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Shiny, happy people don't hold hands. Not in Lithuania, not in public. And not in Vilnius, which has currently hosted more anti-gay demonstrations than tolerant ones. But maybe that's all about to change...
Above: Please insert image from 2007's gay pride rally in Vilnius. Oh, wait - there was none. (see comments)
Sixteen years after Lithuania liberated itself from Soviet shackles, the hardly-risque International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) announced they will hold their annual European conference in Vilnius. In response to the news, an anti-homosexual demonstration was swiftly organised in September in an attempt to prevent such blasphemy. Well-known Lithuanian nationalists and many Catholic priests took part in the action in downtown Vilnius. One participant, speaking out against homosexuals, said, “Of course, they will soon organise a march in Vilnius and therefore we need to ensure in advance it will not be possible. While they are in their clubs we do not fight against them, they are not our enemies. However once they are on the streets, they are our enemies.”
This opinion is more common than not in the Baltic countries where homophobia remains firmly entrenched, in contrast to Western Europe where gays and lesbians have become visible, if not fully accepted, members of society. Despite Lithuania's entry into the EU, gay visitors to Vilnius should not expect the same social acceptance as in most EU nations. Here, homosexuality is still soundly condemned by every major social institution from the government to the Church to the mass media. In August, the leading Lithuanian daily newspaper, Respublika, ran the headline, Who Rules the World? The answer, as the article would overtly explain, was gays and Jewish people. In fact, homophobic jokes and allusions are commonplace in Vilnius' press, where daily tabloid Vakaro Zinios ('The Evening News') routinely refers to gays as 'chickenpricks.' As in Poland, the Church has seen its conservative, family-oriented agenda continue to grow in support in Lithuania, an already 80% Catholic country. Perhaps the most shocking factoid came from a 2003 poll which revealed that 68% of Lithuanians would prefer to live next door to a drug dealer or convicted criminal than a homosexual.
Undoubtedly, this mentality is a Soviet souvenir. Under Stalin, after all, 'no one was homosexual' and 'sex did not exist.' Homosexuality was a crime (much more dangerous than drug-dealing apparently) and punished as such. Until 1993, it was still illegal to be homosexual in Lithuania, and the law was only then repealed because of pressure from the Council of Europe, which Lithuania was trying to join. This leftover from the Soviet legacy goes beyond the law, however, having wormed itself deep into the national psyche. Many older Lithuanians continue to view homosexuality as an illness. The government has officially labelled it a "perversion." This widespread and institutionalised homophobia makes it almost impossible for gay Lithuanians to reveal their sexual orientation (no Lithuanian celebrity or public figure has ever come out as openly gay). As a result, Vilnius' gay and lesbian community is rather small, with few people brave enough to speak about their orientation.
But things are improving. Young people are increasingly open to alternative lifestyles and gay travellers needn't worry (for the most part) about being pummeled on the streets. The underground community is beginning to grow and better organise itself. Local organisations like the Lithuanian Lesbian and Gay League (LLGL) have been quietly meeting and orchestrating sensitisation campaigns, seminars and debates for over a decade. But if you're a local, you'd hardly know. Meetings take place monthly in an unmarked apartment, so as not to incur the wrath of neighbours and others. That such an organisation - working towards the recognition and acceptance of gays in LT - is forced to operate with such extreme discretion speaks volumes about the current status of homosexuals in the country. Yet major breakthroughs are on the horizon.
In May 2007, Vilnius will cautiously host its first-ever gay pride event, Rainbow Days. As such, an effort must be made to ensure it's a safe enterprise for everyone. Consisting primarily of seminars, lectures and gatherings to distribute information over its ten days, the big-to-do will be May 25th's unfurling of an enormous rainbow flag in the centre of Vilnius. Regardless of public reaction to this event, the festival is a major step towards creating solidarity within Vilnius' gay and lesbian community, encouraging community awareness and slowing wearing down Lithuania's evasion of homosexual issues. The event is part of a gearing up for the ILGA's annual conference, slated for October 2007 in Vilnius. With Rainbow Days as a primer for the conference, local and European organisations should have a better idea of how ready and willing Lithuania is to face the gay skeleton in its closet, and how best to support its 'coming out.'
