WARSAW, Poland (AP) 鈥� Poland鈥檚 capital, Warsaw, registered its first same-sex marriage on Thursday, implementing court rulings that require the country to recognize same-sex marriages registered abroad.
The European Union鈥檚 highest court in November that were entered into in other EU countries even if Polish law does not currently permit them. In March, Poland鈥檚 Supreme Administrative Court cited that ruling in ordering authorities to recognize the marriage in Germany of two Polish men.
鈥淭his morning we issued the first transcription of a marriage certificate for a same-sex couple, in accordance with the court rulings,鈥� announced.
The mayor also promised his city would proactively recognize other Polish same-sex marriages registered elsewhere in the EU even without a specific court ruling.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Tuesday that his government would find ways to implement the rulings as soon as possible, and, addressing same-sex couples, apologized “to all those who, for many years, felt rejected and humiliated.鈥�
Tusk appealed to Polish officials, regardless of their personal opinions, 鈥渢o respect the dignity of each individual and to remember that these people live around us, among us, near us, and that they deserve the same feelings of respect, dignity and love as any other person.鈥�
LGBTQ+ individuals for decades in Poland, where same-sex marriage and civil partnerships are illegal. None of the rulings mean that Poland is obliged to legalize same-sex marriage.
Tusk’s government came to power with a promise to legalize civil unions for same-sex couples. However, resistance from conservatives within his own governing coalition as well as opposition from President Karol Nawrocki, a staunch Catholic, have stalled the efforts.
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