Gay Czechs say 'I do'

2006-07-01 20:19

Prague - The first same sex marriages in Central Europe took place at registry offices across the Czech Republic on Saturday, as gay couples seized the opportunity to take advantage of a long fought for change in the law.

The very first Czech gay marriage was between cook, Pepa, and railway worker, Karel, in the registry offices of the eastern city of Ostrava.

"It is the first registered partnership in the Czech Republic," proclaimed registrar, Jana Stancikova, who conducted the ceremony.

The law allowing single-sex marriages, or registered partnerships, took effect on July 1. The Czech Republic is the first country in the region to allow same-sex marriages.

Pepa and Karel, who have lived together for seven years, intended honeymooning in Croatia.

They said one of the main reasons for sealing their relationship with a civic ceremony was to put their finances on a more stable footing.

"We have saved a bit of money together. Now we know that we will have the right to something if something happens to one of us," they said.

Stancikova later married 27-year-old baker, Stepanka, and 30-year-old Vendulka, both from Opava.

"As soon as I knew that the law had been passed, I asked Stepanka for her hand," said Vendulka.

Vendulka regretted that the new law - approved in December and won with the bare overall majority required to overturn a veto by President Vaclav Klaus - does not allow single sex couples to adopt children.

Klaus said the vote was "a defeat for all of us who believe that the family in our society is fundamental, unique and unrivalled".

Stancikova said 10 gay and lesbian couples had booked the civic ceremony with dozens of others asking for more information.

An opinion poll this year showed 62% of Czechs in favour of same-sex marriages or registered partnerships.

Previous proposals for registered partnerships had been rejected in four separate votes in parliament. The last, in February, was defeated by a single vote.

- AFP