POLAND takes baby steps towards legalizing same sex relationships

When it comes to gay rights, Poland may not be fast, but at least it is not last. This week, their Givernment approved a bill introducing “cohabitation contracts” for couples living together, a measure of recognition for same-sex unions in one of the few European Union countries with few rights for LGBT people. Kudos to Prime Minister Donald Tusk for being a rare World Leader who actually delivered what he proposed when campaigning

He had pledged to reverse arch-conservative party policies criticised by Brussels for undermining democracy and minority rights, although it is still a struggle for him to deliverall the necessary reforms on abortion and LGBT rights. His Party has faced resistance from its conservative junior coalition partner PSL and veto threats from two successive presidents aligned with the right-wing nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party that lost power in the 2023 election.

The new bill, which stops short of legalising same-sex marriage, would allow two people, regardless of gender, to sign a cohabitation contract at a notary’s office. It covers housing rights, alimony, access to health information and health insurance, care leave, joint tax returns and tax exemptions.

Tusk’s pro-European government hopes the limited scope of the bill will secure approval from nationalist President Karol Nawrocki. LGBT groups voiced frustration but said the measure might be the only one with any chance to pass in parliament. The former Communist nation, which is mostly Catholic, remains among the most restrictive EU states on LGBT rights, despite growing public support for legal recognition of same-sex couples. So this really is baby steps……but at least in the right direction

QUEERGURU

POLAND takes baby steps towards legalizing same sex relationships

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