Civil unions in Poland

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Same-sex civil unions

Recognized nationwide in:

Denmark (1989) | Norway (1993)

Israel1 (1994) | Sweden (1995)

Greenland (1996) | Hungary1 (1996)

Iceland (1996) | France (1999)

Germany (2001) | Portugal (2001)

Finland (2002) | Croatia1 (2003)

Luxembourg (2004) | New Zealand (2005)

United Kingdom (2005) | Andorra (2005)

Czech Republic1 (2006) | Slovenia (2006)

Switzerland (starting 2007)

Was recognized before legalization of same-sex marriage in:

Netherlands (nationwide) (1998)

Spain (12 of 14 communities) (1998)

South Africa (1999)

Belgium (nationwide) (2000)

Canada (QC, NS and MB)2 (2000)

Recognized in some regions in:

United States (6 states) (1997)

Argentina (Buenos Aires, Rio Negro) (2003)

Australia (Tasmania, ACT) (2004)

Italy (Some municipallies) (2004)

Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul) (2004)

Mexico (Mexico City) (2006)

Recognition debated in:

Australia

Austria

Brazil

Chile

Greece

Ireland

Liechtenstein

Mexico (Coahuila)

Mexico (Colima)

Poland

Uruguay

Italy

Colombia

Costa Rica

Notes:

1 - In form of common-law marriage.

2 - Explicitly referred to as "civil unions" in Quebec (2002), and called "domestic partnership" in Nova Scotia (2001). In Manitoba (2002), common-law marriage extended to same-sex partners nationwide (2000).

See also

Same-sex marriage

Registered partnership

Domestic partnership

Common-law marriage

Marriage, unions and partnerships by country

Homosexuality laws of the world

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On 3 December 2004, the Senate (upper house of the Polish Parliament, presently highly dominated by post-communist SLD members) proposed a bill allowing gay and lesbian people to register their relationships as civil unions.

Parties to a civil union shall be given a great range of benefits, protections and responsibilities (e.g. pension funds, joint tax and death-related benefits), granted at the moment only to spouses in a marriage. However, they shall not be allowed to adopt children.

The bill, which has raised much controversy, is now expected to find its way to the lower chamber of Polish Parliament (the Sejm).

Only two parties, SLD-UP and SDPL, (both Social Democrats) support the proposal. PO, LPR and PiS (all conservative), are opposing it. Samoobrona is indifferent and PSL hasn't take a position on the proposal (both agrarian) but both parties will probably vote against. SLD-UP and SdPL do not have a majority in parliament, so the bill is unlikely to pass.

The last session of Parliament in its current term takes place between 26-29 July 2005. This will likely leave insufficient time for Parliament to approve the "same-sex relationships" bill prior to the 2005 election. According to law, the bill will be dissolved, as a new Parliament cannot deal with old bills. If the bill is not passed by the current Parliament, the chances of a new bill being passed are unlikely within the next five years as opinion polls indicate that the coming elections will be won by conservative parties (PO, PiS and LPR) - all opposing gay rights.

Speaker of polish Sejm - Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz (SLD - leader of presidential candidate), has blocked (21 July 2005) "same-sex relationships" bill, to approve it by parliament. So, this act has disappeared. However, it has declared that as president has signed such act. The chances of a new bill being passed are unlikely within the next five years.

The new polish government (elected 2005) compound with PiS parliamentains, plans to change of polish constitution to constitutionally ban any recognition of same-sex relationships. Parties that oppose recognition of same-sex relationships have a majority to reform the constitution.

[edit] See also

• Gay rights in Poland
• Gay rights by country
• Timeline of LGBT history
• Homosexuality laws of the world
• Marriage, unions and partnerships by country