Participants urged Lithuanian politicians to recognise same-sex partnerships and adoption rights, as small counter-protests also took place along the route.
Around 18,000 people took part in Vilnius's annual Pride march on Saturday, gathering outside the National Library of Martynas Mažvydas before walking to Kalnų Parkas, where a festival concert was held.
The event, held under the banner "For Equality!", is part of the wider Lithuanian Pride festival.
This year's march carried a pointed message to politicians: that "all families in Lithuania matter."
Same-sex couples in the country currently cannot marry or jointly adopt children. Civil partnerships, though recognised by the courts, are not registered by the state – meaning couples must pursue legal recognition through the courts on a case-by-case basis.
Among those marching was Greta, who said visibility was the whole point.
"We're showing that there are many of us, that we exist, that we need rights – marriage, so we don't have to go through the courts for partnership," she told LRT.lt.
She added that as a woman walking with her girlfriend, she could sometimes pass unnoticed. "For men it's a bit harder. It's a shame that in Lithuania right now, partnership is only possible through the courts."
Rimas, a volunteer who works with LGBT+ organisations, said the march mattered beyond Vilnius. "It's important to show the whole of Lithuania, especially people living in smaller towns and villages, that these people exist, and that it's OK," he said. "Whatever the situation is now, it can be better."
"No one person is worth less than another," said Egidija, who also participated in the march. "It's only natural that everyone should be equal and have equal rights. That's how it should be."
Romanas said he had come to show solidarity with young people and others fighting for their freedoms.
A theologian by training, he argued that the pursuit of equality remained a challenge for society, and above all for politicians. But he found the atmosphere around him encouraging. "I'm moved seeing all this joy," he said.
He added that in his view, a more open reading of religious teaching posed no obstacle to equality in love.
Several politicians joined the march, including members of the Liberal Movement, the Freedom Party, and the Lithuanian Greens. Also present were members of the conservative Homeland Union party, Vilnius mayor Valdas Benkunskas, and social democrat Laurynas Šedvydis, chair of the parliament's Human Rights Committee.
Small groups of counter-protesters also gathered along the route, carrying placards reading "Protest against LGBT ideology" and "Family is only a man, woman and children."
One group held religious symbols and recited prayers; another chanted the word "Lithuania." A 40-year-old social worker who gave her name as Mykolė said the march conflicted with Christian values.
The event was not without incident. Eight people were detained or cited for offences during the march, police said.
One person was held on suspicion of possessing narcotics, another for appearing drunk in a public place, three for obstructing traffic, two minors for failing to comply with police orders, and one for a minor public order offence, according to Jevgenijus Liepis, head of the public order division at Vilnius County Police.
At around 15:40, police also detained a man who threw a black smoke device at marchers. He was placed in a police vehicle, though Liepis said he could not yet provide further details on that case.
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