On International Day of Homophobia, Czechia grapples with same-sex marriage legalization

Czech lawmakers have so far failed to start a discussion about legalizing same-sex marriage despite being included in the government’s agenda Tuesday. The topic is all the more salient because today is the International Day Against Homophobia.

The MPs may formally discuss the issue today. Civil partnerships in Czechia are allowed, but same-sex marriage continues to be technically illegal.

Members of parliament (MPs) from the more conservative, family-oriented parties in the coalition – the Civic Democrats and Christian Democrats – opted to postpone discussion on the matter. The Pirate Party, which is also in government, and the opposition ANO movement wanted to get talks underway.

Pro-LGBTQ+ organization Jsme fér said: "It’s good that marriage for all couples is on the agenda of the Chamber of Deputies, which should vote on the law as soon as possible." Jsme fér is tracking the situation closely.

Not being allowed to marry causes issues for same-sex couples in a variety of ways: gay and lesbian couples “can not jointly own property,” have “full inheritance rights,” or have “joint rights to their children,” ČTK writes. 

The lack of rights for same-sex couples causes issues in raising children. For example, a parent in a same-sex union who is not a biological relative of a child has, technically, no rights to the child.

Same-sex couples also cannot jointly adopt children or be foster parents. They also cannot apply to a widow and widower’s pension. According to the Jsme fér website, there are over 100 legal differences between marriage and registered partnership.

A proposed same-sex marriage equality bill was presented to parliament in June 2018. It was passed in the spring of 2021, but talks ceased as a result of the altered makeup of the government following the October 2021 legislative elections. The Senate rejected in December 2021 a proposal that would have made the adoption of children by same-sex couples lawful.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala has previously voiced a belief that marriage should be between a man and a woman. This sentiment is echoed by the Christian Democrats.

The majority of the public supports same-sex marriage, and it is now the government's responsibility to enact a seismic law for Czechia, one that would greatly improve the lives of thousands of individuals in the country.