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Final vote on Lithuania propaganda bill postponed
Measure ‘clearly directed against the local LGBT community’
Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius of the Lithuanian Gay League. (Photo courtesy of Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius)
Parliamentarian Petras Gražulis introduced the proposal after Baltic Pride took place in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital, last July. The lawmaker whom Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius of the Lithuanian Gay League described to the Washington Blade on Wednesday during an interview from New York City as “the homophobic icon of my country” is among those who tried to disrupt the event.
Gražulis has introduced similar measures since 2011.
“It’s clearly directed against the local LGBT community,” Raskevičius told the Blade.
Gražulis introduced his bill shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a measure into law that bans so-called gay propaganda to minors.
Gražulis sent Putin a letter in his official capacity to congratulate him for signing the controversial measure. He also praised the Russian president for “fighting back against gays” during a speech he gave at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
“[Grazulis] is totally in line with what is happening in Russia,” said Raskevičius.
Lawmakers in Latvia, Ukraine, Georgia, Kazakhstan and other former Soviet Republics have introduced measures similar to Russia’s gay propaganda law.
The Council of Europe, the European Parliament Intergroup on LGBT Rights and Amnesty international are among the groups that have criticized Gražulis’ proposal. It remains unclear when Lithuanian parliamentarians will again consider his bill.
“This amendment targeted at repressing the LGBT community is part of an alarming trend throughout Eastern Europe, where these bills are contributing to a dangerous culture of fear and violence against LGBT people,” said Shawn Gaylord of Human Rights First.
WorldPride 2025 concluded with the WorldPride Street Festival and Closing Concert held along Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. on Sunday, June 8. Performers on the main stage included Doechii, Khalid, Courtney Act, Parker Matthews, 2AM Ricky, Suzie Toot, MkX and Brooke Eden.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Celebrating the transgender community, Baltimore Safe Haven, an organization committed to empowering LGBTQ individuals in Baltimore City, plans to host their fourth annual Baltimore Trans Pride on Saturday.
Instead of the usual parade and march, this year’s Trans Pride will be a block party on Charles Street and between 21st and 22nd Streets. The event will start at 1 p.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and last until 10 p.m.
Community members can go on guided tours, enjoy refreshments by local vendors, listen to presenters, and watch performances by special guests.
Sukihana, the event’s headliner, plans to take to the stage to entertain the crowd, along with a variety of local performers, according to Melissa Deveraux, Baltimore Safe Haven’s executive assistant to Executive Director Iya Dammons.
“Some (are) prominently known, some (are) just making a name for themselves,” Deveraux said. Iya is always making sure that community talent is showcased at all of our functions.”
In company with Pride on Saturday, Baltimore Safe Haven will be opening its new building on Friday from 1-4 p.m.
“That is sort of going to be the prelude to pride,” Lau said. “Thanks to Sen. Mary Washington and the Weinberg Foundation, we were able to purchase the building outright, and it’s going to be a community hub of administrative buildings and 12-bedroom apartments.”
Renee Lau, administrative assistant for special projects coordinator for Baltimore Safe Haven, said the planning process for Baltimore Trans Pride began in January, and putting it all together was a collaboration of multiple city agencies and organizations.
“Safe Haven is an LGBT community organization, but we service the entire community, and that’s the message we try to spread,” Lau said. “We’re not just here for the LGBT community. We’re here to spread goodwill and offer harm reduction and housing to the entire community.”
Lau said the organization’s biggest goal for the event is to gain exposure.
“(We want) to let and let people know who we are and what our community is about,” she said. “Right now, because of what’s happening in DC, there’s a lot of bad untruths going on, and the total thing is bringing out the truth.”
Deveraux said having a place of inclusivity, acceptance, and togetherness is important in today’s political climate and the current administration.
“This event will have people seeing the strength and resilience of the transgender community, showing that no matter what we are going through, we still show up,” Deveraux said. “We are here, we will not be erased.”
The 2025 WorldPride Parade was held in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, June 7. Laverne Cox and Renée Rapp were the grand marshals.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key and Robert Rapanut)
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