From Gay Star News: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/lithuania-consider-five-anti-gay-anti-trans-bills100913
Five homophobic and transphobic bills are under consideration in Lithuania
By Robert Hart
10 September 2013
Five anti-gay and anti-trans bills are to be considered in the Lithuania parliament later this year.
These bills include a complete ban on gender reassignment, banning same-sex adoption and ‘criticisms of homosexual behavior’ no longer being classified as hate speech.
The first proposed amendment would place a ban on all trans surgery in Lithuania.
Official notes for the amendment states as Lithuanian society views ‘gender reassignment as very controversial’, it should be prohibited.
‘Society is not ready to accept gender reassignment practices due to certain psychosocial reasons, and therefore the permission to undergo gender reassignment surgeries will lead to a number of medical and ethical issues,’ it says.
The reasoning goes on to ignorantly state it is impossible to reassign gender surgically because it ‘is determined genetically from the very moment of conception’.
Following a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), in 2007, Lithuania is obliged to enact a law regulating the procedure and conditions of gender reassignment.
A proposal that will lead to a complete ban on same-sex adoption is also being considered by the parliament on the grounds of child protection.
Continue reading at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/lithuania-consider-five-anti-gay-anti-trans-bills100913
