For the first time, a Polish court has recognized a marriage between a same-sex couple who traveled abroad to wed, marking a significant breakthrough for LGBT+ rights in Poland. The couple, Alicja Sienkiewicz and Jolanta Prochowicz-Sienkiewicz, married in Portugal in 2023.
The court’s ruling is particularly notable because the Polish constitution defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. However, the court found that recognizing their marriage legally concluded abroad does not violate these constitutional principles.
This case is groundbreaking as it involves a Poland-based couple who specifically went abroad to marry. Currently, the civil registry system in Poland only permits male-female marriages.
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.”
Despite this progress, challenges remain. Over 100 NGOs have criticized the Polish government for its failure to implement rulings on same-sex marriage recognition. Furthermore, the European Union court has ruled that Poland must recognize same-sex marriages conducted in other member states.
Jolanta shared her feelings about the long wait for justice: “The hardest part was the uncertainty and the feeling of injustice,” she told Dziennik Wschodni.
While this ruling is a step forward, it remains unclear when and how these recent court rulings will be implemented fully. As Poland navigates its legal landscape regarding LGBT+ rights, many await further developments on this issue.
