Two dozen ambassadors based in Vilnius have issued a statement on the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), calling for ensuring equal rights for LGBTQI+ people and legally recognising same-sex partnership.
“We express our solidarity with the LGBTQI+ community and believe that every individual – in our own countries, in Lithuania, and beyond – has the right to live with dignity and respect, free from discrimination and violence. A right that unfortunately is not always secure,” they said.
The statement expresses support for efforts in Lithuania and the European Union to build a society “where human rights are universal, diversity is celebrated and embraced, and every individual is able to live and love with dignity and respect”.
“We recognize that despite the hard work of people and organizations committed to achieving equal rights for all people, the LGBTQI+ community in Lithuania, as in our own and many other countries continues to face significant barriers to full inclusion and acceptance in society.”
The statement, published by the US embassy, was signed by the ambassadors of 22 countries, including Israel, Estonia, and Germany.
The diplomats say they “support efforts to ensure that LGBTQI+ individuals have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else, including access to appropriate and affirming healthcare, education, employment, property rights, and housing”.
“We believe families are defined by love and come in many different forms, yet all deserve universal protections under the law. While fully respecting the democratic process in the Seimas [parliament], we look forward to the passage of legislation that will establish civil unions,” they said.
Lithuania’s ruling bloc has drafted and tabled a bill on legally regulating relations between same-sex partners. The draft Law on Civil Union has been discussed by the parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, but has not been submitted to the full Seimas for consideration.
Currently, Lithuania does not recognise civil partnership of either same-sex or opposite-sex couples. Several previous legislative initiatives fell through at an early stage of the parliamentary process.
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