Antigay Web site
in Lithuania investigated

An antigay Web site in Lithuania is being investigated by authorities in Vilnius, the country's capital. The Web site, which promotes murdering gays and threatens people to prevent them from publicly acknowledging their sexual orientation, is one of two investigations currently under way dealing with discrimination against gays, reports Agence France-Presse.

The other involves leaflets distributed in Vilnius that "[call] for action against the homosexual community," Aurelija Juodyte, a spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office, told AFP on Monday.

"Among the comments on the Web site, entitled 'Let's stop the rainbow colours,' were calls to beat and kill homosexual people," Juodyte said. "The leaflets warned homosexual people not to out [themselves] in public."

The bout of homophobia follows on the heels of a European Union-supported rally against discrimination that was canceled last month. City officials feared that the event, which would have included members of the Lithuanian gay community hoisting a rainbow flag, would create unrest among homophobic citizens.

Juodyte also told AFP that Lithuania punishes "discrimination and instigation of hatred" with up to three years in prison. (The Advocate)