Homosexuality in Slovakia

Slovakia

Although homosexuality is socially accepted in Slovakia , there is great rejection of same-sex marriages and adoption by same-sex couples.

Legal situation

Homosexuality was legalized in Czechoslovakia in 1962 . Homosexuality is equal to heterosexuality in the age of consent and the age of consent was adjusted to 15 years in 1990.

An anti-discrimination law has existed at the legal level since 2004, which, following a major amendment in 2008, prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in the areas of employment, education, property, health care and access to goods and services. The law was issued as an implementation of the anti-discrimination legislation of the European Union. Homosexual people can also serve in the military.

Recognition of same-sex partnerships

Same-sex marriage and registered partnership are not legally permitted in Slovakia . Legislative initiatives to introduce a registered partnership failed in 1997, 2000 and 2012 in parliament. In May 2014, a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage was passed. Since September 2014, the Catholic church leadership under Archbishop Stanislav Zvolenský has started a referendum in Slovakia on the constitutional prohibition of same-sex marriages, same-sex adoptions and registered partnerships. In October 2014, the Constitutional Court ruled that it was unconstitutional to vote on a ban on registered partnerships. On November 27, 2014, President Andrej Kiska announced that the referendum would take place on February 7, 2015. With a participation of 21 percent of the electorate, however, it did not achieve the necessary quorum. In December 2017, the opposition party SaS announced that it would submit a bill to introduce registered partnerships to parliament.

Social situation

A small homosexual community can be found primarily in the capital Bratislava . Many homosexual people emigrate to more liberal European neighboring countries (especially to the Czech capital Prague ). The LGBT organization Ganymedes has existed since the 1990s . Peaceful demonstrations for the rights of homosexual people have been taking place in Bratislava for several years. A survey from 2012 showed that 47 percent of the population are in favor of registered partnerships and 38 percent reject them. A 2008 poll found that 68 percent of Slovaks believe that homosexuality should be accepted.

Referendum 2015

On February 7, 2015, a referendum against the equality of homosexual couples was held in order to strengthen the existing laws against it and to prevent a softening by the European Union.

The referendum included the following three questions:

• "Is marriage just a connection between a man and a woman?"
• "Are you in favor of a ban on same-sex couple adoptions?"
• "Can parents refuse their children's participation in sex education classes?"

The referendum sparked a social controversy. Bishops called for participation in a pastoral letter , among other things, and were involved in financing the “Alliance for the Family”, which promoted the referendum. Pope Francis praised the commitment of the Church three days earlier at an audience and said: “I greet the pilgrims from Slovakia and through them I wish to express my appreciation for the entire Slovak Church, which calls on everyone to make efforts in defense of the Family - the crucial nucleus of society - to continue. "

Some television stations refused to broadcast the “Alliance for the Family” commercials for the campaign. According to the forecasts, the turnout of 50 percent required for the referendum to be successful was not achieved, as only 21 percent took part in the referendum.

Dúhový Pride

Dúhový Pride parade in Bratislava 2012

Since 2010, the Dúhový Pride Parade has been organized annually in Bratislava on Christopher Street Day . The first parade was prevented because of counter-demonstrations and led to violent clashes with the police.

See also

• Laws on homosexuality
• Equality (homosexuals)

Web links

Commons : LGBT in Slovakia  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

 Wikinews: Government participation of the Slovak National Party leads to tensions with Hungary  - News

Individual evidence

1. ^ Reuters: Slovakia parliament rejects gay partnership law
2. ↑ queer.de:Slovakia prohibits same-sex marriage
3. ↑ Queer.de: Slovakia: Catholic Church raises the mood against gay couples
4. ↑ SME.sk
5. ↑ Tagesschau.de : Referendum failed in Slovakia ( Memento from February 8, 2015 in the Internet Archive )
6. ↑ http://www.teraz.sk/slovensko/timliderkou-sas-pre-osobne-slobody-sa-st/297233-clanok.html
7. ↑ ^{a b} gaytimes: Slovakia ( memento of the original from January 16, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
8. ↑ standard.at:4,000 people at "Rainbow Pride Bratislava
9. ↑ Referendum in Slovakia: Pope supports election campaign against gay rights , queer.de of February 5, 2015
10. ↑ Tagesschau.de:Slovakia, referendum failed ( Memento from February 8, 2015 in the Internet Archive )
11. ↑ Referendum in Slovakia Homosexuals are threatened with discrimination , tagesschau.de of 7 February 2015
12. ↑ Homophobia: Violent attacks on the 1st CSD in Bratislava - incl. Videos