Polish trans residents suffered a defeat after President Andrzej Duda vetoed the Gender Accordance Act October 2 and now they are mobilizing for a vote in parliament to override the veto.
Sejm, Poland’s Parliament, announced October 6 it would vote on the bill October 9. Legislators need a three-fifths majority vote to override the veto.
The bill would “establish transparent and accessible gender recognition procedures” and “grant them their human rights,” according to an October 2 news release from Transgender Europe.
Polish transgender activists and their supporters are working to convince MPs to talk to party leaders, requesting an “internal instruction to members” to support the law, according to an announcement from Wiktor Dynarski, president of Trans-Fuzja Foundation.
“We have had some success with this approach,” he wrote to supporters on Trans Info Europe’s listserve, where he called for support.
Leaders of TGEU urged the Sejm to “respect all trans people in Poland,” and vote in favor of the bill against Duda’s veto.
Last week, Polish transgender activists expressed defeat and hopelessness after Duda’s veto.
“Poland lost a great chance to improve the lives of its citizens,” Dynarski wrote.
At the time, Polish transgender activists had little hope that lawmakers would have enough power to overrule Duda’s veto in spite of previously approving the bill if it was brought to Parliament during this term’s last sitting before the October 25 elections, according to Polish transgender activists.
Dynarski pointed out that that time is now. Transgender activists aren’t sure how trans-friendly new members will be.
“The new Parliament will most probably not be a trans-friendly one,” wrote Dynarski.
The Trans-Fuzja Foundation launched a petition to lobby for the passage of the Gender Accordance Act. To sign the petition, visit http://bit.ly/1OURlK6 (scroll down to read the English translation).
To support LGBT trans activists, write to the following Polish Sjem parties:
Civil Platform Office: Biuro Klubu Parlamentarnego Platforma Obywatelska
kp-po@kluby.sejm.pl
SLD Club Office: Biuro Klubu Poselskiego SLD
PSL Club Office: Biuro Klubu Poselskiego PSL (they are the most undecided)
Palikot Movement Office: Biuro Koła Poselskiego Ruch Palikota
White-Red Office: Biuro Koła Poselskiego Biało-Czerwoni
Independent members of Parliament, absent during last vote (allies):
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