Sixty-seven of Lithuania’s 74 parliamentarians yesterday voted to ban any “propaganda” that portrays GLBTs in any positive light. Naturally, the new legislation is aimed at protecting minors. The Law on the Protection of Minors against the Detrimental Effect of Public Information not only threatens the legality of any gay-related books and movies but also puts gays in the same category as the illegal “display of dead or cruelly mutilated body, information that causes fear or horror or encourages suicide.” [UK Gay News]
For the Sake of the Kids, Lithuania Bans ‘Propaganda of Homosexuality, Bisexuality’
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galefan2004
This just makes me have even more respect for the honor and pride that the people that founded this great country that I live in had. I wonder what the founding fathers who believed religion was the most destructive force ever conceived would say today if they saw how it was being used to strip away rights in a nation that was founded on civil liberties.
keithg
Just learned some facts from wikipedia… Lithuania is a member of the European Union. Its capital and the largest city is Vilnius. This year (2009) Vilnius is European Capital of Culture. Capital of Culture??? How can this be a member state of the EU, let alone capital of culture?
dgz
@keithg: good question. i think this is explicitly against EU requirements for member states, isn’t it?
edgyguy1426
Damn! There goes my summer trip to Vilnius!!!
Larry
@dgz: I believe it is. I remember the EU got on Poland’s case a few years ago for anti-gay discrimination.
Mark
Indeed, Lithuania is one of the 27 states in the European Union. It is also a member of the European Council (which is the EU and some non-EU countries). Both organisations explicity prohibit is member nations from discrimination. This law the Lithuania has just passed has got to be signed by the President before it becomes effective. And there is hell to play this side of the Big Pond today over this story … Should be interesting to see what happens … could be thrown out of the EU … not to mention being taken to the European Court of Human Rights.
Mark
Just when you think the world is becoming more open, we hear news like this one, or the one I read today about the number of hate crimes having gone up or the fact that most gay travelers still feel homophobia around the world as reported after a survey by UCityGuides.com: http://www.ucityguides.com/blog/2009/06/17/most-gay-travelers-still-feel-homophobia-while-traveling-plus-other-surprising-results-in-a-special-gay-travel-survey/
Dr.Strogg
It’s a EU member… this law can’t possibly live longer than the imminent complaint from Brussels.
gjdagis
These sorts of sensitive subjects do NOT belong in a school of young people. Let them learn the basics and leave this sort of thing (sexuality) for when they are old enough to form their own educated opinions.
Matt Deco
@gjdagis:
…what?
Andrew
Where are the Teutonic Knights when you need them?
Marius
@Andrew:
They had a long run, didn’t they? Weren’t the Knights crusaders for the Catholic Church. Not much of an improvement.
Kay Fierce
Well, what did anyone expect? We’re talking about a country from Eastern Europe, where ignorance about LGBT rights prevails. Leave the kooks to make the decision. This is how religion hurts. With stupid decisions like these, from folks who are too bigoted to understand how wrong they are. What a shame!
gjdagis
There is a very big difference between discrimination and promotion. If you read the Lithuanian law, for example, it is clearly stated that there be no discrimination against people because of sexual orientation. What they don’t desire is the PROMOTION of homosexuality and this applies only to minors! Perfectly reasonable. Any outrage against such a sensible and common sense law reeks of intolerance; it’s not always the OTHEr side that’s intolerant.
galefan2004
@gjdagis: I wasn’t aware I was out promoting minors; however, I did hear someone talking about a toaster. You can’t “promote” basic humanity. You can teach about it though. Its not like there are gays out there looking for kids to turn them into gays. If you honestly believe that there are I’m not sure how you can walk and talk at the same time.
Caltha
I am Lithuanian and I’m horrified how homophobic my country is. I’ve argued and argued with people trying to convince them that gays don’t molest kids and it is not a perversion. But there was one thing I couldn’t answer. Why gays walk in parades with big inflatable penises, barely dressed, petting and kissing each other? Even I am disturbed by that and definitely wouldn’t want my kids to see it.