Artistic directors from 25 theaters across the Czech Republic, including Prague and Brno, have joined forces to call on Prime Minister Petr Fiala and the government to support marriage equality for all, including same-sex couples. The open letter, initiated by the Husa na provázku Theater and supported by spokesperson Nikol Vrbová, emphasizes the need for equal rights and recognition for all citizens, regardless of their sexual orientation.

In the Czech Republic, same-sex couples currently have the option of entering into registered partnerships, but marriage remains out of reach for them. The theater representatives argue that this discriminatory practice is an outdated anomaly that must be rectified.

Martin Sládeček, the artistic director of Husa na provázku, stated, “Our artistic ensembles have many LGBT+ individuals among their ranks. Regardless of the immense work that our LGBT+ colleagues contribute to culture and cultural life in all regions of the Czech Republic, we consider their current discrimination to be an indefensible and unsustainable anachronism.”

Sládeček went on to say, “It seems natural to us that our LGBT+ colleagues, who have the same obligations to the state, should also enjoy the same rights in the Czech Republic. We see the vote on equal marriages as a decision about the values orientation of our society.”

The open letter follows a similar appeal made by 66 major companies and banks to the government in September, urging support for marriage equality.

Several prominent theater institutions have lent their voices to the call for equal rights, including the Drama Department of the National Theater in Prague, the Janáček Opera of the National Theater in Brno, the East Bohemian Theater in Pardubice, the Municipal Theater in Zlín, the Na zábradlí Theater, the Drama Studio in Ústí nad Labem, and the Spejbl and Hurvínek Theater.

Jiří Hajdyla, the artistic director of the Polárka Theater in Brno, expressed his belief in marriage equality, saying, “I am a believer, I uphold traditional values, and at the same time, I support marriage for all couples. I am not afraid that a change in the law would take away my values or in any way endanger the family as such. I believe that marriage for all will support the family’s values, such as love, loyalty, mutual support, respect, and a nurturing environment for children.”

The theater leaders point out that approximately two-thirds of Czech society has supported marriage equality in recent years, and they emphasize the importance of legislative steps to create a free and just society where all citizens are equal before the law.

In the Czech Republic, discussions on equal marriage legislation have been ongoing since 2016, with a pending proposal in the Chamber of Deputies. Simultaneously, lawmakers are considering a counter-proposal that defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

Article by Prague Forum