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(Prague) The upper chamber of Czech parliament voted on Thursday to grant some legal rights to same-sex partners. Forty-five of the 65 lawmakers present in the 81-seat Senate voted in favor of the law, 14 were against. Six Senators abstained.

If approved also by President Vaclav Klaus, the legislation will allow couples who register their partnership with authorities to have inheritance and health care rights similar to those granted now to heterosexual married couples. The law, however, does not allow marriage or adoption of children by same-sex partners.

"It's a great encouragement for us," said Jiri Hromada, a leading Czech gay activist, in response to the vote. Hromada said he hoped the law will also be approved by the president, saying that "the law is not that controversial. I'm sure the president will consider all circumstances when deciding," he said.

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[ 27 January 2006: Message edited by: Hephaestion ]

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Czech President held out little hope for gay and lesbian couples at a news conference on Saturday.

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Speaking with reporters Vaclav Klaus strongly suggested he will veto the measure if it passes. Klaus said he did not want to influence the vote but said that his prior statements on homosexuality should serve as an indication what he will do.

Klaus has frequently spoken out against homosexuality and gay rights. When the domestic partner bill was in committee in the Senate he said: "I consider the marriage a traditional institution of one type. Let them arrange their relationship in any way. But I am absolutely against mixing this with family and marriage." 

No date has been set for a vote in the lower house. 

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[ 22 May 2006: Message edited by: Sifo-Dyas ]

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Gays and lesbians marched through the streets of Prague to the presidential palace on Friday to demand domestic partner rights.

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About 125 people marched Friday from Wenceslas Square to historic Prague Castle. The protest was organized by the youth wing of Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek's Social Democratic Party.

Klaus is a member of the opposing Civic Democrats.

The marchers carried signs that said "Stop to sexual racism" and "Love is not politics". 

Prime Minister Paroubek has pledged to try to override the Presidential veto. Protestors today called on Members of parliament to support the plan.

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[ 25 February 2006: Message edited by: Hephaestion ]

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Czech Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek says he is cautiously optimistic his governing Social Democrats have enough votes in Parliament to override the presidential veto of legislation that would recognize domestic partnerships in the former Communist country.

Paroubek met with representatives of the LGBT community to reassure them the measure remains a high priority.

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Paroubek needs at least 101 deputies in the 200-seat lower house to override the veto. Although some members of his party oppose the bill he told members of the Gay Initiative the Czech Republic's national LGBT rights group, that he believes he has the votes he needs.

Initiative chair Jiri Hromada said he expects Paroubek to follow through on his commitment and noted that the Social Democrats have the passage of registered partnership bill in its election platform.

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Paroubek did not say when he expected to introduce the override motion.

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[ 02 March 2006: Message edited by: Hephaestion ]

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The Czech Parliament on Wednesday overrode a presidential veto and passed a law that recognizes same-sex domestic partnerships.

Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek got 101 of the 177 votes that were cast in the 200 seat parliament - the exact number needed to override President Vaclav Klaus' veto of the bill.

The law will allow couples who register their partnership with authorities to have inheritance and health care rights similar to those granted now to heterosexual married couples. The law, however, does not allow marriage or adoption of children by same-sex partners.

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Paroubek called the veto one of Klaus' biggest errors as President. The issue of same-sex partner rights is expected to play a major part in the June election setting up a battle between Paroubek's Social Democrats and Klaus' Civic Democrats.

Recent public opinion polls show most Czechs support same-sex couples having the option of registering their partnerships.

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