LGBTQ rights in Lithuania

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in Lithuania have gradually evolved over the years, although LGBT people continue to face legal and societal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Same-sex sexual activity between consenting adults has been legal since 1993. Marriages are limited to opposite-sex couples only by the 1992 constitution. In April 2025, the Constitutional Court of Lithuania ruled that the absence of legal regulation for partnership institutions, including those applicable to same-sex couples, contradicts the Constitution. The Court emphasized that the state must ensure legal protections for relationships outside marriage, grounded in the principles of human dignity and respect for private and family life.

Negative attitudes against LGBT individuals remain widespread in Lithuanian society. Although tolerance has increased somewhat in urban areas and among younger generations, discrimination and social stigma persist. A GLOBSEC survey conducted in March 2023 found that 22% of Lithuanians supported same-sex marriage, while 60% were opposed and 18% were undecided. Among European Union countries, only Bulgaria showed lower levels of support. Other polls have shown that support for civil unions tends to be higher than support for same-sex marriage.

There are small LGBT communities in Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai, and Panevėžys. Due to lower population density and prevailing conservative attitudes, smaller towns and rural areas typically lack active LGBT organizations or visible communities.