Czech Lawmakers Reject Same-Sex Marriage But Expand Partnership Rights

The lower house of Parliament in the Czech Republic chose to approve an expansion of same-sex “registered partnerships” rather than same-sex marriage in a 118-33 vote.  At least it’s progress. While the Czech Republic has offered legal recognition of same-sex couples in the form of registered partnerships since 2006, that status did not allow same-sex couples to adopt, and there were no joint property rights or entitlement to a widow’s pension. https://twitter.com/mklavers81/status/1762939609044935005 More about today’s vote from the Washington Blade:

Lawmakers were debating a bill that would have legalized same-sex marriage, as well as a set of proposed amendments that would have instead expanded the rights of couples in registered partnerships.

While a parliamentary committee had recommended that lawmakers vote on the proposals from the most expansive to the least expansive, Parliament instead reversed that order.

In the event, the proposal for full equal marriage didn’t even come for a vote as the compromise amendment was passed first.

Today’s approved compromise bill would rename registered partnerships as simply “partnerships” and include all the rights of marriage except the ability to adopt. Although, partners will be allowed to adopt each other’s biological children. The legislation now heads to the Senate, where some lawmakers have said they will continue fighting for full marriage equality. According to the Blade, “polls have consistently shown wide support for same-sex marriage in the country, but support among lawmakers has long lagged public opinion.” Currently, 16 of the 27 European Union member nations allow same-sex marriage, the most recent being Greece and Estonia. Additionally, five recognize some form of civil union.