Pop singer, originally born in Ireland, slams the broadcaster for the decision
Lithuania has banned a music video because it includes same-sex couples kissing.
Skamp, a multiple award-winning band with a career spanning two decades, released their new song today (6 November).
Love Me Like There’s No Tomorrow is a beautiful song, sung in English, with a simple video.
It shows a variety of couples, young and old, together at a photo shoot. During the video, many of the couples kiss.
Lithuania bans music video because it includes same-sex kissing
‘This song is about love,’ Erica Jennings, born in Ireland, said.
‘I thought it should contain all types of relationships, regardless of age or sexual orientation.’
However, Lithuanian broadcasters have banned the video from one of the country’s biggest bans.
In 2010, a ‘gay propaganda’ law passed banning any depictions of ‘non-traditional family relationships’.
The former Soviet nation’s law is similar to the one passed in Russia in 2013.
Gay propaganda law
‘The decision of the broadcaster tells us a lot about our society,’ Jennings, an active supporter of the LGBTI community, said.
She added the ‘exposure to violence on TV is so normalized that it leaves no space for love and diversity whatsoever.’
Skamp is well-known for taking part in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2001, where they placed 13th. It was Lithuania’s highest ever placing until 2006.
A spokesperson for the national LGBTI rights organization LGL said it was a ‘shame’ the music video was banned.
‘The refusal to broadcast Skamp’s music video is… an institutional dread over a possible violation of the law,’ they said.
‘For Skamp, the visibility of the LGBTQIA community is crucial in order to increase awareness of wide-spread intolerance and hostility targetting same-sex couples.
‘The music video does it justice.’
Hundreds of Lithuanians show support for LGBTI community
In September, hundreds of Lithuanians showed their support for the country’s LGBTI community.
Arsonists started a fire outside filmmaker Romas Zabarauskas’ apartment in what appeared to be an alleged hate crime because he flew a rainbow Pride flag from his balcony.
Zabarauskas and his boyfriend decided to fly the flag after arsonists set fire to the Lithuania Gay League’s office – a prominent LGBTI support group – in August.
The day after the fire he decided to order 500 Pride flags to hand out to people wanting to show their support of the LGBTI community. People in the capital Vilnius, were so eager that they ran out of flags within half an hour.
Rainbow flags are flying on balconies and in the streets across Vilnius with people posting photos on social media with the hashtag #lgbtdraugiškalietuva (LGBT Friendly Lithuania).
by Joe Morgan
Source – Gay Star News
