Recognition of same-sex unions in Slovakia
Nevertheless, in 2008 and 2009, the LGBT rights group Iniciatíva Inakosť launched a public awareness campaign for the recognition of registered life partnerships (Životné partnerstvo) between same-sex couples. In January 2008, LGBT rights activists met with the Deputy Prime Minister, Dušan Čaplovič, to discuss this proposal. Throughout 2008, Iniciatíva Inakosť also held a number of public discussions regarding registered partnerships.[1]
The Green Party supports registered partnerships for same-sex couples.[2]
Registered partnership
In March 2012, the Freedom and Solidarity announced that it will submit draft law on registered partnerships.[3] On August 23, the registered partnership bill was submitted to parliament. Had the bill been approved, same-sex couples would have had similar rights and obligations as married couples, including alimony, inheritance, access to medical documentation and the right to a widow´s/widower´s pension. Hovewer, the bill would not allow same-sex couples to adopt children.[4][5] On September 19, the ruling party Direction - Social Democracy announced that it would vote against legalising registered partnership.[6] The bill was rejected in 14-94 vote.[7]
Same-sex marriage
In December 2013, a conservative civil initiative group "Alliance for family" announced that it would demand constitutional definition of marriage as "a union between a woman and a man".[8] In January 2014, Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) announced that it will submit draft law on same-sex marriage ban.[9]
Public opinion
Public opinion has shifted in Slovakia in the past few years, becoming more favourable to granting rights to same-sex couples. According to a poll conducted in 2009, 45.0% of respondents supported same-sex registered partnerships, 41% were opposed, and 14% were unsure. Support for specific rights was higher, with 56% supporting the right of same-sex couples to jointly own property, 72% to access medical information about their partner and 71% supporting the right to bereavement leave.[1]
| Support for gay rights | 2008[1] | 2009[1] | 2012 [10] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YES [%] | NO [%] | YES [%] | NO [%] | YES [%] | NO [%] | |
| "Same sex partnership" | 42 | 44.8 | 45 | 41 | 47 | 38 |
| "Mutual maintenance duty among partners" | 47.3 | 32.3 | 51 | 29 | 50 | 31 |
| "Right for tax benefits" | 40.7 | 43 | 43 | 39 | 45 | 38 |
| "Right for spousal pension for deceased partner" | 45.2 | 36.9 | 45 | 37 | 48 | 36 |
| "Access to information about medical condition of partner" | 64.2 | 21 | 72 | 16 | 75 | 15 |
| "Right to day-off if partner requires accompaniment to doctor" | 54.1 | - | 57 | - | 58 | - |
| "Right to bereavement leave" | 69.4 | - | 71 | - | 73 | - |
| "Right to mutual inheritance" | 58.1 | - | 56 | - | 60 | - |
| "Possibility to establish undivided co-ownership" | 54.5 | - | 56 | - | 57 | - |
| "Right to nursing benefit during care for sick partner" | 57.5 | - | 61 | - | 61 | - |
See also
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 , Iniciatíva Inakosť
- ↑ STRANA ZELENÝCH, 2012
- ↑ SaS predloží partnerstvá gejov Denník SME, 2012
- ↑ SaS proposes same-sex registered partnership Denník SME, 2012
- ↑ Návrh zákona o registrovanom partnerstve
- ↑ Vládny Smer-SD registrované partnerstvá homosexuálov nepodporí
- ↑ Slovak parliament rejects gay partnership law
- ↑ Aliancia za rodinu: Manželstvo má byť ideál
- ↑ KDH chce v Ústave definovať manželstvo ako zväzok muža a ženy
- ↑ Public opinion 2012 Iniciatíva Inakosť, 2012
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