Warsaw has registered its first same-sex marriage, following landmark rulings from the European Union's highest court and Poland's Supreme Administrative Court.
The city issued the transcription of a marriage certificate for a same-sex couple married in Germany, in compliance with the November 2024 EU ruling that obligates member states to recognize same-sex marriages legally performed elsewhere in the bloc.
Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski confirmed the action Thursday, adding that Warsaw will proactively recognize other same-sex marriages registered in the EU without requiring a specific court order.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk apologized to LGBTQ+ individuals who have “felt rejected and humiliated,” and urged officials to respect every citizen's dignity.
Same-sex marriage and civil partnerships remain illegal in Poland, but the rulings do not require legalization-only recognition of foreign marriages. Tusk's coalition government has promised to introduce civil unions, but conservative opposition from within the coalition and President Karol Nawrocki has stalled progress.