Legal recognition for gay relationships in Poland?
This could potentially be a small but significant step forward.
It's a long way off Marriage Equality but the government of Poland is moving forward with legislation that would deliver a form of legal recognition for same-sex relationships.
If the legislation is enacted, couples that live together will be able to have a "cohabitation contract" notarised.
Described as "cohabitation contracts", couples that live together would effectively be able to register their relationship. The contract will be able to document agreement about matters such as housing rights, alimony, access to health information and health insurance, care leave, joint tax returns and tax exemptions. The cohabitation contracts will be open to couples of all genders - including same-sex couples.
This initiative stops a long way short of Marriage Equality because the government - led by Donald Tusk - is trying to reach a compromise with its more conservative coalition partners, while also navigating a potential presidential veto from the right-wing Karol Nawrocki.
"We are going to the parliament with a conciliation project for which we believe there is a majority in the lower and upper House..." Katarzyna Kotula, the government official overseeing equality issues, told reporters after a cabinet session.
The timing of the parliamentary vote on the proposed legislation has not yet been confirmed but is expected to take place within the coming months.
What's life like for LGBTQ people in Poland?
What's life like for LGBTQ people in Poland? Let's take a look at some of the key equality indicators.
Is homosexuality legal in Poland?
Yes.
The legal history is a bit complicated but you could say that homosexuality was decriminalised in 1945.
Are there anti-discrimination protections in place for LGBTQ people?
There are some limited employment-based protections.
Is there Marriage Equality in Poland?
No. Poland’s 1997 constitution states that a marriage is between a man and a woman.
What's life like for LGBTQ people in Poland?
Poland remains a very socially-conservative country, with the Catholic Church a big player in shaping public opinion.
Religious conservatism is a powerful force in sustaining systemic homophobia.
The most recent ILGA report on LGBTQ Equality across Europe ranked Poland in 39th position overall. With an overall score of 20.5%, Poland scored weakly across all assessment criteria, making it one of the worst countries in Europe for LGBTQ people to live.
