The 2009 law banned the “promotion” of homosexual relationships to children
BY YASMIN VINCE, IMAGE BY GETTY IMAGES VIA CANVA
The Constitutional Court of Lithuania has ruled that the country’s “gay propaganda” law violates its constitution and fails to respect human rights. The law prohibited teaching children about diverse families and relationships, but was ruled against last month (18 December).
The Law on the Protection of Minors Against the Detrimental Effect of Public Information was passed in 2009. In the years since, its LGBTQIA provisions have been used to ban children’s books which included LGBTQIA characters, similar to book bans at work in the US, and restricted showing such characters and people in TV and film. Like the UK’s Section 28 and Florida’s Don’t Say Gay bill, it also dubbed discussions of LGBTQIA relationships and families in schools to be “inappropriate”.
But, 15 years after the law was passed, the court said this law restricts children’s development into “mature, well-rounded individuals” and goes against the constitution’s duty to ensure children’s education is comprehensive. It also said the law failed to show respect for human rights, dignity and equality.
In a written statement, LGBTQIA activist group Lithuanian Gay League said the law had cast a long shadow over the community. “The provision’s existence created a significant chilling effect, leading to self-censorship among LGBTIQ+ individuals, organisations and media outlets.”
LGBTQIA relationships have been legal in Lithuania since 1993, but same-sex marriage is still banned.
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