LITHUANIA

Lithuania Follows Latvia’s Homophobic Outbursts Amid Calls for Constitutional Change

 
 

Homosexuality  not healthy for human psychology, says MP
 

  


 
 


■ Kazys Bobelis: Virulently anti-gay Lithuanian MP

  


by Eduardas Platovas
 (Lithuanian Gay League)

VILNIUS, December 29, 2005 (Lithuanian Gay League)  –  Lithuanian MP and former social minister Irena Degutiene, a member of the Homeland Union (Conservatives) will reportedly begin collecting signatures in January as part of a drive to amend the constitution so ‘gay’ marriages will be banned.

The news caused consternation among some MPs, who said the Lithuanian constitution already bans gay and lesbian marriages.

Earlier this month, neighbouring Latvia amended its constitution to define marriage as being between a man and a woman - it also had a law prohibiting same-sex marriage.

Julius Sabatauskas, a Social Democrat and chairman of Parliament’s legal committee, said such marriages were already unconstitutional in Lithuania.

“The Civil Code also gives a comprehensible definition of marriage with a person of the opposite sex,” Sabatauskas told reporters.

“The Civil Code defines marriage as a voluntary agreement between a man and a woman to create legal family relations between a woman and a man, as stipulated by law.”

Another recent homophobic outbreak among Lithuanian MPs was caused by the news that ILGA-Europe annual conference in 2007 will take place in Vilnius.

Respublika daily enquired how the homosexuals’ gathering is viewed upon by the country’s MPs.

The news about the planned conference in Vilnius was met with a virulent outburst from MP Kazys Bobelis of the Union of Farmer’s/New Democracy Party.

‘This is a scandal,” the MP said.  “My views on homosexuals are very clear and based the fact that I am a doctor, – they need treatment because homosexuality is not healthy for human psychology.

“If today we start tolerating homosexuals, maybe soon enough we will accept intercourse between human beings and animals,” he suggested.

“Let homosexuals address their problems in closed circles without going public.  Lithuania is a state without character.  While other nations prevent homosexuals from raising their heads, we give up – whoever wants to climb our heads, do so, just like rats.”

Conservative MP Vilija Aleknaite-Abramikiene called the European homosexuals’ intention to assemble in Vilnius “an improper and unreasonable choice”.

“You can find a state in Europe which is not as Catholic and as conservative on the matter,” the MP said.  “Apart from that, those homosexuals have to feel respect for the country where you decide to organize an event like that. I think this kind of conferences should be prevented before the society is mature enough for such a slap in the face”

Liberal Centrist Vytautas Cepas qualifies homosexuals as a problematic group, who strive to set the society at variance.

“With their festivals and parades those homosexuals are deliberately trying to cause discontent of people with conventional orientation, and then they burst out loud that they are being discriminated and attacked,” Cepas said.

“It gives me the creeps when, apart from same-sex marriages, homosexuals start speaking about child adoption opportunities.  Let them live their lives, but not involve others.”

Lithuanian Young Christian Democrats promised pickets against the conference in Vilnius and assured they “would not let homosexuals promote their ideas in public”.

However, Lithuanian Liberal Youth and Lithuanian Social Democratic Youth are publicly supporting the organisers of 2007 ILGA Europe conference in Lithuania.

LINK

Lithuanian Gay League website

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Posted: 29 December 2005 at 15:00 (UK time)

 

 

 
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