Lithuania and Its Anti-Gay Laws
Following in Russia's recent footsteps,
Lithuania's parliament has passed a bill with the intent to censor
homosexuals from children, along with many other, “detrimental,”
expressions. The Lithuanian government ties material that talks of
“homosexual, bisexual, and polygamous relations” with “how to
make explosives.” As a whole, this bill is meant to promote
Catholic family values but many critics believe that the bill
violates human rights and the freedom of speech as it is meant to
cover television programs, video games, and advertising – any media
that can be accessed by children.
The former Soviet country has always
maintained an intolerance towards sexual minorities, as many Eastern
European countries have, and like Russia, Lithuania wishes to create
a total ban of homosexuality. This movement is led by Petras
Grazulis of the right-wing populist Order and Justice Party.
Lithuania has been in the limelight
recently for violating human rights, but many other Baltic countries
have adopted anti-gay laws – or at least created ways to prevent
events such as pride parades. This spreading violation has been
condemned by the European Parliament, but Russia, Moldova, Latvia,
Lithuania and the Ukraine have not listened.
And what do I think about this
situation? I'm not surprised that more former communist countries
are following Russia's lead when it comes to anti-gay legislature.
The fact that the previous president of Lithuania attempted to veto
the bill gave me some hope that not -all- government officials
believe that homosexuality is a 'danger' towards 'normal' family
values, but that hope dwindles day by day as more information rises
to the surface suggesting that homophobia is becoming more
widespread.
In this age where many countries are moving forward,
legalizing gay marriage, providing government benefits to homosexual
partners, it is a terrible thing that some countries are not
progressing in the ways of human rights – or worse, moving
backwards, as Lithuania is.
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Kaitlyn Roesel
Saturday, September 14th, 2013
1:22 AM
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