Czech MP Jiří Navrátil is gay
Czech MP Jiří Navrátil has come out as gay. Navrátil is a member of the Czech Republic's parliament and also holds the position of deputy governor in the Moravian-Silesian region.
The feedback on his outing was very positive. He explains that he has received a lot of friendly feedback. However, the fact that he decided to come out right now has a sad occasion: the attack in Bratislava. Only in October, two people were murdered there. This had been the deciding factor for him to come out in public.
Actually, Jiří Navrátil belongs to a rather conservative party, the KDU-ČSL.
Jiří Navrátil is worried
Jiří Navrátil recently stated that it was noticeable that society in the Czech Republic was also becoming more and more radicalized. This makes it all the more important to be open. Interestingly, the politician has never made a secret of the fact that he is gay in his private life. So far, he has just not gone public with it.
But that's exactly what has changed with his latest move.
However, he did not restrict himself in any major way beforehand. This means that he did not play a game of hide-and-seek, but enjoyed a normal life with his partner, among other things. Only the sentence "I'm gay!" was not yet uttered in public.
Most of his followers seem surprised by the news, but not shocked. Especially in the social networks, it is comparatively easy to understand what Jiří Navrátil means when he says that the reactions to his outing have been positive.
A personal video on Twitter
Like many other politicians, Jiří Navrátil uses social networks to communicate with his followers. Recently, he posted a video on his Twitter channel in which he addresses his virtual viewers.
He thanks so many people for supporting him after his public coming out. At the same time, he is aware that it is not a matter of course to react so positively. However, that is precisely what he appreciates very much.
Všem vám z celého srdce děkuji za podporu, kterou jste mi v posledních dnech vyjádřili. Nepovažuji ji za samozřejmou a moc si ji vážím! ?
Je toho ale víc, proto jsem pro vás natočil video. Vím, že je delší, ale budu rád, když si ho pustíte celé ? pic.twitter.com/vsMvS8rBL5
- Jiří Navrátil (@Jiri_Navratil_) November 1, 2022
Openly gay politicians: still rather rare
The number of politicians who are openly gay is comparatively manageable - even in Germany. Just as in the sports sector, the likelihood that many are simply afraid of rejection in society is high. Or to put it another way: there are certainly more gay (or queer) politicians who simply haven't yet found the courage to come out. Jiří Navrátil, however, is a wonderful example of how coming out does not have to mean the end of one's career, even in politics.
For many people, the member of the Parliament of the Czech Republic should now seem even a little closer and more authentic.
What happened during the attack in Bratislava?
The attack in Bratislava, to which the MP Jiří Navrátil refers, has made enormous waves in recent weeks. Here, a 19-year-old perpetrator had shot two people and seriously injured one person in front of a scene pub of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Afterwards, he posted hate speech on social networks and left no doubt that his act was homophobically motivated.
After that, he killed himself. Jiří Navrátil obviously felt it was important to set an example for the community in connection with this terrible act. And if you take a closer look at the reactions to his posting, you can say that he succeeded.