Czech Activists Bang Their Heads Against ‘Rainbow Wall’

Polls suggest that over two-thirds of Czechs approve of same-sex marriage, so it is little surprise that the centrist Ano party of Prime Minister Andrej Babis, which leads the minority governing coalition, offered its support to the bill. 

Even so, the issue is not viewed as a big vote winner in a part of Europe where staunch conservatism is the norm. Although in the minority, opposition to the issue is far more zealous — and much louder — than the support, which outside activist centres remains largely passive.

"Czechs tend to be fairly relaxed over cultural issues," said Daniel Prokop, a sociologist who works with pollster Median. 

This relative liberalism, and the Czech Republic's strong secularism, has made it one of the most advanced in Central and Southeast Europe for LGBT rights. LGBT communities commonly face  discrimination, hate speech and violence in other countries in the region — often encouraged by religious and political forces,

In contrast, the Czech Republic adopted registered partnerships for same-sex couples in 2006, which confers on them many of the rights that come with marriage, such as inheritance.

Opponents of the bill claim that this makes equal marriage unnecessary. But LGBT couples are still denied equality on issues including child adoption, property and taxation.

Men hold banners as they protest against the Prague Pride parade in downtown Prague, August 2017. File photo: EPA/MARTIN DIVISEK

'Go away'

The bill has barely made headway in the 21 months since it was submitted to the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of parliament. In common with much of the public, MPs who are neither keen supporters nor keen opponents (and who make up the majority of the 200-seat parliament) have little...