Mayor of Zakopane refuses to register foreign same-sex marriages
The Mayor of Zakopane, Łukasz Filipowicz, has announced an important decision regarding the registration of same-sex marriages entered into abroad. He announced that the city office will refuse transcription, meaning the official transfer of such marriage certificates into Polish registers. This decision has sparked significant interest from the media and public opinion across the country.
Łukasz Filipowicz explained that the municipality does not have the right to interpret regulations in a way that would allow for such procedures. According to the mayor, current law in Poland does not give officials the possibility to recognize same-sex marriages. For this reason, applications for the registration of documents from other countries will be rejected by the Zakopane office.
The Council for Family Affairs of the Polish Episcopal Conference also spoke out on this matter. The bishops published an official position in which they emphasize the need to protect the constitutional understanding of marriage. They reminded that according to the Polish Constitution, marriage is a union between a woman and a man, which in their opinion should be strictly observed by all state institutions.
The decision of the Mayor of Zakopane shows how complicated the recognition of the rights of same-sex couples remains in Poland. Although in recent years some courts have issued rulings favorable to citizens seeking transcription, many offices still adhere to a traditional interpretation of the regulations. The discussion on changes in the law and the protection of constitutional values will likely continue for a long time.