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LGBT+ rights in Europe

Lithuania fights for LGBT+ rights, in photos

The Baltic Republic, where gay marriage is illegal, is slowly opening up a political and social space for the LGBT+ community. Here are some of the people, gay and straight, who are driving that change

Vilnius - Apr 03, 2019 - 12:57CEST

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A mural next to a train station in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. The original mural showed Donald Trump, the President of the United States, and Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, kissing on the lips. It was repainted when neighbors complained. Carlos Rosillo

Vytis Jurkonis, project director at the Lithuanian branch of Freedom House NGO, in his office. Freedom House fights for LGBT+ rights in the small Baltic state. Jurkonis is also a university professor, and many of his students have come out and given rise to political change in the municipality.Carlos Rosillo

Vladimir Simonko, co-founder of the Lithuanian Gay League (LGL). Simonko is a pioneer in the fight for LGBT+ rights in the country. For the first time this June, Vilnius will host Baltic Pride, which will include rights movements from both Estonia and Latvia.Carlos Rosillo

Vladimir Simonko, co-founder of Lithuanian Gay League (LGL), stands above a pride flag painted with the support of volunteers. There are very few visible LGBT+ symbols in Lithuania.Carlos Rosillo

British councilor Mark Adam Harold photographed at Vilnius City Hall, a tall glass building that looks over the Baltic city. Harold fights for and talks about themes that aren’t usually discussed, such as LGBT+ rights, arms control and drug abuse.Carlos Rosillo

Mark Adam Harold in his seat in the municipal chamber.Carlos Rosillo

A street musician in Vilnius. Lithuania decriminalized homosexuality in 1993, just two years after the collapse of the Soviet Union.Carlos Rosillo

Tomas V. Raskevicius, Vilnius’s first elected gay councilor, in the City Hall building. Raskevicius presents himself as a “professional gay” because he used to defend LGBT+ rights as a lawyer. At the beginning of 2019 he walked through the streets dressed as a woman in a viral campaign that contributed to his election in March.Carlos Rosillo

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