On Thursday, Warsaw, the capital of Poland, formally registered its first same-sex marriage, implementing court rulings mandating the recognition of same-sex marriages conducted abroad. In November, the European Union’s highest court ordered Poland to acknowledge same-sex marriages registered in other EU countries, regardless of the limitations imposed by Polish law. This past March, the Supreme Administrative Court of Poland referenced that ruling in a decision requiring authorities to recognise the marriage of two Polish men who had wed in Germany.
Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski announced, “This morning, we issued the first transcription of a marriage certificate for a same-sex couple, in accordance with the court rulings.” Furthermore, he expressed a commitment to proactively recognise additional Polish same-sex marriages registered in other EU nations, even in the absence of specific court rulings.
In recent remarks, Prime Minister Donald Tusk indicated that his government is dedicated to implementing these rulings as expeditiously as possible. Addressing same-sex couples, he offered an apology “to all those who, for many years, felt rejected and humiliated.” Tusk also called upon Polish officials to respect the dignity of every individual, emphasising that these individuals “live among us and deserve the same feelings of respect, dignity, and love as anyone else.”
LGBTQ+ individuals in Poland have been advocating for equal rights for several decades, as same-sex marriage and civil partnerships remain illegal. While the recent court rulings do not obligate Poland to legalise same-sex marriage, Tusk’s administration has pledged to advance the legalisation of civil unions for same-sex couples.
However, efforts have faced opposition from conservative elements within the governing coalition and from national-populist President Karol Nawrocki.
“We waste no time. Today, I signed a new draft regulation amending the forms of the marriage certificate. This is a systemic solution, ensuring dignity and equality for every couple,” Krzysztof Gawkowski, Deputy Prime Minister of Poland and Minister of Digital Affairs, posted on X on 13 May.
“The transcription of same-sex marriages contracted abroad will be possible in any Civil Registry Office in Poland. The marriage certificate will include a clear description indicating whether it concerns a marriage between a woman and a man, a woman and a woman, or a man and a man,” added the minister.
In another post of 14 May, Minister Gawkowski emphasised that “the draft regulation that describes the new template for the marriage certificate, and the standard legislative path is currently underway. To all the sceptics, I say this directly: the new marriage certificate templates will soon come into force! I assure you: we will not back down in the fight for the dignity, respect, and rights of people who love each other!”
This article used information from The Associated Press.
