gave an award to Mariano Andrade Gonzalez, former Head of Barclays and current Lithuania Country Head of Moody’s. Mariano Andrade Gonzalez has been honored by the National LGBT Rights Organization LGL for outstanding leadership in promoting business sector support for LGBT human rights.

LGL met with Representatives of the Lithuanian Police

On 17th October, 2019 representatives of the National LGBT rights organization LGL had a meeting with representatives of the Vilnius County Police Headquarters. During the meeting, issues of hate crime and hate speech against members of the LGBT community and opportunities for cooperation were discussed. LGL presented to the Lithuanian police representatives the results of

LGBT activists slam Skvernelis’ initiative to award Kaczynski

Lithuanian and Polish sexual minority organizations on Thursday slammed Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis’ initiative to nominate Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the leader of Poland’s conservative Law and Justice party, for a top Lithuanian state award, the Grand Cross of the Order of Vytautas the Great. LGBT organizations say Kaczynski, facing a parliament vote in Poland, is

On 16th October, 2019 Eglė Kuktoraitė, Communication Manager at the National LGBT rights organization LGL, took part at a panel debate “Give us a seat at the table! Youth movements & their impact on future Baltic Sea Cooperation”, organized by the Council of the Baltic Sea States and the Forum Northern European Politics in Berlin.

The executive director of the National LGBT rights organisation LGL Vladimir Simonko can rightfully be called a chronicler of the LGBT rights movement in Lithuania. In 1995 being the first one in Lithuania to openly speak about his sexual orientation together with his partner Eduardas, today he opened the carefully guarded archive of Lithuanian publications

Office of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, led by PM Saulius Skvernelis, has prepared a draft resolution proposing Lithuanian President to honour leader of the Polish ruling party “Law and Justice” Jaroslaw Kaczynski, infamous for is anti-LGBT rhetoric, with one of the highest state decorations of the Lithuanian Republic. Last word regarding the

LGL Continues Successful Cooperation with the Royal Norwegian Embassy

On 3rd October, 2019, the Ambassador of the Royal Norwegian Embassy, H.E. Mr. Karsten Klepsvik was awarded with a special symbol of gratitude for supporting the monumental Baltic Pride 2019 festival at the National LGBT Rights Organization LGL. During the warm meeting, representatives of the Embassy and LGL recalled the most impressive moments of the

Lithuanian Draft Law of Equal Treatment: Another Missed Opportunity?

This September Lithuanian Parliament began to review a new legislative proposal on Lithuanian Law of Equal Treatment amendments, initiated by the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson. While the draft law introduces quite a few well-needed changes, such as including the definition of associative discrimination, it does, however, ignore the burning questions of transgender individuals,