Czech
Republic
enacts same-sex marriage
PETER HACKNEY,
evolutionpublishing.com from the Web, July 5, 2006
The first ever
same-sex marriages in the
Czech
Republic have been enacted.
Radio Prague reported that
several gay and lesbian couples were married this week, taking advantage of new
laws recognising their unions. The moves made the
Czech Republic
the first former communist state to legalise same-sex marriage.
Radio Prague said that the new
marriage laws gave gays and lesbians most of the traditional rights enjoyed in
heterosexual marriage, including property and inheritance rights, and the right
to raise children. However, the
reforms fell short of full equal rights, with the right to adopt
children specifically excluded by the
legislation. The couples
have also been excluded from receiving widows’ or widowers’ pensions.
The Prague Daily Monitor
reported that few same-sex couples have so far taken up the option to marry,
with only three couples entering into the registered partnerships on Saturday,
the day the new laws came into effect.
The first couple to be married were two men from the eastern city of
Ostrava -- a cook identified only as Josef, and a railway
worker identified as Karel. Czech
Happenings reported that the couple had been together seven years.
Karel told the publication, “It’s wonderful … We’ve saved some money together.
Now we are sure of not losing it if either of us passed away.”
The marriage legislation has a rocky road to fruition. Passed by the Czech
parliament in December last year, it was vetoed by President Vaclav Klaus in
February. In March, parliament overrode the veto, allowing the law to take
effect this month.
(Emphasis Added)
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