Warsaw Registers First Same-Sex Marriage After EU Ruling

After decades of waiting, two Polish men became the first same-sex couple to have their marriage officially registered in Warsaw.

The couple had married in Germany, but Poland refused to recognize their union. That changed Thursday when Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski announced the city had issued its first transcription of a same-sex marriage certificate.

The registration follows a November ruling by the European Union's highest court. The court ordered Poland to register same-sex marriages performed in other EU countries, even though Polish law doesn't permit them domestically.

In March, Poland's Supreme Administrative Court reinforced that decision by specifically ordering authorities to recognize the German marriage of the two Polish men. Warsaw acted swiftly to implement the ruling.

Mayor Trzaskowski went even further with his promise. His city will proactively recognize other Polish same-sex marriages registered elsewhere in the EU, even without requiring individual court rulings for each couple.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk addressed same-sex couples directly on Tuesday with a public apology. "To all those who, for many years, felt rejected and humiliated," he said, promising his government would implement the rulings as quickly as possible.

Tusk also made an emotional appeal to Polish officials. He asked them to respect the dignity of each person, regardless of personal opinions, recognizing that LGBTQ+ individuals "live around us, among us, near us."

The Ripple Effect

This breakthrough affects thousands of Polish couples who married abroad but couldn't get their unions recognized at home. They can now access spousal rights like inheritance, medical decisions, and tax benefits.

Public opinion has shifted dramatically in Poland's favor. According to an Ipsos+ poll last year, 67% of Poles now support same-sex marriage or legal recognition of unions for LGBTQ+ couples.

The ruling doesn't require Poland to legalize same-sex marriage domestically. However, Tusk's government campaigned on a promise to legalize civil unions, though conservative coalition members and President Karol Nawrocki have blocked progress.

For now, the recognition of marriages performed abroad offers a vital step forward for couples who have waited years to have their relationships acknowledged by their own country.