Poland took a significant step towards legalising civil partnerships on Friday (18 October 2024) with the release of a draft law.
Equality Minister Katarzyna Kotula described the event as a “historic day” in a country where LGBTQ+ rights have long been a source of deep division. The move follows the rise to power of Donald Tusk’s pro-European coalition government last year, which gained strong support from younger, liberal voters eager to shift away from the nationalist policies that had dominated for eight years. During that time, LGBTQ+ rights were dismissed by the ruling party as a dangerous foreign agenda.
However, some supporters of Tusk’s Civic Coalition have grown frustrated by what they perceive as slow progress on social reforms, increasing pressure on the government to fulfil its promises before the 2025 presidential election. Minister Kotula, from the coalition partner party, the Left, acknowledged this at a news conference, stating, “Our voters expect us to introduce these changes to human rights.”
The proposed bill would grant civil partners certain rights, including inheritance and access to medical information about their partner. However, it stops short of allowing adoption rights, a compromise intended to maintain the support of the conservative Polish Peasants’ Party (PSL), another key member of Tusk’s ruling coalition. The PSL has already blocked efforts to liberalise abortion laws, preventing the government from fully delivering on a major campaign promise.
LGBTQ+ activist Bart Staszewski welcomed the draft law as a positive step but emphasised the community’s ongoing demand for stronger anti-discrimination legislation. For the bill to become law, it will need approval from parliament and the signature of President Andrzej Duda, a conservative whose term concludes next year.
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