Comparison of Sociocultural Development in Homosexually Oriented People in Selected Countries of the European Union

Opinions and attitudes towards homosexually oriented people and their lives have changed significantly in the last twenty years. Homosexuality is not considered as a sexual deviation any more, and more and more European cultures allow formal and legal existence of the same-sex couples. In some states of the European Union gays and lesbians can become parents legally - they are allowed full joint adoption. The objective of the theoretical part of the thesis was to approach the issue of homosexuality and homosexually oriented people within the context of selected states of the European Union. The main objective of the research part of the thesis was to find out the attitude of the wide public towards the institute of registered partnership (civil union or civil partnership) in the Czech Republic. The partial objective was to survey the public attitude towards the adoption of a child by a single homosexual and towards the adoption of a child by a homosexual couple (full joint adoption) in the Czech Republic. I also wanted to find out, whether the Czech public tolerate the adoption of a child of a homosexual partner or the artificial insemination of lesbian couples. Quantitative research, polling method and an anonymous questionnaire {--} a technique of the research - were used in the practical part