Lithuanian MPs have failed to support amendments to the Constitution that would have further refined the definition of “family” -- already defined in 2008 as the married union of a man and a woman together with their children, adopted or biological.
The new amendments would have spelled out that the family is formed on the basis of marriage between a man and a woman. There was also a suggestion on the table to add that the family comes from motherhood and fatherhood as well -- an attempt to cover unmarried parents.
The proposals failed, however, by only one vote, the Lithuania Tribune reports.

To adopt such a constitutional amendment, it was not only necessary for a simple majority of the Parliament, but at least 94 votes of Parliament members. After collecting such amount of votes, the Parliament would have to vote again, no sooner than three months. However, this vote will not be necessary. Efforts by conservative Lithuanians to define the family will be seen in some quarters as intolerance, if not “homophobia”. But as a Liberal MP said on a previous occasion, it is not a question of banning certain relationships but of what the state will support:

He said that the state could not ban all forms of cohabitation, but neither was it obliged to endorse them all. The state can and must select what to support, according to him.

“When everything is supported, it is usually the case that nothing is supported,” he noted. Well, at least they have a sound definition of the family on their books. Thanks again to Bryan Bradley for this tip.