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bne September 2018 Central Europe I 43
something extraordinary,” Jakub Knot, 18, said during Prague Pride.
The question of stepping out during the Prague Pride has, however, transformed into a political process, which could influence the shape of the Czech Republic's development. A cross-party group of 37 lawmakers has called for a definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman to be enshrined in the constitution.
The main opposition to the same sex marriage bill is coming from the conser- vative KDU-CSL. “I hold the view that marriage is some kind of basic value, which shouldn’t succumb to volatil- ity,” said the main opponent to the bill, Marek Vyborny (KDU-CSL) in com- ments cited earlier by Czech online news iDNES.cz
People opposing LGBT rights, especially from far-right or very orthodox circles, did show up on August 11, but their number was insignificant – fewer than one hundred.
An Orthodox priest, Libor Hlavy, wearing black and holding a cross above his head, was one of the first to declare his dissatisfaction with Prague Pride. “It is Sodom and Gomorrah,” he said of the LGBT movement. “Why should we pass a law, which is crazy? In the US, the madmen are ruling.
But in Russia, not for now.”
Dissatisfaction with visibility and supporting same-sex marriage was also voiced by far-right protesters, approximately 40 people, who waited for the march and shouted very offensive slogans.
With nationalism on the rise, Czechia can lead as an example for other CEE countries that liberal laws such as those on same-sex marriage are possible.
“I don’t have the need to call it marriage. I know that marriage for Christians is between man and woman. For me it’s the rights, not the word,” Knot said.
“The Czech Republic is widely seen as the most liberal post-Communist country”
Find more Central Europe content at www.bne.eu/central-europe
Selected headlines from past month:
· Busting Nord Stream 2 myths
· Microsoft probed over software sales in Hungary
· Hungarian PM’s son-in-law takes huge chunk in BSE-listed company · Private equity deals in CEE hit a record €3.5bn in 2017
www.bne.eu