Lithuanian Justice Minister: "very few cases of same sex couples in Lithuania"

Lithuania’s Minister of Justice, Juozas Bernatonis, has said there is no need to legalise civil partnerships, due to “very few cases of same sex couples” living in the country. 

The Lithuanian Ministry of Justice recently drafted a bill, which would introduce partnership to the country’s Civil Code.

However, the bill would only apply to same-sex couples. 

At present, Lithuanian laws do not recognise registered partnerships between both heterosexual and homosexual partnerships. 

Speaking to national Lithuanian television channel, LRT, Bernatonis announced he feels there are “very few exceptional cases” of same sex couples in the country. 

“I think there are very few exceptional cases of same-sex couples in Lithuania,” he said. 

He also revealed he does not believe same-sex couples can be seen as traditional families. 

“If we talk about various families, I do not recognise same-sex people living together can be classed as family relations - that’s not just an opinion held by me.”

Furthermore, Bernatonis declared same-sex partnerships are not a point of discussion in Lithuania and the subject is merely “propaganda.” 

“I think there is more propaganda about homosexuality than actual same-sex couples.”

Meanwhile, Liberal Party Member of Parliament, Dalia Kuodyte, has signed an alternative partnership bill that does not distinguish between homosexual and heterosexual couples.

She believes should the partnership law be passed solely in favour of heterosexual partnership, Lithuania could face lawsuits from the European Court of Human Rights. 

Kuodyte added same-sex couples require more legal protection from the Lithuanian state. 

“There are 20 percent of lesbian couples have who have children,” she said. “These children also have rights and need the state's protection.”