Kaunas prepares for second Pride march, urging legal reforms for LGBTQ community

Kaunas, Lithuania’s second-largest city, is set to stage its second Pride march on Saturday, beginning at noon from St Michael the Archangel Church and moving along Laisvės Avenue toward Ožeškienės Street before looping back. Organizers, represented by Beata Starodubova, note that cooperation with the municipal authorities has improved since the inaugural 2021 event, which attracted about 2,000 participants amid permit disputes.

Attendance may be lower this year, but the march aims to give visibility to LGBTQ individuals who do not feel safe in public. The core demands remain unchanged: simpler administrative processes for partnership registration and name or gender-marker changes without unnecessary court or medical hurdles, referencing 2024 and 2025 Constitutional Court decisions that recognize same-sex couples as families yet still require court action.

Police will supplement local forces with officers from other regions, conduct checks, film the event, and advise participants to avoid provocation and report any physical threats. The march reflects ongoing efforts to secure legal recognition and protection for LGBTQ people in Lithuania.