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brijeshtiwaripune · 10 months

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First ex-Soviet state Estonia legalizes same-sex marriage

Prime Minister Kaja Kallas expressed her pride in Estonia as the bill garnered 55 votes in the 101-seat parliament. Estonia, a progressive ex-Soviet state, has made significant strides in advancing LGBT rights over the past few decades. Same-sex sexual activity was legalized in 1992, and in 2016, same-sex couples gained the ability to register their relationship through cohabitation agreements. On June 20, 2023, Estonia achieved another milestone by becoming the first ex-Soviet state to legalize same-sex marriage. This historic move reflects Estonia's commitment to equality and aligns it with Western values while distinguishing itself from neighboring Russia. Legal Framework and Progress in Estonia The path to same-sex marriage in Estonia involved public debates, court rulings, and the passing of the Registered Partnership Act in 2014. However, the implementation of certain acts required for the law to take effect faced delays, resulting in legal complications. The new Estonian government, committed to promoting equality, pledged to pass the necessary acts, and the Supreme Court recognized the right of same-sex couples to family life. Support for LGBT rights and Same-Sex Marriage in Estonia Estonia is considered one of the most liberal ex-Soviet states regarding LGBT rights, with a majority of the population supporting anti-discrimination laws and same-sex marriage, as indicated by a 2023 survey. This growing support is a testament to changing attitudes and increased acceptance in Estonian society. Advocates of same-sex marriage emphasize the importance of equal rights, reducing hostility, and creating a secure environment for all individuals. Estonia's progress in LGBT rights is seen as a potential catalyst for change in neighboring countries like Latvia and Lithuania, inspiring them to follow suit. Impact of Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage The legalization of same-sex marriage in Estonia will eliminate legal uncertainties faced by same-sex couples and solidify their rights. Starting from January 1, 2024, same-sex couples will have the right to marry and jointly adopt, further enhancing their legal recognition and family rights. The new law will also enable joint adoption by same-sex couples, expanding their ability to create and raise families. Estonia's move towards marriage equality reinforces its commitment to inclusivity and ensures that all loving couples have the same rights and opportunities, irrespective of sexual orientation. Ongoing Challenges and the Road Ahead While Estonia has made significant progress in promoting LGBT rights, challenges and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community still persist in certain sectors of Estonian society. Continued efforts are necessary to address these issues and foster greater acceptance and equality for all individuals. Advocacy groups, lawmakers, and activists will continue their work to combat discrimination, raise awareness, and promote understanding. Read the full article

#balticstates #Baltics #Estonia #Europe #humanrights #KajaKallas #LGBTQ #lgbtqmarriageandunions #lgbtqpeople #lgbtqrights

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defensenow · 1 month

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photoglobo · 5 months

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Estonia - Tallinn

On my way north i had also a brief visit of the Estonian capital Tallinn. Just see some impressions i got from here…

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adorableplacestotravel · 6 months

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Explore the enchanting beauty of Tallinn, Estonia's capital city. Immerse yourself in the fascinating history, medieval charm, and breathtaking views that Tallinn has to offer. Discover its hidden treasures in this short social media reel video!

#Tallinn #Estonia #CapitalCity #MedievalCharm #EnchantingBeauty #BalticStates #TravelInspiration #HiddenGems #EuropeanCity #Cityscape

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curlabroad · 1 year

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Visiting Šiauliai

Šiauliai is the 4th biggest Lithuanian city and is famous for the Hill of Crosses. Most people only visit the city to see the Hill of Crosses. I was about to be one of them until I decided to stop at the city center to take a coffee break. Right across the coffee shop, I saw the Šiauliai Tourist Information Center. After finishing my coffee I went in to buy a fridge magnet for my collection. The officers were really helpful and convinced me to visit other attractions around Siauliai before driving off for Hill of Crosses. I am glad they did because I visited some of the most creative and cute museums I have ever been to. Also, I saw some really nice sculptures and art pieces around the city.

