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Current AffairsCzech gay and lesbian league upset about repeated rejection of same sex partnerships
The Czech parliament with a majority of just one vote has for no less than
the third time rejected a bill enabling registered partnerships of same
sex couples. Whereas most MPs from left-wing parties supported the law,
all deputies from the Christian Democrats, a party that is close to the
Catholic Church, voted against, and they were joined by most of the Civic
Democrats, the largest right-of-centre opposition party. Christian
Democrat MPs have in the past been vocal in their opposition not only to
gay partnerships, but last week Jiri Karas, a deputy from the party, who
in the past has described homosexuality as a sin, adopted a more
conciliatory tone. More
Talking PointSame-sex unions: Is the Czech Republic ready for gay marriage?
A new bill on registered partnerships for same-sex couples is due to go
before the Czech parliament in the coming weeks. Although similar
legislation has failed in the past, polls show that public opinion has
become increasingly favourable toward same-sex unions in recent years, and
analysts say that this time the legislation has a reasonable chance of
being adopted. So is the Czech Republic about to join a number of Western
European countries in permitting registered partnerships? In this week's
Talking Point, we look at the issue of same-sex unions in the Czech
Republic and ask whether Czechs really are ready to accept gay marriage. More
Press ReviewPress Review
All the papers lead with stories as varying as former environment minister
Milos Kuzvart's appointment as the Czech Republic's first commissioner to
the European Union, the government's failure to begin discussion on a bill
on same-sex marriages, and a potential crisis in the cabinet over rising
rents. We begin, however, with the daily Mlada Fronta Dnes, where the lead
headline declares "Czechs are losing the opportunity to work in
Europe".
More
Press ReviewPress Review
Making headlines in the papers today - claims that British Prime Minister
Tony Blair is worried about an influx of Czech Romanies following EU
enlargement, a dispute in the cabinet over registered partnerships for gay
couples, and denials from Labour and Social Affairs Minister Zdenek
Skromach that the government has reached an agreement over regulated rent.
More
MagazineGays say time is ripe for same-sex marriages law
Unbelievably, as late as in 1992 homosexuality was still registered as a
medical problem in the Czech Republic and efforts were made to find a cure
for it. Many homosexuals entered into heterosexual marriages and led a
double life, keeping their secret even from family and friends. The gay
community in the Czech Republic has come a long way since. Today it is
pushing for the approval of a law on same sex marriages. In this weeks
Magazine Daniela Lazarova talks to a member of the gay community about
what life is like for homosexuals in the Czech Republic today.
More
