May 17 marks the date in 1990 when homosexuality was removed from the World Health Organisation´s Classification of Diseases, thereby acknowledging that sexual orientation is an integral aspect of a person. However, over three decades later, LGBTQI+ communities still face intolerance, prejudice, discrimination, and misunderstanding. Even worse, they experience disproportionate rates of harassment and violence in many countries.
On the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), we - the Ambassadors to Lithuania - reaffirm our commitment to advancing and advocating in favor of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex persons. Sexual orientation and gender identity should never lead to prejudice, discrimination, nor crimes. We salute IDAHOBIT as a celebration of human diversity and tolerance around the world and an opportunity to express solidarity with the LGBTQI+ community.
We express support for the members of the LGBTQI+ community in Lithuania, our own countries and elsewhere, as they seek equal rights. We welcome the positive developments on these issues in Lithuania in recent years, in line with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. While fully respecting the democratic processes in the Seimas, we hope that the civil union bill will pass the third reading successfully and would establish civil unions, offering some of the rights and benefits of marriage, including joint property ownership and the ability to make medical decisions for a partner.
We sincerely and greatly appreciate all of those organizing, working, and volunteering to ensure equal rights for the LGBTQI+ community in Lithuania and beyond. We look forward to upcoming events, especially Baltic Pride 2024 in Riga and Vilnius Pride events planned for June.
Alana Hudson, Ambassador of New Zealand
Aleš Opata, Ambassador of the Czech Republic
Alix Everard, Ambassador of France
Arja Makkonen, Ambassador of Finland
Benjamin Hayes, Ambassador of Australia
Brian Olley, Ambassador of the United Kingdom
Cornelius Zimmermann, Ambassador of Germany
Emanuele de Maigret, Ambassador of Italy
Grete Sillasen, Ambassador of Denmark
Hadas Wittenberg Silverstein, Ambassador of Israel
Harald Aspelund, Ambassador of Iceland
Jack Twiss Quarles van Ufford, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Jeanette Eileen Sautner, Ambassador of Canada
Kaimo Kuusk, Ambassador of Estonia
Kara C. McDonald, Ambassador of the United States
Lars Wahlund, Ambassador of Sweden
Maria Nieves Blanco Diaz, Ambassador of Spain
Ole T. Horpestad, Ambassador of Norway
Paul Schmit, Ambassador of Luxembourg
Rik Van Droogenbroeck, Ambassador of Belgium
Séadhna MacHugh, Ambassador of Ireland
Solveiga Silkalna, Ambassador of Latvia
Thomas Castrel, General Representative of Flanders
Yvonne Toncic-Sorinj, Ambassador of Austria
