Czech gays given marriage rights

By Marc Shoffman • March 16, 2006 - 0:00

Czech Republic President Vaclav Klaus had originally rejected the bill

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The Czech lower parliament has overruled a presidential veto on gay marriage to allow same sex couples to register their relationships, gain access to each other's health information and raise children.

Czech Republic President Vaclav Klaus had originally rejected the bill claiming it increased the state's power to interfere with individual lives and inhibited on the traditional views of family.

However, Reuters news agency reports that a majority of 101 out of 177 voted for the bill in the lower house.

Opposition parties have labelled the vote as an election gimmick.

The Czech Republic will be the first post-communist and 13th European country to embed homosexual partnership.

However, gay couples will still not be allowed to adopt children

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