Polish Government Proposes Draft Bills to Legalize Same-Sex Civil Unions
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Loading... - Addison Chapman
- 21 Oct 2024
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The Polish government has published two draft bills aimed at legalizing same-sex civil unions in Poland. Unveiled on Friday, these bills would allow both same-sex and opposite-sex couples to form legally recognized civil partnerships, marking a potential shift in the country’s approach to LGBTQ+ rights.
Poland’s Minister for Equality, Katarzyna Kotula, announced the development on social media, expressing her excitement about the progress made. “It’s official! The draft laws on registered partnerships, which were discussed with non-governmental organizations, have been sent for public and inter-ministerial consultations,” she stated. Kotula emphasized the importance of this moment, highlighting the extensive work put in by her team over the past months.
If passed, the civil partnerships would grant couples various rights, including joint ownership of property and shared assets. However, the bills do not extend to allowing same-sex couples to legally adopt their partner's child. Kotula acknowledged that compromises were necessary during the drafting process, stating, “A person in a civil partnership is entitled to participate in the ongoing care of a child residing together with them, who remains under the parental authority of the other person in the partnership…unless either of the parents exercising parental authority over the child objects to this.”
Kotula described the legislative process as a historic moment for Poland, stating, “We are continuing a legislative process that has not yet taken place in Poland and that we hope will result in the introduction of a new institution into Polish law.” She credited the efforts of LGBTQ+ organizations and civil society for paving the way for this development, calling it “a new chapter in the long march for equality.”
The draft bills will need to be approved by a vote in Poland’s parliament and signed by President Andrzej Duda before they can become law.
A recent survey conducted by Ipsos in June revealed that two-thirds of Poles believe same-sex couples should have the opportunity to marry or legalize their relationships in some form. Specifically, 39% of respondents supported same-sex marriage, while 28% favored other forms of legalization. Additionally, the survey indicated that 41% of Poles now support the right of same-sex couples to adopt children, reflecting an increase of 8 percentage points since a similar survey in 2021.
Poland currently stands as one of five EU countries that do not legally recognize same-sex civil unions, alongside Bulgaria, Romania, Lithuania, and Slovakia. The introduction of these draft bills represents a potential turning point in the country’s legislative landscape regarding LGBTQ+ rights and recognition.