About Šiauliai

Šiauliai city is dating back to the 13th century according to the sources. It is thought the city is the same place where a big victory was gained by Lithuanians in Saule. Since then city happened to be a military city, textile and industry hub and recently a cultural and education center. Unfortunately the whole city was burned down during World War II. So the city center doesn’t offer an amazing old town like Vilnius or Kaunas. But Russians rebuilt the center in 40s so you will be able to see some good Soviet architectural examples. The city has lots of museums, exhibitions and hosts festivals time to time.

How to reach

Easiest way to reach Šiauliai is by train. Train lines are running frequently between Vilnius and Šiauliai. Also the train line coming back from Klaipeda to

Vilnius is passing by from Šiauliai too. So it’s either a good two-day trip from Vilnius or a day trip after a relaxing weekend in Klaipeda. Both are good options. You can check train schedules and book your tickets on Traukiniobilietas.

The second way to reach there is by bus. Find the schedules and tickets on Autobusubilietai. Also, you can easily rent a car from City Bee or Spark. These will be more expensive for either 1-2 people. However, for 3-5 people it will be affordable and of course more comfortable. Keep in your mind that getting approval from these car-sharing apps may take 1-2 days. Especially if you don’t have an EU driver's license. In this case, just give them a call or mail them.

Where to stay

Šiauliai is a little city so accommodation is limited. There are mostly flat type of accommodation instead of hostels and hotels. If you are a solo traveler, prices are relatively more expensive than big Lithuanian cities. Being this said there are some good and affordable options for 2+ groups.

Sweet Apartments

Central place with lake view

The above two are close to the city center. If you have a car or don’t mind taking a taxi, you can find both other flats and hotels about 6+ km away from the center.

What to eat

Well, if you decide to stay at a flat, you will have a kitchen to cook. If you are just there for the day or not looking to cook you can try:

Grill London – a really popular chain place, menu is not the richest but good portions for fair prices. Good for lunch or dinner. Map location.

Prezo Kepyklėlė – a good bakery with lots of fresh pastry varieties. Good for breakfast. Map location.

Senasis sodzius – If you are looking for Lithuanian food is a good option. Map location.

You can easily find chain cafes like Vero Cafe, Caffeine and Caif Cafe in the center.

Of course, there are some other restaurants around the city. They are more expensive than the average and a bit more on the fancier side. If you are on a budget, they may not be the best options.

Attractions

Here, I listed the main attractions in the Šiauliai City Center that you can easily reach. Almost all of these attractions are located in the “Bulvaras” neighborhood. The cafes and restaurants are also in this area. You can cover almost all of them in just a day. No need to use public transportation. Just walking is enough.

Sundial Square (Saulės laikrodžio aikštė)

Sundial Square was built for the 750th birthday of Šiauliai city. The square is designed to have an amphitheater, a long obelisk with an archer statue on top. The obelisk is located to show the local time using the sun rotations so it is also a kind of solar clock. A large green park area covers the square.

Hill of Rebels (Sukilėlių kalnelis)

This hill, located in the city center, is a memorial area as the Russian army executed eleven ‘rebels’ who were actively supporting the Lithuanian uprising.

Energetic Labyrinth (Energetinis Labirintas) and the Iron Fox (Geležinė lapė)

Near Lake Talkša of Šiauliai city, a small energy maze was created from stones with the support of the city municipality. I actually went and saw the maze without knowing the real meaning behind it. If you want to learn beforehand you can check this website. The Iron Fox (Geležinė lapė) statue is located right near the Energetic Labyrinth. The fox’s heart has a kind of time capsule for feature generations too.

Stasys Gliaudis Museum of Nature (Stasio Gliaudžio gamtos muziejus)

Stasys Gliaudys who is an important Lithuanian naturalist who specialized in butterflies founded the Museum of Nature in 2000. The museum exhibits wildlife exhibits accumulated over several decades, many of which reflect Lithuanian nature. The museum is really similar to the Kaunas Tadas Ivanauskas Museum of Zoology.

Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy (VUŠA) Botanical Garden (Vilniaus Universiteto Šiaulių akademijos (VUŠA) Botanikos Sodas)

Lithuanian universities do a great job in Botanics. The VUŠA garden is no different and is great to visit too.

Other Attractions

Besides these main attractions, there is also a homestead museum a bit outside the center that I didn’t visit. The place is called Žaliūkiai miller’s homestead-museum (Žaliūkių malūnininko sodyba-muziejus) and the concept is really similar to Rumsiskes and Samogitian Village Museum.

Šiauliai has lots of contemporary art installations and thematic museums too. A few good ones to check out are:

Šiauliai Art Gallery (Šiaulių dailės galerija)

Museum of Photography (Fotografijos muziejus) - What makes this museum unique is that it is the only art and technology center focusing on photography. Inside there is a gallery, a studio, a photography laboratory, and some rooms for education and study. If you are interested in photography, it is worth checking out

Cents Room (Centų kambarys) - The Cents Room is not actually a museum but an exhibition built inside a library.

Bicycle Museum of Šiauliai (Šiaulių Dviračių muziejus)

Ruta Chocolate Museum (“Rūtos” šokolado muziejus)

Cat Museum (Katinų muziejus)

Radio and television museum (Radijo ir televizijos muziejus) Railway Museum (Gelezinkelio istorijos muziejus)

Šiauliai Cathedral (Šiaulių Šv. apaštalų Petro ir Pauliaus katedra) Chaim Frenkel villa Museum (Chaimo Frenkelio vila-muziejus) Venclauskiai House (Venclauskių namai)

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lanternlightersblog · 1 year

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#Repost @aurutravella • • • • • • Talinn, Estonia #talinncity #talinn_city #oldtown #snow #merrychristmas #snowing #winter #visittallinn #tallinnworld #estonia #hiddenestonia #visitbaltics #balticstates #neverstopexploring #travelphotography #travel #europe_shotz #Ukrainewillwin #lanternlighter https://www.instagram.com/p/CmmqskmoG4t/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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justok · 2 years

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Orthodox Nativity Cathedral in Riga, Latvia taken from the surrounding park on #20190510 #balticstates #latvia #riga #spring2019 #goldendome (at Nativity Cathedral, Riga) https://www.instagram.com/p/CdYQ2aOrPrQ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#20190510 #balticstates #latvia #riga #spring2019 #goldendome

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hungwy · 1 month

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the r/balticstates subreddit does trump orange cheeto in the white house type shit with russian people in lithuania

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prashantrana85 · 1 year

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Celebrations shouldn't be limited to certain days, and boxed in certain ways to enjoy. Each day is worthy of celebrating, and even a breath of gratefulness can be a celebration. . . . . . . . . . . . #vilnius #baltic #newyearcelebration #lithuania #culturalintegration #humanity #joniskis #planetearth #nikon #globalcitizen #photojournalism #children #news #documentaryphotography #street #pressphotography #worldpressphoto #fireworks #firecracker #lithuania_pics #celebration #streetphotosclassic #streetphotographerindia #streetphotosworldwide #streetlens #balticstates #street_photography_club #streets_unseen #streetphotography #indianstreetphotographer (at Joniškis) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnPW77QsffS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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odputra · 2 years

