Lithuania revises gay ‘promotion’ law, rights activists still wary

[ccharles000]

VILNIUS - Lithuanian lawmakers revised a controversial law on Tuesday that banned the promotion of homosexuality, but gay rights campaigners warned the move did nothing to assuage their concerns.

In a 58-4 vote, with 25 abstentions, parliament approved amendments to legislation that sparked criticism from rights groups in Lithuania and abroad when it was passed in July.

The original law, which had been due to come into force in March 2010, barred the "public dissemination" of information favourable to homosexuality, claiming it could harm the mental health and physical, intellectual and moral development of minors.

Homosexuality is frowned upon by many in Lithuania, where the vast majority of the population of 3.3 million is Roman Catholic.

The legislation -- which also covered bisexuality, polygamy, images of heterosexual intercourse, death and severe injury, the paranormal, foul language and bad eating habits -- did not specifically define public dissemination nor set down a punishment.

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2371427#ixzz0aYXCchQs

[msongs]

1. they are not too fond of jews poles or russians either nt

[CurtEastPoint]

2. Bad eating habits? WTF? n/t

[eleny]

3. Given the Lithuanian diet, this one struck me as ironic