Poland's First Trans Lawmaker Promises Changes

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

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Neal Broverman

October 18 2011 3:20 PM EST

November 17 2015 5:28 AM EST

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Times are changing in conservative, Catholic Poland and nothing is more emblematic of that than Anna Grodzka, the nation's first transgender politician.

Grodzka is from the religious stronghold of Krakow -- former home of Pope John Paul II -- but was nonetheless elected to parliament on October 9. Along with Grodzka, Poland's parliament will see an out gay politician and two black lawmakers. Change has come to Poland following the death of many of its officials, including its antigay former president Lech Kaczynski, in an April 10, 2010 plane crash.

Taking office on November 8, the 57-year-old Grodzka told the Associated Press she will fight for legal same-sex partnerships in Poland, as well as state funding for gender reassignment surgeries. Grodzka heads up a 1,000-member transgender organization in Poland.

"Enough of this concealing of the truth," Grodzka told the AP. "This group of people, even if small, has its rights and they should be respected. They should not be pushed into oblivion."