Gays 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.
Unbelievably, as late as in 1992 homosexuality was still registered as a medical problem in the Czech Republic. 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. The chairman of the Gay Initiative Jiri Hromada lists some of the victories of the past decade.
"Until 1992 homosexuality was registered as a medical problem -as an illness- and efforts were made to find a cure for it. That has been abolished thanks to our campaigns and intervention from the World Health Organization. The age of consent was different for heterosexuals and homosexuals - 15 for the former, 18 for the latter. We have managed to get that changed as well, giving heterosexuals and homosexuals equal rights. Information which the former communist secret service had on homosexuals has been shredded. And, in 2001 Parliament finally approved an amendment to the law which bans discrimination of homosexuals at the workplace. We don't have many indications which would suggest that the latter is a serious problem - our legal dept handles one to two cases a year - but the important thing is that we have achieved equal standing with the heterosexual community. That our rights are protected."
The gay community now has its own network of 40 bars, clubs and discos, magazines, a 24 hour hotline, a legal dept, and AIDS prevention consultants. In the space of ten years that's fair progress -but there is still much that the Gay Initiative wants to change. Many homosexuals have come out of the closet and the immediate goal now is to see the approval of a law on same sex marriages - a law that has been rejected by Parliament four times in the past ten years. The proposed law would clear the way for surviving partner inheritance, tax allowances and the right to be informed about the medical condition of one's partner when in hospital. In other words a law that would give gays and lesbians equal rights to heterosexual married couples. I spoke to Kvetos Havlik about what life is like for gays in the Czech Republic today and why some of our Parliament deputies appear to be less tolerant than the general public.
"I think that Czechs are actually very tolerant with regard to gays and lesbians. For example 60% of the population is in favour of a law on same sex registered partnerships and 20% of Czechs would be in favour of allowing gays and lesbians to adopt children. So I think that there are no real problems, no real attacks against gays and lesbians in the Czech Republic."
Is there any form of discrimination -even subtle discrimination -that you are aware of, that you have felt yourself or that your friends may have experienced or that you have heard about?
"I think that the situation here is very different from other central and east European countries. Two months ago we conducted a poll among gays and lesbians in the Czech Republic from which it is clear that there are no real attacks -either physical or verbal."
Well, do you feel that you can walk around Prague holding hands with your friend without getting hostile stares or anything like that?
"I do not think that this is a problem. I have met gays and lesbians holding hands in public - and this is not a problem for us."
What is it like in the country -can gays and lesbians come out of the closet without any problems, without hostility?
"You are right, in the country it is much harder than in the big cities. In the country people believe much more in God and the older people -50 and over - do not have enough information about this minority. I think that this is why they tend to be less tolerant than the young generation. For example twenty, thirty year olds know what it is about and they have a lot of friends from our minority. After the 1989 Velvet Revolution a lot of magazines targeted to sex and sexual behavior appeared on the market and from them many people learnt about the life of homosexuals. The problem is that these magazines focussed only on the sexual aspect of our lives - but the major part of our life is the social thing."
Why do you think that Parliament has rejected the same sex marriages law four times now?
"Well, its hard to claim they've all rejected it. Half of the deputies are in favour of the law and half are against. The problem is that when it came to voting the right people were absent and the wrong people were present."
Who are the wrong people?
"The wrong people are the Christian Democrats and the Civic Democrats."
Some of them .../Civic Democrats/?
"Yes, some of them."
Why do you think they voted against the law?
"The Civic Democrats I am not so sure but the Christian Democrats just reflect the official stand of the Vatican. They do as the Vatican says."
Is it true that gays and lesbians in this country have a problem donating blood?
"Yes, you are right. I personally had this experience. I was a blood donor and was given a questionnaire to fill in about my lifestyle, sexual practices and what foreign countries I have recently visited. When I filled it in truthfully I was told I could no longer give blood."
Do you feel that is unfair?
"Yes, I do feel it is unfair. On the other hand, I can understand their concern and as far as I know many West European states have a similar practice. Having said that, I do not really think it is a good approach."
Do you feel that there are enough bars, discos, books, magazines - a cultural network, a support network of institutions for homosexuals?
"There are a lot of gay bars in the Czech Republic. Actually, Prague is sometimes referred to as the Amsterdam of the east. A lot of gays from Poland and Slovakia come to Prague because it is very hard to live as we do in these countries. There are plenty of gay bars in the second largest city Brno. In fact all big cities in the Czech Republic have gay bars. I think that it is enough. It is sufficient for us. For example in Brno there is a film festival every year ..."
A film festival targeted to homosexuals- thematically?
"That's right."
Tell me, what would you like to see changed? You seem fairly happy about the situation as it is - is there anything that you would like to see changed?
"I think that the most important problem for us now is the non-existence of a registered partnerships law and we should make that our immediate goal."
Can you explain why it is so important.
"Because that is how some of us would like to live our lives. To make a commitment in accordance with the law. This is not just about economic matters -it is about how we feel inside -as people, as equal citizens."
