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Country Overview

Lithuania

At a glance

Same-sex Relations for Men Legal Throughout the Country?

Yes

Same-sex Relations for Women Legal Throughout the Country?

Yes

Legal Gender Recognition Possible?

Yes

LGBTI Orgs Able to Register?

Yes

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In Lithuania, same-sex sexuality is legal, but same-sex couples cannot marry or be legally recognized in any form. In fact, the constitution restricts marriage between a man and a woman. As of 2022, transgender people no longer have to undergo medical intervention to change their legal gender markers, although they still need a diagnosis of “transgenderism” from a healthcare professional. In 2009, Lithuania passed a law that made it illegal for minors to be exposed to information that promoted sexual relations or concepts of the family outside of those in the constitution. Since then, this law has been used to censor LGBTIQ content. In recent years, right-wing organizations and movements have mobilized against equal rights for LGBTIQ people. Public opinion about LGBTIQ issues is conservative, and a majority of Lithuanians are against same-sex sexuality being accepted by society. Discrimination and violence are major issues, and hate speech against LGBTIQ people is prevalent online and offline.

 

Global Impact

Sub-Saharan Africa

Outright supports LGBTIQ organizations in Sub-Saharan Africa and works with mainstream human rights organizations to respect human rights and influence positive changes in laws, policies, attitudes and beliefs that cause discrimination against LGBTIQ people.

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United Nations

Our work at the United Nations centers around advocating for the advancement of the rights of LGBTIQ people.

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Asia

Our work in Asia promotes acceptance of sexual and gender diversity at all levels of society.

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Middle East and North Africa

In the Middle East and North Africa, we partner with local groups in various countries as part of our international solidarity work. We also work with our local partners on different topics through capacity building, advocacy, research and holistic security.



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Europe and Central Asia

Outright International partners with activists to fight for an end to human rights violations based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in Europe and Central Asia, where most of our work involves emergency responses to harassment, discrimination, violence, and most recently, Russia’s brutal and expanded invasion of Ukraine.

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Americas

Our work in the Americas continues to build on the fundamental and positive transformation of human rights protections in recent years. We partner with groups in the Caribbean that focus on ending gender-based violence and eradicating discrimination against trans people.

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Pacific

Our work in the Pacific aims to increase the visibility of activists, respond to human rights emergencies, and actively bridge local, regional, and international activism to achieve equality and justice.

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Human Rights Research

Since 1990, we have partnered with activists from all over the world to produce hundreds of groundbreaking reports.

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