Law
03/06/2009
Submitted by
Tolerant Youth Association information
Conservatives propose to penalize the propagation of homosexuality in Lithuania
On the 11th of December the proposal to amend the Law on the Protection of Minors against Detrimental Effect of Public Information (XIP-110) has been approved in the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania. The proposal has been submitted by Conservative MP Valentinas Stundys. Under this law proposal, the detrimental effect on the development of minors is caused also by public information that agitates for homosexual relations, and defiles family values.
Neither agitation nor family values are defined in the newly approved law proposal, therefore it would allow to put a ban on basically any non-negative information on homosexuality. It would be possible not only to ban websites and films (e.g. Brokeback Mountain) positively presenting homosexual relations, but also discos, exhibitions, demonstrations and other public events related to homosexuality if these could be accessed by minors.
The law proposal has caused many discussions in the Parliament. Conservatives Edmundas Pupinis, Rytas Kupcinskas and Paulius Saudargas maintained that only a ban and control is not enough. MP E.Pupinis proposed to make it possible for any citizens to report inappropriate film productions. While MP P.Saudargas suggested to force IT sellers to propose anyone buying a computer also to obtain devices filtering harmful information, and stressed that it is necessary to limit an access to inappropriate information not only in public but also at home.
MP Rima Baskiene stated that the resistance against this law proposal is raised by sexual minorities. She proposed to eliminate the notion that it is not punishable for minor violations of this legislation, and proposed to apply penalties in all cases. “Do we want our minor children to face agitation for homosexual relations? NO!”- said she.
MP R.Kupcinskas claimed that just administrative proceedings are not enough and proposed to apply criminal liabilities for violations of the law. MP Petras Luomanas thanked MP R.Baskiene for her speech and agitated to approve the proposal.
Only 2 members of Lithuanian Social Democratic Party Political Group, 1 member of Liberal and Centre Political Group and 1 non-affiliated member voted against the law proposal. Whereas all members of Homeland Union - Lithuanian Christian Democrat Political Group, Liberals Movement Political Group and most of members of National Revival Political Group voted in favor.
The approved law proposal will be passed on to the comities of the Parliament. The adoption of the law is foreseen in spring 2009.
On the 11th of December the proposal to amend the Law on the Protection of Minors against Detrimental Effect of Public Information (XIP-110) has been approved in the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania. The proposal has been submitted by Conservative MP Valentinas Stundys. Under this law proposal, the detrimental effect on the development of minors is caused also by public information that agitates for homosexual relations, and defiles family values.
Neither agitation nor family values are defined in the newly approved law proposal, therefore it would allow to put a ban on basically any non-negative information on homosexuality. It would be possible not only to ban websites and films (e.g. Brokeback Mountain) positively presenting homosexual relations, but also discos, exhibitions, demonstrations and other public events related to homosexuality if these could be accessed by minors.
The law proposal has caused many discussions in the Parliament. Conservatives Edmundas Pupinis, Rytas Kupcinskas and Paulius Saudargas maintained that only a ban and control is not enough. MP E.Pupinis proposed to make it possible for any citizens to report inappropriate film productions. While MP P.Saudargas suggested to force IT sellers to propose anyone buying a computer also to obtain devices filtering harmful information, and stressed that it is necessary to limit an access to inappropriate information not only in public but also at home.
MP Rima Baskiene stated that the resistance against this law proposal is raised by sexual minorities. She proposed to eliminate the notion that it is not punishable for minor violations of this legislation, and proposed to apply penalties in all cases. “Do we want our minor children to face agitation for homosexual relations? NO!”- said she.
MP R.Kupcinskas claimed that just administrative proceedings are not enough and proposed to apply criminal liabilities for violations of the law. MP Petras Luomanas thanked MP R.Baskiene for her speech and agitated to approve the proposal.
Only 2 members of Lithuanian Social Democratic Party Political Group, 1 member of Liberal and Centre Political Group and 1 non-affiliated member voted against the law proposal. Whereas all members of Homeland Union - Lithuanian Christian Democrat Political Group, Liberals Movement Political Group and most of members of National Revival Political Group voted in favor.
The approved law proposal will be passed on to the comities of the Parliament. The adoption of the law is foreseen in spring 2009.
