Support for LGBT+ rights soaring in the Czech Republic with two-thirds backing marriage equality
Participant dances as he holds up a large rainbow flag during the third Prague Pride March on August 17, 2013 in Prague, Czech Republic. (Matej Divizna/Getty Images)
Support for marriage equality in the Czech Republic is soaring, with around two-thirds of the public backing same-sex marriage, a new poll published Thursday showed.
In results that researchers branded as “encouraging”, a MEDIAN agency survey showed that the majority of Czech citizens support LGBT+ rights.
This comes after a bill to legalise same-marriage was introduced to the Chamber of Deputies – the country’s lower house – in 2018.
Despite attempts to stonewall the legislation, the Government announced its support for the bill.
Although, it has since been pelted with postponements since a vote was scheduled to take place. Deliberations, at times lasting seven hours, have stalled the bill and it has not been discussed since early 2019.
Support for marriage equality is cleanly divided between young and old Czech citizens.
Furthermore, the poll suggested that support and opposition for marriage equality rather cleanly sits on generational lines.
“The most surprising result from the survey is the increase of support for equal marriage among the age group from 35 to 54,” explained Jsme fér spokesperson Filip Milde to Czech Radio.
People hold placards and rainbow flags during the ninth LGBT+ Pride event in the Czech capital Prague on August 10, 2019. (MICHAL CIZEK/AFP via Getty Images)
“We see it as the most crucial movement in public support. So this is something that we are very happy about.
“The most encouraging is that we also see an increase in support for adoption of children by gay and lesbian couples, families – both of a child of one partner by the other in the relationship [77 per cent], and of a child from an institution [62 per cent].
“And the most disappointing result is that the older generation, people over 55, are confirming their conservative views.
“We see a strengthening of their opposition to equal marriage. On the other hand, this group is quite small compared to those who support it.”
