One of Poland's best-known same-sex couples have won a landmark legal battle to have their marriage officially recognised in their home country after nearly a decade of campaigning.
Jakub and Dawid Kwieciński-Mycek, who married in Portugal in 2017, have finally secured recognition of their marriage in Poland following a June ruling by the country's Supreme Administrative Court.
The couple's attempts to register their Portuguese marriage certificate were repeatedly rejected by Polish authorities, triggering a years-long legal fight that became one of the country's most closely watched LGBTQ+ rights cases.
The breakthrough came when the court ruled that the marriage certificate could be transcribed into Poland's civil registry, paving the way for official recognition of their union.
Marking the milestone, Jakub and Dawid renewed their wedding vows, celebrating a victory that has taken nine years to achieve. "We got married as two boys, but our marriage is only becoming recognised in Poland now that we are men," the couple said.
The pair first came to international attention almost a decade ago when a homemade music video featuring the couple went viral online and caught the attention of Roxette frontman Per Gessle. Since then, they have become prominent advocates for LGBTQ+ equality in Poland, using their platform to campaign for greater recognition and acceptance.
Their marriage recognition battle unfolded against a backdrop of ongoing debates over LGBTQ+ rights in Poland, where same-sex marriage remains unavailable and legal protections for LGBTQ+ couples are more limited than in many other European countries.
For Jakub and Dawid, the ruling is both a personal and symbolic victory. While their marriage has been legally valid in Portugal since 2017, they say official recognition in their home country carries significant emotional weight after years of legal challenges and uncertainty.
The couple's story has resonated widely online, with news of the ruling attracting significant attention on social media from supporters following their campaign.
Renewing their vows offered an opportunity to celebrate a milestone that had long seemed out of reach. Nearly a decade after exchanging wedding vows abroad, Jakub and Dawid can now say their marriage has finally been acknowledged in the country they call home.
The ruling is also being seen by campaigners as a significant moment for LGBTQ+ visibility in Poland, highlighting the challenges faced by same-sex couples seeking equal legal recognition and the impact prolonged legal battles can have on families.
After nine years of court challenges, refusals and appeals, the couple say they are looking forward to focusing on the next chapter of their lives together rather than another legal fight.
Scene was founded in Brighton in 1993, at a time when news stories about Pride protests were considered radical.
Since then, Scene has remained proudly independent, building a platform for queer voices. Every subscription helps us to report on the stories that matter to LGBTQ+ people across the UK and beyond.
Your support funds our journalists and contributes to Pride Community Foundation’s grant-making and policy work.
Member discussion