Poland
Poland decriminalized homosexuality very early (1932 Penal Code). No legal recognition of same-sex couples at national level, although after the November 2025 CJEU ruling (Cupriak-Trojan case) Poland's top administrative bench (SAC) on March 20, 2026 obliged registry offices to acknowledge and transcribe same-sex marriage certificates issued in other EU member states; on May 14, 2026 Warsaw transcribed the first one. On May 29, 2026 the Sejm gave final approval (230-200) to a 'closest person' bill (a cohabitation agreement narrower than marriage, no joint adoption), but President Karol Nawrocki (PiS, inaugurated August 6, 2025) has pledged to veto it and Tusk's coalition lacks the 3/5 majority to override a veto. Donald Tusk's government (2023-) drives the agenda: in February 2024 the last regional 'LGBT-free zone' was repealed and in November 2024 it proposed extending the hate speech law to sexual orientation, gender identity, age and disability (although then-president Duda vetoed it in April 2025). Employment anti-discrimination since 2003, extended in 2011 (employment only). March 2025: legal gender change procedure was simplified to a non-contentious judicial proceeding. No conversion therapy ban. Warsaw with vibrant scene (Śródmieście, Mazowiecka) · KyivPride held in Warsaw since 2022 · Kraków, Wrocław and Poznań with growing queer life · Poland records the EU's highest rate of recent attacks against LGBT people (15% over the past five years).
LGBTQI+ legal framework · Poland
Social context · Poland
Per Ipsos in June 2024, 67% of Poles back letting same-sex couples wed or formally register a partnership. GLOBSEC March 2023: 54% support LGBT rights. 2022: 64% support registered partnerships, 48% marriage equality. Notable improvement since 2006 Eurobarometer (74% against marriage).
Source →EU FRA: 83% always or often avoid public displays of affection · Poland leads the EU in recent attacks against LGBT people (15% over the last five years). Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović flagged institutional homophobic narratives.
Source →Indicative data as of 2026-06-02. Check the destination country's official sources before travelling.
Experiences
gay friendly · Poland
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LGBT news · Poland
Sejm passes 'closest person' bill
On May 29, 2026 the Sejm gave final approval (230-200) to the 'closest person' bill, a cohabitation agreement narrower than marriage (no joint adoption) open to same- and opposite-sex couples. It awaits the Senate and the veto pledged by President Karol Nawrocki; Tusk's coalition lacks the 3/5 majority to override it.
Warsaw transcribes first same-sex marriage
On May 14, 2026 Warsaw transcribed Poland's first same-sex marriage certificate: that of two Polish men married in Germany in 2018 (Cupriak-Trojan case), implementing the CJEU and SAC rulings.
SAC orders registration of EU marriages
The Polish SAC ruled on March 20, 2026 that civil registries must register same-sex marriages performed in other EU countries, applying the November 2025 CJEU ruling.
CJEU requires recognition of EU marriages
On November 25, 2025 the Court of Justice of the EU (Cupriak-Trojan case, C-713/23) ruled that Poland must recognize same-sex marriages contracted in another member state, the origin of the later SAC ruling.
Duda vetoes hate crime expansion
President Andrzej Duda vetoed in April 2025 the law adding sexual orientation, gender identity, age and disability to hate speech legislation, halting a reform driven by the Tusk government.