President Valdas
Adamkus (pictured) of Lithuania last week vetoed a bill that
would prohibit the discussion of homosexuality in schools and
ban references to gay and lesbian relationships in public
places where children can see them, reports the U.K.-based
Lesbian and Gay Foundation
.
The Lithuanian
parliament passed the bill, called the Law on the Protection of
Minors Against the Detrimental Effect of Public Information,
June 16. According to Human Rights Watch, which sent a letter
asking Adamkus to veto the bill, the bill would ban all
materials that "agitate for homosexual, bisexual and
polygamous relations" from schools or other public places
where they can be seen by youth, on the grounds that they have
a "detrimental effect" on "the development of
minors."
Opponents of the bill
had urged Adamkus to remember his country's commitments to free
expression as a member of the European Unio, and as a signatory
to the joint United Nations statement in December
affirming that LGBT rights are human rights.
The Lithuanian
parliament, formally known as the Seimas, could reverse the
veto, but it would require an absolute majority of the
141-member body.
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