Queer people looking at more rights after Bratislava murders

A bill in the National Council proposes to create an institute of civil cohabitation, which would give LGBTIQ people more rights, and after the murders in a queer bar, the bill has a chance to pass.

Slovakia currently does not allow same-sex marriages or even civil partnerships. The debate about LGBTQI+ rights started again after the killing of two people outside of a queer bar last week, which turned out to be a hate crime against a minority.

Institute of civil cohabitation would be “a half-step” towards civil partnership, as Minister of Environment Ján Budaj put it. If implemented, civil cohabitation will allow two people regardless of sex or sexual orientation right to inherit and the right to look into the medical records.

The bill has been proposed by the opposition Freedom and Solidarity party, which advocates for LGBTQ rights but former prime minister Peter Pellegrini and his HLAS party will support the initiative as well.

The stance of the biggest OĽaNO is still in question, as leader and Finance Minister Igor Matovič is known for homophobic rhetoric and the party consists of members such as György Gyimesi, who proposed to ban the rainbow flags on public buildings.

Prime Minister Eduard Heger, however, supports the community and even attended a march to honour the victims of a killing where approximately 15,000 people attended.

National Council speaker Boris Kollár promised to support in the case party lawyers will agree that the bill “won’t open the doors for same-sex marriage.”

(Michal Hudec | EURACTIV.sk)