6 min read — Analysis | Slovakia
Growing Intolerance Towards LGBTQ+ Minorities in Slovakia
A tragic shooting at an LGBTQ+ bar, hateful remarks from top officials, and targeted harassment—Slovakia is witnessing a surge in anti-minority rhetorics that threatens to unravel its commitment to human rights.
By Simona Kohútová — Correspondent for Slovakia
November 14, 2024 | 16:00
Slovakia has recently seen a rising number of verbal and non verbal attacks aimed towards minorities, especially LGBTQ+ minorities. Claims of persistent intolerance toward the LGBTQ+ community in Slovakia have hence grown, raising concerns about safety, respect, and acceptance in the country. Today, the situation for queer people in Slovakia is arguably at its worst since recent decades. As partnerships are not regulated by law, LGBTQI+ people are not legally considered related to their partner and cannot, for example, obtain information about their health, inherit, or adopt children. In 2019, SMER-SD leader and then-Prime Minister Robert Fico planned to propose a constitutional amendment that would ban the adoption of children by same-sex couples. The Slovak authorities likewise do not recognize marriages contracted abroad. In the case of gender transition, trans people are forced to divorce. Legal and medical sex changes are allowed in Slovakia, but only on the condition of castration, i.e. loss of reproductive ability.
Slovakia received international attention in October 2022, when a tragic hate-motivated shooting occurred outside Tepláreň, a popular LGBTQ+ bar in Bratislava. Two young men, Juraj Vankulič and Matúš Horváth, were mercilessly killed by a gunman who had previously shared extremist, anti-LGBTQ+ and antisemitic ideologies online. What the incident arguably also did was expose deep-rooted biases and pervasive attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community within Slovak society. The climate of fear persists as Slovakia still struggles with inadequate legal protections for LGBTQ+ individuals and a continuously rising hate speech from political figures and extremist groups.
Slovakia has seen further attacks on minorities, even though subtle ones, as witnessed by a recent repainting of the street lamp outside Tepláreň from rainbow colors to a grey hue, done by an unknown culprit.
Another incident occurred on September 25, 2024, during a parliamentary session. While delivering her speech, Lucia Plaváková, a member of the progressive party, was abruptly interrupted by Deputy Speaker Andrej Danko, who demanded that she leave the session unless she removed the stickers from her laptop. Pointing to their compliance with the Rules of Procedure, Lucia Plaváková refused to take off the stickers, seeing it as an attack on LGBTQ+ minorities and a blatant double standard, given that other parliamentarians with similar stickers faced no repercussions. Lucia Plaváková gained immediate support from her voters but also followers, who alongside the political party she was in, condemned the incident.
Subsequently, Rudolf Huliak, Minister of the Environment, called Lucia a ‘b*tch’ and added ‘when a member of the National Council of the Slovak Republic reads in her proposal or in her speech in the plenary of the National Council of the Slovak Republic that the fetus does not deserve to live, according to the Criminal Procedure Code of the Slovak Republic, this woman deserves nothing but the name of a b*tch’. He justified this label with a false accussation that had nothing to do with Lucia Plaváková. He continued, stating that he does not consider her a woman. Huliak claimed his comment stemmed from his disagreement with what he interpreted as Plaváková’s stance on fetal rights, specifically her alleged remark implying a fetus might not be considered “alive.” However, Plaváková clarified that her original statements were taken out of context; she had read such a statement only to express her disagreement with it, underscoring her stance on protecting rights for both women and children, stating it in a TV interview. The incident symbolized, to some, a lack of respect for parliamentary procedures and indirectly, for the country’s legislative commitment to issues like inclusivity and anti-discrimination.
She later posted on her Instagram:
‘Andrej Danko attacked me because I am an LGBTI+ person and I am open about it. His homophobia went so far as to ban me from the Chamber because of the rainbow heart on my laptop. Rudolf Huliak attacked me in the most vulgar way, because I am a woman and I am not afraid to stand up to the men in the coalition. But today’s attack is not just about me. It is an attack on all women. They experience humiliation, insults and violence on a daily basis in Slovakia. And the representatives of the coalition are contributing to this. We experienced this in the debate on the statute of limitations on rape, and we are experiencing it again and again.’
The rhetoric of Rudolf Huliak was condemned by his colleagues, including the leader of the opposition party, Michal Šimečka, with many strongly expressing the support towards women. Rudolf Huliak was asked to apologize, to which he replied ‘I will apologize to my b*tch tonight in my backyard’ (since the word in Slovak- suka, means also a female of a dog). Therefore, this was not only an attack on the LGBTQ+ community, but also on women in general.
The LGBTQ+ community in Slovakia continues to face significant opposition, especially from certain politicians. The resistance to LGBTQ+ rights, coupled with divisive rhetoric from some lawmakers, has fueled ongoing discrimination and violence. Slovakia’s journey toward inclusivity and protection for LGBTQ+ individuals reflects larger regional challenges, highlighting the urgent need for stronger protective measures and societal acceptance. After all, Slovakia, as a member of the EU needs to adhere to its principles, which is, among else, respecting the rights of minority. The rise of discriminatory rhetorics and potential for anti-LGBTQ+ legislation poses a direct challenge to these principles. Strengthening protections and promoting inclusivity are critical not only to prevent potential legal backslides but also to reinforce Slovakia’s dedication to a more inclusive and rights-respecting European community.
The situation regarding the LGBTQ+ community in Slovakia mirrors similar directions in nearby countries, specifically Hungary. In recent years, Hungary has faced legal challenges from the European Union due to its anti-LGBTQ+ policies, which serve as a cautionary tale for the region. Hungary’s restrictive measures, including laws targeting LGBTQ+ representation and education, have led to an EU infringement procedure—a mechanism used to address violations of EU law. The parallels between Hungary’s path and the current environment in Slovakia raise concerns about the potential for similar legislative developments in the future.
Disclaimer: While Euro Prospects encourages open and free discourse, the opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or views of Euro Prospects or its editorial board.
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