CEU Alumni News

It was well past 2 a.m. local time, and Anna Firsova (ENVS ‘03) was still awake and on Zoom, dressed for a party.  

She wasn’t alone. Dozens of her friends and classmates were also online with her, logged in simultaneously from across the globe. Brought together by an idea, and a shared experience.  

They were among the more than 120 alumni who joined CEU 2021 Online Reunion Gala on Friday, June 11. It was CEU’s second online reunion of the Covid era, and the depth of feeling and community spirit was unmistakable.  

CEU alumnus Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius (LEGS ’12, Lithuania) made history last October by becoming the first openly-LGBT person with a strong human rights agenda elected to Lithuania’s parliament. Now, spearheading a partnership bill that has sparked intense debate in this deeply-conservative country, he faces a daunting struggle. 

“It’s going to be Star Wars,” he said, laughing. 

Slated for rollout in May, the legislation seeks legal recognition for same-sex families. Lithuania is currently one of only six EU countries with no such laws.