The Finnish Ministry of Justice has launched a project called Rainbow Rights Promoting LGBTI Equality in Europe, which aims to support the implementation of the legislation on non-discrimination. The project seeks to promote non-discrimination at local level both in Finland and in other EU Member States. In addition to the general aim of promoting non-discrimination,

Far-right French politician Marine Le Pen, who has pledged to abolish same-sex marriage, to is tipped to do well in the first round of the country’s Presidential election this week. France is set to go to the polls on Sunday to elect a new President to replace outgoing Socialist François Hollande. From the crowded field

LGBT+ youth in Belarus: No country is perfect

By Izabelė Švaraitė Although LGBT+ people in Lithuania are in no enviable situation, the community is supported by law, visibility initiatives continue to increase, and more and more people, especially youth, are choosing to come out and openly discuss their experiences. But how are our neighbors in Belarus? Though we may hear about Alexander Lukashenko,

Strasbourg Court: Forced Sterilisation Trans People Violates Human Rights

Last week, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that requiring trans people to undergo sterilisation in order to have their gender recognised, violates human rights. In the case A.P. and Others v. France, three transgender people attempted to change the entries on their sex and forenames on their birth certificates, and were refused so

On 14th of April, representatives of the National LGBT* rights organization LGL  visited The Department of Youth Affairs under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour (JRD). Durint the meeting with deputy director Juozas Meldžiukas and head of youth policy development and program implementation division Valda Karnickaitė wes presented new reasearch about LGBT* youth issues.

Hundreds of LGBT activists gathered outside the Russian Embassy in London yesterday to protest the detention of gay men in ‘concentration camps’ in Chechnya. They carried placards saying “LGBT+ rights are human rights,”Queer lives matter, close the camps” and a tuba demanding that Prime Minister Theresa May speak out against concentration camps. Lord Waheed Alli,

European Court: Forced Sterilization of Trans People Violates Human Rights

The European Court of Human Rights on Thursday, April 6th, 2017 ruled the forced sterilization of transgender people who are seeking legal recognition of their gender identity violates their human rights. The court, which is in the French city of Strasbourg, issued the ruling in three separate cases that trans people filed against France. Transgender

Dutch Men Hold Hands Against Anti-LGBT Violence

A married couple was attacked by a group of young men while holding hands at night in the city of Arnhem. Straight Dutch men have launched a campaign to hold hands in solidarity. From politicians to police to priests, heterosexual men from the Netherlands have been showing their opposition to anti-LGBT violence by holding hands

“Rainbow Days” 2017: Celebrate Diversity!

The “Rainbow Days” festival is back! The festival will take place on 9th-23rd May, 2017 in Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipėda. This year the “Rainbow Days” festival, organized by the National LGBT* rights organization LGL, will surprise you with the widest selection of events. Our celebrations of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT)

LGL`s Volunteers Commemorated International Transgender Visibility Day

International Transgender Visibility Day is celebrated worldwide on March 31st . On that occasion, LGL`s EVS volunteer Veronika from Slovakia took an iniciative and prepared a non-formal educational workshop on trans* human rights that took place in LGBT* community centre on Thursday, April 6, 2017. “I started to be interested in trans* human rights after

Airbnb Launches Inspirational Marriage Equality Campaign

Airbnb has launched an inspiring campaign for marriage equality in Australia. The multi-billion-pound company is asking Australians to wear a black ring until same-sex marriage is legal in the country – but there’s a catch. The ring is incomplete, symbolising the gap in equality legislation which needs to be filled by legalising same-sex marriage. Airbnb

Same-sex Marriage Could Come to Panama if Activists Win Legal Fight

Same-sex marriage could be coming to Panama if LGBTI activists win a legal fight with the Supreme Court of Justice. Álvaro José López Levy is hoping for the Central American country’s highest court to agree to change the legal definition of marriage to include same-sex couples. Article 26 of the Family Code currently defines marriage as