Description
Is marriage for all couples good for Czech society and Czech business? Why do LGBT+ people have to listen to comparisons to cattle and poultry during the parliamentary discussions? Why does it take so long to make a decision in Parliament and why can’t the elected representatives make up their minds? And at what stage is the discussion of the bill now? This and much more will be the subject of an informal discussion with MP Klára Kocmanová (Piráti) and Adéla Horáková, lawyer for the Jsme fér initiative.
On June 6, 2022, a group of MPs from across the political spectrum (STAN, TOP 09, Pirates, ODS, ANO) submitted a proposal to amend the Civil Code to allow same-sex marriages. The debate in the Parliament opened on May 31, 2023, and continued on June 1, 2, and 29, 2023, when the Parliament referred the amendment for further consideration. During the debate, which lasted more than 7 hours, we witnessed many humiliating and offensive statements against LGBT+ people.
At the same time, the Parliament also discussed and gave the green light to a parliamentary proposal by KDU-ČSL, ODS, ANO and SPD MPs to define marriage in the Constitution as an exclusive union between a man and a woman, effectively preventing same-sex marriages for many years.
In addition, a group of 66 companies published an open letter to Prime Minister Petr Fiala urging the Parliament to speed up the recognition of equal marriage, as it is good for business, will bring economic benefits and increase the competitiveness of the Czech Republic. The letter is still open for signatures and currently has 98 signatories.
Dress Code: Casual
Language of the event: Czech