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The Birmingham Lithuanian Community publicly stands for LGBTQ+

The Lithuanian Community in Birmingham United Kingdom is one of the first Diaspora communities which publicly supports Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius, a member of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania and the chairman of the Human Rights Committee, as the only homosexual of 141 members of the Seimas.

The Parliamentary elections were held in Lithuania on 11 and 25 October 2020 to elect the 141 members of the Seimas. 71 were elected in single-member constituencies using the two-round system, and the remaining 70 in a single nationwide constituency using proportional representation. Furthermore,  the 4th party by elected seats were Liberal Movement and they received 13 seats in Seimas. Among these 13 elected people were Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius which spoken publicly about his sexual orientation and his presence as a member of LGBTQ +.

In 20 of November 2020 a members of the Human Rights Committee elected a chairman which was Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius who is the only one person from LGBTQ +.

However,  the chairman of Human Rights Committee received a  negative opinion, expression of hatred from the public, organizations, influencers, members of the Seimas and public figures. A Lithuanian liberal MP has been under attack for advocating pro-LGBTQ+ policies, with a petition, allegedly signed by 300,000 people, calling for his dismissal as a committee chairman. Critics of the initiative say the petition is clear discrimination.

 

The Birmingham Lithuanian Community publicly stands for LGBTQ+
The Birmingham Lithuanian Community publicly stands for LGBTQ+

 

So, we are The Birmingham Lithuanian Community in United Kingdom and we are the first Community from all Lithuanian’s Communities in the world which is going to hold 4th of March live meeting with Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius and we will speak publicly about our support to him and to continue to be as chairman of the Human Rights Committee.

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/259551035762314

Source: E-mail Newsletter

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British MI6 Chief Apologizes for Past Discrimination

The head of MI6 has issued a public apology for unjust treatment in the past of staff and recruits because of their sexuality, acknowledging that talented and brave people who wanted to serve their country suffered because of ignorance and prejudice.

Moore, who took over as MI6 chief in October, said that until 1991 — nearly 25 years after same-sex relationships were decriminalized in the U.K. — being an openly LGBTI person while working as a spy “would cause you to lose your job or prevent you from being allowed to join in the first place.” A directive that stemmed from “the misguided view that [LGBTI spies] would be more susceptible to blackmail than straight people.”

Moore’s first prominent appointment was as the British Ambassador to Turkey. He held this post for three years, from 2014 to 2017. He spent a short period of time working as Deputy National Security Advisor (Intelligence, Security and Resilience) in 2018. He held the appointment of Director-General, Political in the FCDO from 2018 until August 2020. On the 29 July 2020, it was announced that Moore would become the Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) in autumn 2020.He took up this position on the 1 October of the same year.

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UK’s First Openly Lesbian MP Maureen Colquhoun Has Died

Maureen Colquhoun passed away on February 2 at the age of 92. She was a member of the Labor Party, the first openly lesbian MP and a radical feminist far ahead of her time.

Calquhoun was born on August 12, 1928 in London, England.  She graduated from the London School of Economics.  She entered politics in the British Labor Party. She was a delegate to the UK Parliament from 1974 to 1979.  First woman politician to enter parliament as a lesbian .

Colquhoun dies on January 2, 2021 at the age of 92 in London, England, birthplace.

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British Military: Top Employer for Gays & Lesbians

In a statement, a British Ministry of Defense spokesperson declared, ‘The Army has worked tirelessly over the last 15 years to become more inclusive and is very proud to be recognised by Stonewall as a top 50 lesbian, gay and bisexual employer. Our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender forum is vibrant and offers confidential support, advice and mentoring to any personnel who are considering coming out.”

Prince Harry Sets a High Standard for Tolerance and Equality

In 2013 another Household Cavalry soldier, James Wharton, disclosed in his book Out In The Army, My Life As A Gay Soldier how Prince Harry once protected him from homophobic bullies. In one interview, Captain Hannah Winterbourne, the highest ranking transgender officer in the Army, tells of her decision to have transgender surgery. But the general said: ‘The MoD needs to do more than just put one or two junior and middle-ranking officers up for interview and claim it’s all nice and rosy in the garden. There is still a lot of homophobic bullying and abuse.’

Transgender Persons Speak Out

In one interview, Captain Hannah Winterbourne (above), the highest ranking transgender officer in the Army, tells of her decision to have transgender surgery

Captain Hannah Winterbourne is the highest ranking transgender officer in the Army, and she has openly spoken of her decision to have transgender surgery

Army General to “Come out”?

One of the British newspaper, “The Mail” ran an article about an Army General who is planning to “come out of the Military Closet.” He is not named and therefore it is mere speculation. “The Mail” claims an interview with the General who was furious over a colleague’s inappropriate and demeaning gay comment. Friends who know the General’s sexual orientation has warned him that this could severely damage his career.

The General is married with three children and has served in Iraq and Afghanistan with 30 years of distinguished service. He states that he has a very loving relationship with his wife who knows that he is gay. She does not want to divorce him. In the interview, the general is reported to have stated that he is part of a ‘small number of senior officers in the Army, RAF and Royal Navy who have decided to keep their sexuality secret because of the potential impact it might have on their career’.He added: ‘It might come as a shock to some people but there have been and there are gay members of the SAS. (Crack special forces team).I have met them.”

‘Gay soldiers won medals in Iraq and Afghanistan. And yes, there have probably been many gay generals over the years.’

Paula, 2015, stories4hotbloodedlesbians.com

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Lesbian Hindu Wedding in UK

The marriage is believed to be the first female same-sex Hindu wedding to take place in Leicester, U.K. between Miriam Jefferson and Kalavati Mistry. It was a colourful ceremony as both wore traditional red and white Hindu wedding colours.

They also wore floral garlands and ‘mangala sutra’, which is a necklace traditionally tied around the bride’s neck to show she is now married.

Different Birth Places – One Love

Kalavati is from Leicester while Miriam is a native of Texas, U.S.A Kalavati grew up in a traditional Hindu household. She came out to her family and wanted an Hindu wedding.

Miriam met Kalvati in the year 2000 while when the English woman came to America for working purposes.

One Wedding is NOT Enough!

Miriam grew up in a Jewish household. Earlier in 2017, both women had a Jewish wedding in San Antonio, Texas. This is the home town of Miriam.

Love is the foundation of all religions, and both women have found this gift in their life together.

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UK Sherlock Fans Call for Gay Relationship in Series

Fans of the popular BBC series Sherlock have been lobbying show creator Mark Gatiss to write a gay relationship between Sherlock and Watson into the plot.

Gatiss said he had been inundated with plotline ideas and even explicit drawings sugeesting a relationship between Sherlock played by Benedict Cumberbatch and Watson (Martin Freeman).

Gatiss told DNA that fans had been urging him to make the dynamic crime fighting duo a couple since injecting sexual innuendo into the plot of the previous series.

Gatiss told DNA: “Oh my God. I get sent things that would make your hair turn white. It’s not just Sherlock and Watson holding hands on a park bench, I can tell you that.

“Some of them are incredibly graphic but my goodness I’ve not tried half the things they’re doing.”

It’s not the first occasion that the great detective and his sidekick have been rumoured to be gay. In the 1970s Billy Wilder film, it was joked that Sherlock and Watson were a couple.

Gatiss said this is where he and co-creator Steven Moffat took their lead.

Nonetheless Gatiss said there are no plans at this stage to turn the pair into a couple.

A fourth series of Sherlock has been commissioned by the BBC and will air later this year. The BBC has also announced plans for a special feature length episode to begin filming in January 2015.