"Life for Slovakia's LGBTQ+ community has become more complicated in recent years, especially under the government of Prime Minister Robert Fico. Last fall, for example, Slovakia's parliament narrowly voted to change the country's constitution, recognizing only two sexes male and female and restricting adoption to married heterosexual couples. What impact do these kind of legal changes have on same-sex couples in their everyday lives? Confusion in society DW asked lawyer Ivan Novotny when the last time his use of the phrase "my husband" had raised eyebrows in Slovakia."
""Metod had lost consciousness, so I called the emergency services," explained Ivan. "The guy picked up and said 'What's your emergency?' And I said 'My husband's lost consciousness! He's on the ground, what am I supposed to do?'" "And the guy said, 'Your what?' I answered: 'My husband, he's not breathing!' And he was like: 'Your manager?' Because it's a very similar word in Slovak: manzel and manazer," Ivan recounted. "I said 'What? Not my manazer. Manzel.' And he was like 'Huh. Is that even allowed?'""
Slovakia has implemented constitutional and legal changes that recognize only two sexes and restrict adoption to married heterosexual couples, affecting LGBTQ+ rights. The political climate under Prime Minister Robert Fico has increased complications for same-sex families. Same-sex couples face everyday confusion and barriers when interacting with institutions and services, as exemplified by an emergency-services misunderstanding over the phrase "my husband." Some practical exceptions occur, such as hospital visit allowances during COVID-19, but legal recognition remains limited. Couples married abroad still confront social and legal uncertainties while raising children and accessing services in Slovakia.
Read at www.dw.com
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