Activists condemn Lithuania homophobic law

VILNIUS, Lithuania, July 15 (UPI) -- Human rights groups condemned Lithuania's parliament for passing a bill that will keep information considered harmful to minors away from them.

Lithuanian and international rights activists consider the bill flagrantly discriminatory towards homosexuals, the Baltic Times said Wednesday.

Vladimir Simonko of the Lithuanian Gay League condemned the lawmakers for what he called attempting to legalize homophobia. Kim Manning-Cooper of Amnesty International U.K.'s lesbian and gay group said the bill violates freedom of expression and should be revoked.

The lawmakers Tuesday voted 87-6 to support the bill.

The bill, known as the child-protection law, would ban the public dissemination of material dealing with homosexuality, bisexuality and polygamy, making explosives and depicting violence or deaths, the BBC said.

The parliament originally approved the bill in June but outgoing President Valdas Adamkus vetoed it by refusing to sign the document.

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite, who replaced Adamkus, cannot reimpose the veto but must sign the legislation.