Gay Guide Lithuania

The age of consent in Lithuania is 14 years according to §153 of the Criminal Code. In January 2009, Lithuania's parliament passed a censorship law restricting the spread of public information that could harm the intellectual, physical, intellectual and moral development of minors. The law prohibits any information that could encourage homosexual, bisexual or polygamous relationships. The regulation came into force in March 2010. It is intended to prevent the "propagation of non-traditional sexual orientation". Sexual orientation is considered an inadmissible ground for discrimination before the law, but this was only implemented in accordance with the anti-discrimination legislation of the European Union. In 2015, Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee found that the Lithuanian Constitution does not explicitly exclude homosexuals from registered partnerships. After Lithuania reintroduced compulsory military service, applicants had to answer questions about their sexuality. The randomly selected men must take a psychotest to demonstrate their "suitability". The Lithuanian Defence Minister Juozas Olekas nevertheless clarified in a letter that the army is open to heterosexuals and homosexuals and that there is no discrimination based on sexual orientation. There are increasing efforts to limit the rights of homosexuals, so that Lithuania has been asked by the European Human Rights Council to change its legal policy. For tourists Lithuania is a beautiful country with a capital that is rather explored than visited. The gay scene in Vilnius is small, but has its own charm, like most aspects of the city and the country. Small gay communities can also be found in the cities of Kaunas and Klaipėda. The first Baltic Pride took place in Vilnius in 2010. The permit had only been given two days before the Pride, the 300 participants were still faced with about 2000 counter-demonstrators. The Baltic Pride will again take place in Lithuania in 2019 - the Baltic partner states co-host the event that takes place in a different state each year. Lithuania offers a multitude of sights: picturesque old towns, castles and beaches. The Lithuanian Baltic coast is also home of the Amber Museum in Palanga.