Touha po rodové identitě: Jiří Karásek ze Lvovic
Craving for Gender Identity

Summary/Abstract: The fact that the Czech Republic passed a law that recognises homosexual relationships (The Registered Partnership Act) shows that Czech society is highly sensitive to the rights of homosexuals. This also propels the affi rmation of gay population in other parts of life, including literature. Sexual orientation of contemporary, but also long departed writers thus becomes a fact that influences the interpretation of their lives and work. Jiří Karásek ze Lvovic was one of the fi rst publicly declared Czech homosexuals, writer of homoerotic literary works and homosexual rights activist connected to the journal Nový hlas. In this article we try to show how certain amount of his self-confidence as an activist springs from the views on art and philosophy of life developed as a part of the Czech Decadent Movement and by the journal Moderní revue. His concept of the third sex, within realms of which he created his own sexual identity, became a part of his artistic credo. In this way he managed to merge his convictions with his erotic cravings.

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