Related articles
One on OneTereza Kodickova - registered partnership matter of recognition for gays
Rob Cameron's guest in One on One this week is Tereza Kodickova,
spokesperson for the Gay and Lesbian League. On Tuesday, the lower house
of parliament will meet to discuss whether to overrule President Klaus's
veto of one of the most controversial acts of legislation passed by the
Czech parliament since the fall of Communism. The bill on registered
partnership - approved by parliament but vetoed by the president - would
give gay couples many of the rights enjoyed by heterosexual married
couples, and the sexually liberal Czech Republic would become the first
post-Communist country in the EU to legalise gay marriage. More
Current AffairsSocial Democrats divided ahead of key vote on gay marriage
Supporters and opponents of the registered partnership bill are gathering
themselves for the next round in what is becoming something of an epic
struggle. The bill was vetoed last week by President Vaclav Klaus, after
being approved by both houses of parliament. Now the bill - which
legalises gay marriage - is due to go back to the lower house, where MPs
must decide whether to override Mr Klaus's veto. But the outcome of that
vote is far from certain. Rob Cameron has more.
More
Current AffairsGay groups angered by president's veto of registered partnership bill
President Vaclav Klaus caused dismay in the gay community on Thursday when
he vetoed a law on registered partnerships for gay couples recently
approved by the Czech parliament. Mr Klaus said his long-term opposition
to gay marriage remained unchanged. The bill now goes back to parliament,
where MPs must vote on whether to override Mr Klaus's veto. Rob Cameron
has more.
More
Current AffairsRow over same sex partnership bill
After seven years of intensive lobbying it seemed that Czech gays and
lesbians would finally get their wish - a law enabling them to enter into
a form of marriage, give them inheritance rights and the right to be
briefed about their partner's state of health. However the bill, which has
been approved by both houses of Parliament, seems to have hit the rocks,
after President Vaclav Klaus slammed it last week. Prime Minister Jiri
Paroubek came out strongly in its defence and he and the president are now
embroiled in a heated and highly publicized debate over the rights and
freedom of minorities.
More
Current AffairsBill on single sex partnerships makes it through both houses of Parliament
After seven years of intensive lobbying the Czech gay and lesbian community
has finally come close to reaching its goal: on Thursday the upper house of
Parliament, the Senate, passed a bill that would give legal recognition to
single sex partnerships. If the bill is signed by the president, the Czech
Republic would become the first post-communist state to legalize gay
marriages.
More
Current AffairsCzech MPs approve law on same-sex partnerships
Only a week after 27-year old Vladko Dobrovodsky collected the first prize,
worth some 450,000 dollars, in the Czech Republic's first TV reality show,
he was given another present by the country's lawmakers - when they
approved a bill allowing for registered partnerships of same-sex couples.
Vladko never hid the fact he is gay and in a serious relationship. If the
bill becomes a law, Vladko and his boyfriend say they will enter into a
registered partnership.
More
Current AffairsGay and Lesbian League in Prague uses light-hearted comics to portray life without registered partnerships
The lower house of the Czech Parliament is expected to vote on a bill on
same-sex registered partnerships this month. Last year, a similar bill was
defeated by just one vote. But this time, a homosexual rights group in
Prague has decided to take action within the Chamber of Deputies and has
come up with an unusual method to rally MPs' support.
More
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