For gay travellers to Vilnius, the city has scant offerings in terms of gay-friendly nightlife, with only one official gay club (perhaps the only in all of Lithuanian), but it's a doozy. A sprawling underground free-for-all of forbidden pleasures, Men's Factory may do more for Vilnius' gay cause than any other local organisation. Certainly unmatched as a meeting/mingling point, Men's Factory has proven that there is an active, growing homosexual community in Vilnius. Notorious a few years ago, things have either settled down a bit or the shock value has worn off. Still, Men's Factory is titillating, harmless fun Wednesday through Saturday - and you don't have to be gay to go (but that's the incentive). With it's strange industrial arachnid decor abounding with phalluses, Men's Factory offers multiple rooms, some geared toward men, others for lesbians, several for dancing (on- or off-stage), and a plethora for more carnal indescretions. In fact, private apartments are available in the club for hourly rental. Can't get much more blatantly accommodating than that. The music is more thumping techno than flamboyant pop, making it more palatable for most clubbers, and its discreet location outside the centre supports it as a safe, secure environment for reckless fun. The entrance fee is not cheap, but doesn't seem to inhibit droves of people from filling the place.
If you know of other particularly gay-friendly places in Vilnius, please let us know; and feel free to post your comments about gay Vilnius on this page below. We encourage different viewpoints and want to hear your thoughts about the gay cause in Vilnius. For more information about pro-gay organisations and events in Lithuania, visit www.gayline.lt. For the most comprehensive guide of gay events, organisations and community news in English, as well as personals and chat rooms, visit www.gay.lt. Visit www.atviri.lt to join the effort against homophobia and employment discrimination in Lithuania.
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 | | "Visit Warsaw, or Cracow and don't bother about stupid Lithuanians. In Poland now Kaczyński's brothers don't rule and we think that homophobia sucks." | Mateusz
Poland
Jan.14.2010
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "aikit jus visi nx pyderastu galvos kurva!!! :D:D:D" | ..
Lithuania
Dec.03.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "After reading some of these nasty naf comments that have come from lithuania I have come up with a great idea why dont all of those from villinus and the rest of the country pack up your bags and piss off home, you comeinto the rest of europe and claim as much money as possible and tell people here how fab your country is, well if its that great go home to your sad little world. I bet when you are looking for work or claiming your dole you dont care if a gay man is employing you or paying your benifit or wages . Double standards and if you feel that strongly about GAYS pull out of europe, Oh and give up the money you get from it NO NEVER so either get with it OR SHUT UP. ps please dont send any more here THANKS" | robbie
Belgium
Nov.16.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "just had sex with straight guy for 200litas, so no coment more" | mik
United Kingdom
Oct.28.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "i guess that gays have more problems in Uk. a lot of countries in western europe r so not tolerant and racist. fortunatelly i live in central europe i mean in poland
here nobody care who is sleeping in ur bad. ohhh welcome to all normal and tolerant ppl in POLAND :) i hate nazis from germany uk and holland go to hell pussis" | Crack
Poland
Oct.10.2009
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "How funny when people say 'gays are not welcome in Vilnus' because gay people are already there...they could be your doctor, your tacher, the person who cleans your house or rules the country. gay people are everywhere. Vilnus will change, as did the rest of the world when they realsied that gay people are just the same as everyone else. So, dont waste your time shouting at gay people..because we are here...we are queer and you had better get used to it. We are not afraid to fight for our rights...so bring it on! " | Love
United Kingdom
Jul.23.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "This is so out of date. I mean, Mens Factory. Check out Soho. There's one more club at Jaksto street. There are also a few places in Klaipeda. The rest of the story is pretty well told. Unfortunately." | Dawn
Lithuania
Jun.07.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "haha one of my american friends said "i tolerate gays while it doesn't bother me but if i'm forced to see them - it already bothers me". seriously i met a number of perverts around the world an i can say most of them r ok to talk or work with, but, man, that's totally disgusting what they actually do and are. this doesn't make me beat or kill them, though... however i'm straight but i'm not trying to explicitly express my sexuality only for making other people's day f*n bad :( that is what makes me sick of them :)
frankly, what do you think, if you write gayish comments here, won't there be more tourists in Vilnius who are sick of perverts, than there would be gays and their supporters overall?" | V
Lithuania
Jun.05.2009
rates this page 2/5 |
| | "gAngster says it all. You are a narrow minded biggot. Gay people are and have been some of the kindest and most thoughtful people I have met. Sadly gAngster you will never have an insight to the charecter of those you choose to condemn because you are a nazi idiot. News for you dude, we all have to share this planet and if we can eradicate the views of people like you then this would be a better place to live. OPEN that pathetic closed mind of yours and face embrace reality and the very lovely people and MY friends that are gay and thank god for them and the added diversity of life. By the way , I am stright but maintain an open mind and dislike nazi and narrow minded idiots like you. ps We do not want the likes of you in the UK iether." | Adrian
United Kingdom
May.04.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Are you fucking crazy.In Lithuania we hate gays dont can think you are welcome here and dont say that we like you." | GAngster
Lithuania
Apr.01.2009
rates this page 1/5 |
| | "accept the gay people. everybody who dusn't doesn't deserve to live on this planet" | Anes
Netherlands
Jan.10.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Well I'm shocked by some peoples hateful comments on here, There is nothing wrong with being gay. Homosexuality has been around as long as Hetrosexuality so get over it!!
