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Letter to the Lithuanian Parliament (Seimas) – support for gender-neutral civil Partnership Bill

Letter to the Lithuanian Parliament (Seimas)

President of the Republic of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda,
Speaker of the Seimas, Viktorija Čmilytė–Nielsen,
Prime Minister, Ingrida Šimonytė,
First Deputy Speaker of the Seimas, Jurgis Razma,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gabrielius Landsbergis,
Minister of Justice, Evelina Dobrovolska

Chair of the Homeland Union–Christian Democrat Parliamentary Group, Radvilė Morkūnaitė–Mikulėnienė,
Chair of the Lithuanian Farmer and Greens Union Parliamentary Group, Aušrinė Norkienė,
Chair of the Democrats ‘For Lithuania’ Parliamentary Group, Linas Kukuraitis,
Chair of the Social Democratic Parliamentary Group, Gintautas Paluckas,
Chair of the Liberal Movement Parliamentary Group, Eugenijus Gentvilas,
Chair of the Freedom Party Parliamentary Group, Vytautas Mitalas,
Chair of the Labour Party Parliamentary Group, Viktoras Fiodorovas,
Chair of the Lithuanian Regions Parliamentary Group, Jonas Pinskus,

Brussels, 5 May 2022

Support for the adoption of the Partnership Bill

Dear President,
Dear Speaker of the Seimas,
Dear Prime–Minister,
Dear First Deputy Speaker of the Seimas,
Dear Ministers,
Dear Chairs of the Parliamentary Groups,

As Members of the LGBTI Intergroup in the European Parliament, a cross–party grouping of Members of the
European Parliament working on equality for LGBTIQ people, we reach out to you today to send a strong message
of support for the gender–neutral Partnership Bill that will soon be presented and debated in the Seimas.

We are acutely aware that the human rights of LGBTIQ persons have long been a heated discussion in Lithuania
and that fear and hatred have worryingly been accompanying the discussion throughout. Nevertheless, the context
in which we currently find ourselves is immensely telling. We witness once again a war in Europe, a war caused
by Russia’s aggressive military and illegal actions in Ukraine, which has caused millions to be displaced, subjected
to violence and war crimes as a result of their fight for their right to live in freedom. That is what Europe means,
and Russia’s and Putin’s actions represent a threat to our ideals and our values.

This right to live free is not only a physical right to live free from violence, but one which enshrines our visions of
what a European way of life must be: one in which justice, equality and non–discrimination are pillars in our
societies, one in which diversity is not only tolerated but accepted, one in which ‘United in diversity’ is a motto to
live by, not a slogan.

Tolerance, acceptance and openness are embedded in our societies and in our European identity. Nevertheless,
the human rights of LGBTIQ persons have long been instrumentalised to oppose such ideals. Because of lack of
knowledge of what it means to part of this community or disinformation and hate campaigns, LGBTIQ human rights
are often the target for divisive rhetoric and outright hatred. Regardless, the approaching bill can signify an instance
of change, a shift towards radical openness and acceptance. It can mean a recipe for a healthier, happier society,
and a clear positioning of Lithuania as a conscious choice to be part of a progressive, free and democratic world.
The debate, votes and legislative work that approach will be decisive in setting the course of how Lithuania portrays
itself domestically, but also internationally as part of a Union of Equality. In this spirit, we call on you today to
support this bill and to encourage your parliamentary groups to support it as well. We understand that for
some a personal support is difficult to achieve, and if that is the case, we respectfully ask you to silently abstain.
Nevertheless, we encourage you strongly and wholeheartedly to engage with your local, regional and national
LGBTIQ organisations, to hear from them, to listen to their stories and why this bill can monumentally change their
lives. As politicians, it is our role to unite the peoples we represent, and this bill can grant a community the right
they so rightfully deserve: to have their family life recognised (and protected) by the state.

Dear President, dear Speaker, dear Prime Minister, dear First Deputy Speaker, dear Ministers and dear Chairs:
This year, you can continue to make history, and this time make history for your LGBTIQ citizens. We ask you to
seize this opportunity and to send a strong political signal beyond the borders of Lithuania about its commitment
to the values of freedom and equality.

We thank you for your consideration, deliberation and vote on this bill, which is of utmost importance for us.
Yours sincerely,

Marc ANGEL, Co–Chair, LGBTI Intergroup (S&D)
Terry REINTKE, Co–Chair, LGBTI Intergroup (Greens–EFA, Vice–President)
Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Vice–President, LGBTI Intergroup (Non–attached)
Pierre KARLESKIND, Vice–President, LGBTI Intergroup (Renew Europe)
Malin BJÖRK, Vice–President, LGBTI Intergroup (The Left)
Maria WALSH, Vice–President, LGBTI Intergroup (EPP)
Katarina BARLEY, EP Vice–President
Michal ŠIMEČKA, EP Vice–President
Dimitrios PAPADIMOULIS, EP Vice–President
Frédérique RIES, Vice–President, Renew Europe
Alice KUHNKE, Vice–President, Greens/European Free Alliance
Marisa MATIAS, Vice–President, The Left

Antoni COMÍN I OLIVERES (Non–attached)
Billy KELLEHER (Renew Europe)
Birgit SIPPEL (S&D)
Cyrus ENGERER (S&D)
Diana RIBA I GINER (Greens–EFA)
Dietmar KÖSTER (S&D)
Giuliano PISAPIA (S&D)
Gwendoline DELBOS–CORFIELD (Greens–EFA)
José GUSMÃO (The Left)
Karen MELCHIOR (Renew Europe)
Kim VAN SPARRENTAK (Greens–EFA)
Malte GALLÉE (G–EFA)
Manuel BOMPARD (The Left)
Niklas NIENASS (Greens–EFA)
Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS (Renew Europe)
Radka MAXOVÁ (S&D)
Rasmus ANDRESEN (Greens–EFA)
Rosa D’AMATO (Greens–EFA)
Sandro GOZI (Renew Europe)
Sara MATTHIEU (Greens–EFA)
Saskia BRICMONT (Greens–EFA