Raskevičius on the petition: it is directed against me as a person, a homosexual citizen of the Republic of Lithuania

TV Raskevičius talked about it Delphi In the television program “Conversation with Daiva Žeimyte-Biliene”. According to him, he sees the calls to resign from office and the people’s signatures collected as a result in two ways: from the political and human side.

“From a political point of view, I respect the right of these people to express their beliefs, to take various civic initiatives. On the other hand, as a politician, I intend to continue my work as chair of the Human Rights Committee, because it seems to me that the ideas that I brought to the Seimas were clearly communicated during the election campaign. Due to the ideas and principles of human rights that I have articulated very clearly, I am in the position I am in, ”said TV Raskevičius on Wednesday on the program.

However, the politician did not hide the fact that the situation is also “humanly difficult” for him personally.

“This petition is directed against me as a man, a homosexual citizen of the Republic of Lithuania, and my beliefs are also criticized. It seems to me that it should be quite difficult for anyone in such a situation,” admitted a member of the Seimas, calling it the price to be in big politics.

According to the committee chairman, such noise from his current duties is essentially the result of political inaction.

“It seems to me that this petition and its outcome are in part the result of decades of inaction by our state politicians in this area. For a long time, the issue was uncomfortable, it remains uncomfortable, and politicians chose to hide the issue under the rug, not to discuss it in any way, not to seek compromise solutions. When certain aches and pains are not discussed in society, then they erupt in slightly aggressive ways, “he said.

According to TV Raskevičius, it is necessary to speak with various groups in society, but constitutional human rights cannot become hostage to the discussion.

Seimas member Petras Gražulis has registered a resolution requesting the removal of TV Raskevičius from the position of head of the Human Rights Committee and claims that he is abusing his official position as the committee will seek to address only issues relevant to LGBT people. community.

When asked how he evaluates the initiative of such a colleague, TV Raskevičius noted that in three months as chair of the working committee, only once was the issue related to the rights of LGBT people considered: whether to allow a conference in Seimas facilities.

“Perhaps I feel a little stupid in this situation that I have to acquit myself for alleged crimes that I have not committed,” TV Raskevičius did not hide.

The petition will not go to court, but several pre-litigation cases have been opened due to the messages received.

Some lawyers, when evaluating the petition to circulate, point out that not only does it have no legal value, it is also potentially discriminatory.

However, TV Raskevičius himself states that although he sees in the petition a possible violation of the law, he will not go to court to defend his honor and dignity due to the content of the petition.

“I believe that this massive action, especially the intentions of its initiators, may exceed what is established in the Penal Code, but I must clearly understand that at this stage I am already a state politician and the standards applied to me are slightly different from the ordinary ones. “. the citizens. I do not intend to make such a complaint. I believe that this request will not systematically restrict my right to participate in the political life of the country, ”said the parliamentarian.

At the moment, he says, there is no need to respond to such an initiative aggressively and, as a politician, he must apply a high level of tolerance to himself.

“I do not want to focus on the background noise that is currently occurring, but I want to continue very specifically the work I have started,” emphasized TV Raskevičius.
He said members of the LGBT community would be better protected by changes in legislation. It is true that TV Raskevičius did not hide that he felt an intensified avalanche of hatred and received personal messages, which had already been reported to the police.

“Those negative comments have occurred, but now it is a completely different level. I receive a lot of comments containing and threatening direct violence to deal with me. I appeal to the law enforcement authorities regarding those comments, several pre-trial investigations have been launched about them, and due to such negative comments we have to reconcile and accept it as a fact of the reality in which we live and that I very much like to change, “said the member of Seimas.

He also noted that the results of a similar hatred can be seen in youth suicide statistics.

“Personally, the worst thing for me is that there are probably many young people in Lithuania who are part of the LGBT community and they do not have the support and help of the network that I have,” said TV Raskevičius.

“We need to understand that hatred, negativity, is costing people’s lives, and one day we must stop,” continued the parliamentarian, emphasizing that politicians must make decisive value decisions in this situation.

When asked by the host of the program if he hopes to legalize the association with the current ruling coalition, TV Raskevičius replied that the Seimas will also seek the support of the opposition factions.

“Initially we are coordinating and preparing the project in a coalition format, but we will definitely contact and cooperate with both the Social Democrats and the Labor Party, seeking broader support among state politicians,” said the chairman of the Human Rights Committee.

He also explained that the legitimation of the association would benefit not only members of the LGBT community, but also couples of the opposite sex who have chosen not to marry.

“The current initial draft is based on amendments to the Civil Code, very similar to the one drawn up in 2017. Now, at this stage, we will begin to discuss the project not only with the ruling majority, but also with the political factions of the opposition,” he said TV Raskevičius, noting that the aforementioned bill will be presented to the Seimas in the spring session.