Its good to have a diverse population and some of the worlds greatest people have been gay!
This is 2009 and it seems some people are stuck in the middle ages. I hate Bigots and Homophobes! You all cause so much trouble in this world! get a life and grow up!
" | Paul
United Kingdom
Jan.08.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "okay first id like to say,
danggg, go kurt and andrew w
you guys know what youre talking about haha
but really, nothing
is wrong with gay ppl
a gay guy is a girls best friend,
they make great shopping buddies lmao
but me myself, being bi,
have been through discrimination
just like im sure every other gay/lesbian/
bi/transexual or anything like that
and it really hurts to be discriminated like that
which is what a lot od ppl dont relize
unless theyve lived though it
but maybe thats just my opinion." | sara
United States
Nov.18.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "i think being gay is fine ( im emo )" | unknown
United States
Oct.07.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I wish people would wake up if ure christan or religious then read God made man and woman to have children to give birth to life like the earth but rite now we are killing the earth but we are supposed to be the keepers of earth u are supposed to love everyone no matter who or wat they are if u dont then God can hate u if u hate this then i can i hate u an eye for eye basically the only thing that homosexuals are doing wrong is not giving life thats all if u have sex for fun thats lust which is a sin u have sex for the creation of children this is my point not ures so believe eat u want to believe" | ?
United States
Oct.04.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "well i dont care about gay people, its not like they hit on any random dude, theyre basically chicks in their own mind, except they have dicks lol aslong as they dont say anything to me, i dont care about them and them getting married, its not like just because its ok to be gay, im gonna go gay, no way, im all about pussy
anyways goodluck to you all" | cockmeatsandwich
United States
Sep.19.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "First off, shame on anyone who has posted hateful anti-gay comments on here. The world is a diverse place, and we cannot label neither heterosexuals nor homosexuals as "normal" (I'm talking to you, princeedward and anouminous)
No one is "supposed" to like anyone! People like who they like, it's called a "sexual PREFERENCE". Being lesbian is fine. Being gay is fine. Being straight is fine. Being bisexual is fine. Being pansexual IS FINE.
Some people may view homosexual acts as disgusting, some may not. Just because you would not personally do such things does not give you anything close to the right to condemn the homosexual community.
I could say "I hate straight people because I think the idea of having sex with a woman is disgusting because I would never put my penis in a vagina. Penis is meant to be put in ass." but that sounds silly, now doesn't it? (Note: I don't actually think penis is meant to be put into any specific hole)
It's the same thing when you say, "I hate gay people because I think it's digusting to have sex with a man because I would never put my penis in an ass. Penis is supposed to go into vagina."
Really, open your eyes those of you who haven't yet. The world is a changing place.
P.S: What's so bad about not having any "normal" people? In a world where there were only gay and lesbian people (not even bisexuals) children would still be born. Sperm donors would exist. People would still want children, it would just be a bit different than what many families do in this reality.
End post." | Kurt
Canada
Aug.27.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "hi my name is carlos i live in parker az. im bi. im proun\d of it too.. i have a million of green tumbs." | carlos jr. castro
United States
Aug.14.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "i think showing my sexuality is greatt. ilove rainbows!!!!!!!!! and i live in parker az." | carlos jr. casrto
United States
Aug.14.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "I am a gay man and have visited LT, and am aware that Lithuania is a homophobic country. Then again, which country in Europe is not? My own country certainly is. I am aware that not all Lithuanians are homophobic. Many Lithuanians who have worked in the UK, where LGBT people are more accepted, have worked with gays, noticed they are no different to straights, and lost their homophobic opinions. I did not experience homophobia in LT. However, my friend (who is straight and lives in Klaipeda) advised that it is not a good idea for two men to sit close together in a nightclub, in case someone assumes they are an "item". This situation, although it might appear trivial to a westerner, is not any different to what exists in the less enlightened parts of England. When I grew up in England, homophobia was more common than now. We (LGBT people of the UK) have achieved much since then, and still have a long way to go. I am sure that my sexuality was obvious to many Lithuanians, especially to women, but they did not comment. Either they were being hospitable (which in the case of Lithianians, is a "given") or they were not bothered. I am sure that the situation will improve but it will need more LGBT Lithuanians to come out about their sexuality.
Anyway I have one issue with the article and that is the use of the term "alternative lifestyle". Being lesbian, gay, bi or trans is NOT a "lifestyle". We are born this way, in the same way that a black person is born black and a woman is born female." | Andrew W
United Kingdom
Jul.19.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I wish all people in Lithuania well. Good luck to those of you who strive for equal rights for gays and lesbians. It takes courage to stick out your neck in a situation like this. I hope for a future society where all can live free without fear." | Marco
Netherlands
Jun.27.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "www.lgbt-dating.co.cc
Searching for boyfriend? girlfriend? just friend?
