For the first time, a Polish court has recognized a marriage between a same-sex couple who traveled abroad to wed. The couple, Alicja Sienkiewicz and Jolanta Prochowicz-Sienkiewicz, married in Portugal in 2023. This ruling marks a significant breakthrough for LGBT+ rights in Poland.
The court’s decision came as it ordered the recognition of their marriage, despite the Polish constitution stating that marriage is a union of a man and a woman. The ruling asserted that recognizing a marriage legally concluded abroad does not violate constitutional principles.
This case is particularly noteworthy because it involves a Poland-based couple who went abroad specifically to marry. Currently, the civil registry system in Poland only allows male-female marriages. Over 100 NGOs have criticized the Polish government for failing to implement rulings on same-sex marriage recognition.
The European Union court ruled that Poland must recognize same-sex marriages conducted in other member states. This adds pressure on the Polish government to adapt its laws to comply with EU regulations.
Alicja expressed the importance of this recognition: “Recognition of their marriage is about much more than symbolism. It is about specific rights: in crisis situations, health issues, inheritance.” Meanwhile, Jolanta reflected on their journey: “The hardest part was the uncertainty and the feeling of injustice.”
However, it remains unclear when and how these recent court rulings will be implemented. The ongoing legal landscape for same-sex unions in Poland continues to evolve.
