DistantNews
Support us
'We were prepared to go to court at all levels': Karolina and Hanna's battle for same-sex marriage recognition in Poland
🇨🇭 Switzerland /Culture & Society

'We were prepared to go to court at all levels': Karolina and Hanna's battle for same-sex marriage recognition in Poland

From Le Temps · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Poland has begun recognizing same-sex marriages performed abroad, following a landmark court decision.
  • This move comes after the country's president vetoed a law on civil unions for same-sex couples.
  • Over 90 same-sex couples have already had their marriages registered in Warsaw, with a national decree expected soon.

Karolina and Hanna Skowron-Baka received official recognition of their marriage in Poland on July 24, marking a significant victory after a four-year legal battle. The couple described the moment as "still unreal" and acknowledged needing time to process the emotions after years of fighting for recognition.

It's still unreal. We need a few days to process it, also because we are tired of all these emotions.

— KarolinaDescribing the feeling after their marriage was finally recognized in Poland.

Poland does not recognize same-sex marriages performed within the country. This situation was further complicated when nationalist president Karol Nawrocki vetoed a law intended to recognize civil unions for same-sex couples on July 17. However, the union of Karolina and Hanna, which was concluded abroad, has paved the way for the recognition of foreign same-sex marriages.

They had given us an appointment four days ago. I was afraid they would find an excuse not to issue it to us in the meantime. But it's nothing compared to four years.

— KarolinaReflecting on the long legal battle for recognition.

This shift is a result of unprecedented measures taken by the Polish government and municipalities, compelled by decisions from the Supreme Administrative Court. A key ruling on May 7 concerning Hanna and Karolina, and a November 2025 decision from the European Court of Justice (CJUE), stated that "Poland must recognize any same-sex marriage concluded in another EU country." A decree to generalize this transcription nationwide is set to take effect at the end of August. Warsaw has already registered over 90 same-sex couples since becoming the first city to do so on May 14, 2026.

Poland must recognize any same-sex marriage concluded in another EU country.

— European Court of JusticeRuling on Poland's obligation to recognize same-sex marriages from other EU states.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Temps in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog