In Poland, the government approved a bill that introduces “cohabitation contracts” for LGBTQIA+ couples living together.
This bill would allow two people, regardless of SOGIESC, to sign a cohabitation contract at a notary’s office. It covers, among others, housing rights, alimony, access to health information and health insurance, care leave, joint tax returns, and tax exemptions.
The bill stops short of legalizing same-sex marriage, which remains banned.
Even as part of the European Union (EU), Poland is among the countries where LGBTQIA+ people’s human rights continue to be attacked.
The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) earlier reported the difficulties encountered y LGBTQIA+ people in Poland. Among others:
- 83% avoid often or always holding hands with their same-sex partner in Poland (for the EU-28, it is 61%)
- 26% felt discriminated against at work (for the EU-28, it is 21%)
- 51% in Poland avoid often or always certain locations for fear of being assaulted (for the EU-28, it is 33%).
- 42% in Poland say they were harassed the year before the survey (the EU-28 is 38%)
- 68% in Poland say that prejudice and intolerance have risen (this is 36% for the EU-28)
- 39% of LGBTI students (15-17 years old) said were hiding being LGBTI at school (this was 30% in the EU-28)
“Discrimination affects many areas of life, such as going to a café, restaurant, hospital or to a shop. Overall, in Poland (in 2019), 47% felt discriminated against in at least one area of life in the year before the survey. For the EU-28, it was 42%,” the FRA stated.