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Riga is easy to reach by air with routes from 83 destinations. There are many direct flights from large European cities served by low cost airlines such as Ryanair and Wizz Air. Riga Airport is approximately 13 km from the old town and can be reached in several ways. Firstly, taxis which are available 24 hours a day at the exit of the arrivals terminal, and will cost you around €15-20 for the journey. Secondly by public bus Number 22 takes 30 minutes to reach the edge of the old town of Riga (bus stop: 11.Novembra Krastmala). The bus fare costs €1.15 (Airport counter) or €2 (bus driver)... 😉 #TravelTips #TravelInfo . #Throwback #January2017 #Travel #Vacation #Trip #Wanderlust #GoExplore #WonderfulPlaces #InstaTravel #Winter #Landscape #LandscapeArchitecture #Architecture #Building #City #Urban #Icon #Snow #RīgasSvPēterabaznīca #Riga #Latvia #BalticStates #BalticRegion #NorthernEurope #Europe (at Sv. Pētera Baznīca Rīga) https://www.instagram.com/p/CeJ239dh8Fm/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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victorianchap · 2 years

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🔸 Seto woman Ustia in formal dress. Aikova, Setumaa, Estonia ca. 1912-1914. (A. O. Väisänen) #estonia🇪🇪 #victorianchaps #nostalgia #oldphoto #vintage #goodolddays #edwardian #independence #balticstates #pastlives #history #oldphoto #portrait #fashion #retro #1910s (at Estonia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CaduT1vDXjR/?utm_medium=tumblr

#estonia🇪🇪#victorianchaps #nostalgia #oldphoto #vintage #goodolddays #edwardian #independence #balticstates #pastlives #history #portrait #fashion #retro #1910s

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rolandsraivo · 5 years

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#naturephotography #estonia #travelinestonia #kabli #green #thursdayvibes #dailyphoto #throwbackthursday #throwback #eesti #tourism #travel #travelphotography #travelgram #baltic #balticstates #balticnature #baltictravel (at Kabli rand) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3_laMRDHfO/?igshid=whmg62y9399u

#naturephotography #estonia #travelinestonia #kabli #green #thursdayvibes #dailyphoto #throwbackthursday #throwback #eesti #tourism #travel #travelphotography #travelgram #baltic #balticstates #balticnature #baltictravel

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defensenow · 6 months

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Task Force Provider: Supporting NATO's Eastern Flank at Forward Operatin...

#youtube #TaskForceProvider NATOEasternFlank SecurityAlliance NATO MilitaryForce InternationalAlliance DefenseAlliance EasternEurope BalticStates Supp

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photoglobo · 5 months

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Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum

Settled in a big forest just outside of Riga is the Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum. It supposed to be one of the oldest and biggest in the world and held typically buildings and cultural goods from all part of the country. Beside gathering knowledge and many interesting facts about Latvia and its culture, it’s also a beautiful walk in the woods, what was very welcome after the days in the…

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geekazoid12 · 4 years

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I tried to do some cool stuff with his eyes but it clearly failed plus his eyes are too big 😔 Oh well it’s something I can try to correct next drawing. My boi Estonia from hetlaia deserves more love, it just feels like he’s one of the lesser known characters

#aph estonia #hetalia alive in 2020?#hetalia #aphbaltics #baltics #balticstates #procreate #procreateart #digitalart #art

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lanternlightersblog · 2 years

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#Repost @elektro.liz • • • • • • Moments of happiness. Именно так, самые разные и никак не связанные между собой фото самых разных мест Вильнюса, общее у них только одно - они так или иначе связаны с очень радостными или забавным моментами этого путешествия ☕ P. S. шопинг - это... Ожидание: ходишь весь такой стильный и устраиваешь дефиле в каждом крутом магазине как в голливудских фильмах. Реальность: уставшая собака утонувшая в лимонаде... (5 фото не даст соврать) #travelling#baltica#2022#instatravel#travelblogger#lithuania#путешествие#vilnius#vilniuscity#литва#вильнюс#balticnature#vilniusoldtown#oldtown#castles#baltic#balticsea#balticamber#balticstates#vilnus#vilnuscity#lithuaniasphotographers#likeforlikes#honor#europe#europetravel#europetour#vilniusiloveyou #Ukrainewillwin https://www.instagram.com/p/CiIMusQoSlX/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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