Letter of support to the Czech Parliament regarding next week’s extraordinary meeting to debate and vote the marriage equality bill
Radek VONDRÁČEK
President (Speaker),
Chamber of Deputies, Parliament of the Czech Republic
Vojtěch FILIP, Vice-President, Chamber of Deputies, Parliament of the Czech Republic
Tomáš HANZEL, Vice-President, Chamber of Deputies, Parliament of the Czech Republic
Petr FIALA, Vice-President, Chamber of Deputies, Parliament of the Czech Republic
Tomio OKAMURA, Vice-President, Chamber of Deputies, Parliament of the Czech Republic
Vojtěch PIKAL, Vice-President, Chamber of Deputies, Parliament of the Czech Republic
Cc: Members of the Chamber of Deputies of Parliament of the Czech Parliament
Dear President of the Chamber of Deputies of Parliament of the Czech Republic,
Dear Vice-Presidents of the Chamber of Deputies of Parliament of the Czech Republic,
Dear Members of the Chamber of Deputies of Parliament of the Czech Republic,
As Members of the LGBTI Intergroup in the European Parliament, a cross-party grouping of Members of the European Parliament working on equality for LGBTI people, we reach out to you today to send a strong message of support for marriage equality. The session the Chamber of Deputies of Parliament of the Czech Republic is scheduled to hold this week, if ending with a vote allowing the marriage equality bill to continue in the legislative process, has the potential to create a lasting effect that will not only be felt nationally, but across borders.
If passed, the bill legalising marriage equality in the Czech Republic will strengthen societal cohesion by granting equal rights for all its citizens, including the right to form a family with a loved one and to have it recognised by the state as such. Children brought up by same-sex couples will in addition enjoy the same rights and legal protection as other children. Marriage equality has had tremendously positive effects in other EU Member States. Extending marriage to all couples in a spirit of support and acceptance can galvanise equality for all citizens of the Czech Republic and further define it as a country where the rights of lesbian, gay and bisexual persons are supported, respected and defended.
If passed, this bill will also have a cross-border effect. The Czech Republic would join the group of democratic countries adopting measures to extend the same rights to all citizens equally. Joining a growing number of countries in the EU, Council of Europe area and the world supporting equal rights for same-sex couples will send a political signal beyond the borders of the Czech Republic about its commitment to the values of freedom and equality.
We thank the Members of the Chamber of Deputies of Parliament of the Czech Republic for their consideration, deliberation and vote on this bill, which is of utmost importance for us.
In solidarity,
Marc ANGEL, Co-Chair, LGBTI Intergroup (S&D)
Terry REINTKE, Co-Chair, LGBTI Intergroup (Greens-EFA, Vice-President)
Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Vice-President, LGBTI Intergroup (EP Vice-President, Non-attached)
Liesje SCHREINEMACHER, Vice-President, LGBTI Intergroup (Renew Europe)
Malin BJÖRK, Vice-President, LGBTI Intergroup (The Left)
Maria WALSH, Vice-President, LGBTI Intergroup (EPP)
Marcel KOLAJA, EP Vice-President
Michal ŠIMEČKA, Vice-President, Renew Europe
Ernest URTASUN, Vice-President, Greens/European Free Alliance
Gwendoline DELBOS-CORFIELD, Vice-President, Greens/European Free Alliance
Kira PETER-HANSEN, Vice-President, Greens/European Free Alliance
Alexandra GEESE (G-EFA)
Andreas SCHIEDER (S&D)
Anne-Sophie PELLETIER (The Left)
Cyrus ENGERER (S&D)
Dietmar KÖSTER (S&D)
Eleonora EVI (Greens-EFA)
Francisco GUERREIRO (Greens-EFA)
Gabriele BISCHOFF (S&D)
Hilde VAUTMANS (Renew Europe)
Karen MELCHIOR (Renew Europe)
Kim VAN SPARRENTAK (Greens-EFA)
Łukasz KOHUT (S&D)
Manuel BOMPARD (The Left)
Marianne VIND (S&D)
Markéta GREGOROVÁ (Greens-EFA)
Mikuláš PEKSA (Greens-EFA)
Niklas NIENASS (Greens-EFA)
Olivier CHASTEL (Renew Europe)
Patrick BREYER (Greens-EFA)
Pernando BARRENA (The Left)
Pierre KARLESKIND (Renew Europe)
Radka MAXOVÁ (S&D)
Rasmus ANDRESEN (Greens-EFA)
Robert BIEDROŃ (S&D)
Rosa D’AMATO (Greens-EFA)
Sandro GOZI (Renew Europe)
Saskia BRICMONT (Greens-EFA)
Silvia MODIG (The Left)
Sirpa PIETIKÄINEN (EPP)
Sophie IN’T VELD (Renew Europe)
Sylwia SPUREK (Greens-EFA)
Tanja FAJON (S&D)
Tilly METZ (Greens-EFA)
Vera TAX (S&D)