Why homosexual people can‘t feel safe in Lithuania?
Times are changing, homosexual people have been persecuted, confined, put into psychiatric hospitals in the Soviet era. However, the situation is now improving. The main laws of the country are supplemented by innovations. The most important law which lets homosexual people feel safer was adopted in 2003 years. The law states that people who discriminate against LGBT will be criminally liable, but it does not help homosexuals feel full-fledged in our society. The European Commission's survey showed that only 24% of Lithuanians support the validation of same-sex marriages in Europe. That means, that our country are one of the most intolerant of all Europe countries against LGBT. Around 90% of LGBT respondents says that they want to imigrate to another country because they want to live safely.
Is homosexuality a topic that is afraid of talking in schools?
Bullying begins at school with lack of gender education lessons. Students do not get knowledge of homosexuals and their opinion is not being developed. Teachers lack knowledge of LGBT so they do not want to talk about it. Do teachers in higher education have to pay more attention to LGBT students? LGBT member said: 'from my experience in schools, they are never talking about homosexuality, so it would be fair enough if teachers give at least some attention to such people. For example, through literature lessons analize „gay literature“, O.Wilde pieces why his orientation is important in understanding his works. Through history lessons should be mentioned A. Turing who was a very important and a sensible mathematician but because of its orientation was sentenced.“
What causes homophobia?
The majority of respondents say that homophobia is encouraged by politicians in Lithuania. Politicians are often instigating hatred against LGBT politics. As well as homophobia is encouraged by the media. The gutter press full of hatred for homosexuals. Homosexuality is presented as something exotic and very strange. In LGBT member‘s opinion, homophobia is encouraged by Christians, because according to the Bible, i is normal for a man and a woman to create a family, but it is strange when women and other women, or men create a family. Also older people who have „Soviet thinking“ can cause homophobia. Their attitude does not change for years and they teach their children this way. The attitude that homosexuality is abnormal goes from generation to generation.
Disclosure of sexual identity
Most homosexuals hide their orientation from relatives, colleagues and friends.They are afraid to be misunderstood or not recognized. Often homosexual people choose a double life: one private, in which they can be themselves and one public, in which they are routinely sexually orientated. LGBT member says that he hides its orientation from the surrounding and so do not get bullying. Most LGBT members reveal their orientation to the closest people and then they can feel safe.
Although the situation in Lithuania is getting better against the LGBT, because of new laws, but they can‘t feel full-fledged. Every day a homosexual person fights for the better social conditions in their personal life.
Why homosexual people can‘t feel safe in Lithuania?
Times are changing, homosexual people have been persecuted, confined, put into psychiatric hospitals in the Soviet era. However, the situation is now improving. The main laws of the country are supplemented by innovations. The most important law which lets homosexual people feel safer was adopted in 2003 years. The law states that people who discriminate against LGBT will be criminally liable, but it does not help homosexuals feel full-fledged in our society. The European Commission's survey showed that only 24% of Lithuanians support the validation of same-sex marriages in Europe. That means, that our country are one of the most intolerant of all Europe countries against LGBT. Around 90% of LGBT respondents says that they want to imigrate to another country because they want to live safely.
Is homosexuality a topic that is afraid of talking in schools?
Bullying begins at school with lack of gender education lessons. Students do not get knowledge of homosexuals and their opinion is not being developed. Teachers lack knowledge of LGBT so they do not want to talk about it. Do teachers in higher education have to pay more attention to LGBT students? LGBT member said: 'from my experience in schools, they are never talking about homosexuality, so it would be fair enough if teachers give at least some attention to such people. For example, through literature lessons analize „gay literature“, O.Wilde pieces why his orientation is important in understanding his works. Through history lessons should be mentioned A. Turing who was a very important and a sensible mathematician but because of its orientation was sentenced.“
What causes homophobia?
The majority of respondents say that homophobia is encouraged by politicians in Lithuania. Politicians are often instigating hatred against LGBT politics. As well as homophobia is encouraged by the media. The gutter press full of hatred for homosexuals. Homosexuality is presented as something exotic and very strange. In LGBT member‘s opinion, homophobia is encouraged by Christians, because according to the Bible, i is normal for a man and a woman to create a family, but it is strange when women and other women, or men create a family. Also older people who have „Soviet thinking“ can cause homophobia. Their attitude does not change for years and they teach their children this way. The attitude that homosexuality is abnormal goes from generation to generation.
Disclosure of sexual identity
Most homosexuals hide their orientation from relatives, colleagues and friends.They are afraid to be misunderstood or not recognized. Often homosexual people choose a double life: one private, in which they can be themselves and one public, in which they are routinely sexually orientated. LGBT member says that he hides its orientation from the surrounding and so do not get bullying. Most LGBT members reveal their orientation to the closest people and then they can feel safe.
Although the situation in Lithuania is getting better against the LGBT, because of new laws, but they can‘t feel full-fledged. Every day a homosexual person fights for the better social conditions in their personal life.