Find yourself homosexual, bisexual or heterosexual partner.
Gay, lesbian, bisexual and heterosexual dating service
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" | lgbt dating
Lithuania
May.28.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "i am very ashamed of this situation.
though there are lots of people in lithuania who think gay/lesb is illnes or such. and
well, i honestly dont know what there to be done..." | mantas
Lithuania
Apr.28.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "People life is short, too short.
Poor is the man/woman, who's pleasures depend on the permission of another.
...And for the people who hate being who they are, wake up fools. ;-)
Nobody is really 100% straight, cause no one is perfect.
" | gene g
United States
Apr.18.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "ando buscando a mi media naranja soy muy enamorada me gusta las rumbas y detodo" | jbpatricia
United States
Apr.17.2008
rates this page 2/5 |
| | "i dont like gays thats all i have tyo say but if ur gay den i dun know wats ur frikin problem ur supposed to like women not men" | anouminus
United States
Apr.05.2008
rates this page 2/5 |
| | "I have nothing again gay. or -l. but i think gay and lesbian want to make a bigger population of there community .And there will be times like there won't be normal people." | princeedward
Canada
Feb.28.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I believe we are all equal. We should be able to marry and have just as much say so as any straight couple. We are no different than they. I graduated early with the highest GPA available at my school. Everyone wanted to make fun of me for being a nerd but that only pushed me more. I'm tired of the bashing. It's time we took charge of our lives and not be afraid to do something or say something. Especially when they don't have to be. It's time that a new power arose. The Gay Power." | Casey
United States
Feb.17.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "GAY POWER !!!!!!" | quise
United States
Jan.25.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Well im staright and i dont really see what all the fuss is about we are all equal so what if gays disgusting i agree that they are but we all need 2 just get along " | moey
United Kingdom
Jan.23.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "looking for stevieG bell me... write me .. and we'll pick up where you left off.. sparky_darren_leeds..... ps i want my shorts back ... 07836566933" | .. sparky_darren_leeds
United Kingdom
Jan.18.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "RAINBOWS!!!!!!!!!!" | dfgsodjfipsjdf
Albania
Jan.15.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I believe in a perfect society where gays can express their homosexuality, whithout being judged for it. where gays can walk down the street just like everyone else. and have unicorns and rainbows everywhere. Just like me and my girlfriend. and yes I'am too a girl." | breeziebethany
Algeria
Jan.15.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "THere is one religious community in Lithuania who are accepting of gay people-Pagans. Despite Paganism being older than Catholism in Lithuania and followed by about 10% of population, the catholic church blocked a move by the parlaiment to officially recognise Romuva( the baltic pagan belief) as a national official religion." | Adam
United Kingdom
Nov.02.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "On October 26th 2007, the International Lesbian Gay Association (ILGA) was barred from holding a public rally for sexual tolerance by the mayor (again). Hours later the meeting room the ILGA gathered in was filled with gas after smoke bombs were thrown into the room. For more details find the link above in Bonus Life." | Vilnius Life
Lithuania
Oct.29.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "i a m not proud of who i am , i feel disgusted of being gay...i feel like nothing...it is not good like this fuck love,fuck gay life i wish don't be part od this nigtmare " | alexader
United States
Sep.28.2007
rates this page 1/5 |
| | "It is quite obvious that communism and fascism haven't been ended. Why - because the greatest lie of all - the Catholic Church, has embraced them.
They, along with the Islamic extremists belong in the dustbin of history.
" | SteveMD2
United States
Sep.02.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Gay rights activists and organizers are vilified in Catholic Vilnius; meanwhile, largely Catholic Mexico has legalized same sex marriage and Brazilian megapolis San Paolo hosted the world's largest pride event with over three million participants in early June. The greatest changes on the GLBT front are occurring in Catholic Latin America, while strongly Catholic Poland and Lithuania continue to persecute their gay minorities. Upon joining the EU, Eastern Europe seems unable to join the New World. How long will the EU let Eastern European countries demonstrate discrimination towards their minorities?" | Skip
United States
Jun.25.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Not long after this page was written, Vilnius major, Juozas Imbrasas, supported bus drivers who refused to drive buses with pro-sexual tolerance slogans on them and then banned the EU's 'tolerance truck' from entering the city, essentially sinking the Rainbow Days festival last weekend. Rainbow Days would have been LT's first gay pride event, but was cancelled at the behest of the major and her program of protecting homophobes rather than sexual minorities. Get the full story from the links on the right..." | Vilnius Life
Lithuania
May.31.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
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