This increasing tolerance probably reflects the low number of religiously inclined people in the country, particularly when compared to the neighbouring countries of Poland, Austria, and Slovakia. There is quite a large queer community in Prague; the communities are smaller in the rest of the country. The city has a moderately sized queer scene, particularly around the city centre, including bars, clubs, and saunas.
The scene for men is more developed than the scene for women. Some are available online in English downloadable for free or as an e-book.
The Czech Republic does not permit same-sex marriage, although the subject is under debate and has been put to its first vote in For now, the country does allow registered partnerships. The Registered Partnership Act requires one of the partners to be a Czech citizen. A registered partnership enables inheritance, hospital visits, and alimony. It does not, however, allow joint adoption, joint property rights or joint tax return. Unregistered cohabitation also enables some rights, such as inheritance and hospital visitation.
A registered partnership has some advantages over unregistered cohabitation, but it presents some disadvantages for gays and lesbians, particularly in the area of family law parenting rights, adoption, childrearing, and reproduction rights.
In the Czech Republic, pursuant to the Family Act, every man or woman can adopt children without regard to his or her sexual orientation. This is also true for individuals in registered partnerships since , although joint adoption is not yet possible. In the Czech Republic, partners in same-sex unions do not yet have this right, although a change to this law is pending. Gays and lesbians are able to become foster parents when they are single.
