Lithuanian president criticises proposal to criminalise 'public promotion of homosexual relationships'
Dalia Grybauskaitė, President of Lithuania, today commented on a legislative proposal to criminalise ‘public promotion of homosexual relationships’ due to be debated by Lithuanian Parliament in the next few weeks.
She said that such proposal damages Lithuanian image and presents the country as homophobic and aggressive. She also said that this is not a ‘trade mark’ the country should have. She continued: “Whenever I am going aboard I am faced with a large number of questions, pressure and attacks. It is not the only trade mark the country should present itself to the world”.
Lithuanian parliamentarians need to have two votes to adopts a law instituting penalty for between 2000 and 10 000 Lithuanian Litas (580 to 2900 Euros) for ‘public promotion of homosexual relationships’. The critics of this proposal say if adopted, such law will limit events promoting the rights of sexual minorities.
“We cannot violate human rights. Criminalisation of such aspects is not allowed. No one is going to promote anything’, said Grybauskaitė.
Translated into English by ILGA-Europe
