By “OUR POLITICIANS ARE THE PROBLEM”
Aside from a few minor incidents nearby, and despite the failed attempts of the city’s mayor to distance the event from the city centre, July’s Baltic Pride was a success. ‘It feels like every time we take a step forward, we take two steps back,’ sighs Simonko. ‘It’s actually our politicians who are the problem. They’re convinced that most of our people are homophobes and they act accordingly. Either that, or they dare not come out in favour of homosexuality for fear of losing votes.’ Most people in the country consider homosexuality as either an illness or a perversion to be fought against, according to an enquiry carried out by MPs.
The liberal and social democratic parties have a few members in their ranks who are openly in favour of gay rights, but their number can apparently ‘be counted on one hand.’ Apart from the liberal party currently in opposition, not a single party is campaigning for the introduction of civil partnership for same-sex couples. What’s more, Lithuania is governed by a grand coalition, led by Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius, comprising Order and Justice, the Social Democratic Party, the Labour Party and the party of the Polish minority, meaning that, ‘when it comes to gay rights, you can forget it,’ says Simonenko.
However, the social democrats possess a powerful human rights activist in 69-year-old professor and feminist Marija Pavilionienė. She says that only four or five of her fellow party members share her point of view. She finds Gražulis’ jeans disgusting. ‘Like so many other homophobes, he is obsessed with sexuality. But it’s not a question of sex, it’s a question of human rights!’ Many social democrats don’t buy it, however. ‘I feel a constant pressure to abandon my progressive ideas,’ she admits during a meeting at a café in central Vilnius. ‘I argued with the minister of justice, trying to bring in civil partnerships,’ Pavilionienė explains. ‘He promised me it would happen, but I’m still waiting. The proposal’s there waiting, it just has to be taken out of the drawer! But he’s scared. Even the president, Grybauskaitė says that the time for civil partnerships hasn’t come yet. She wouldn’t dare, but if she’d just say that several different kinds of family life are possible, that would greatly help our cause.’ For that matter, rumours abound that Grybauskaitė, who is supported by social conservatives, is herself a lesbian.
Up until now only one Lithuanian politician has come out as gay – Rokas Žilinskas, 41, a former journalist and news presenter, and serving MP of the conservative ‘Patriotic Union’ party. ‘His party uses him to knock back gay rights,’ says Simonko. ‘He was opposed to Baltic Pride! He believes in silent protest and that homophobia will just sort itself out. He even suggested that I disband my organisation.’
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