A shift is being observed when it comes to acceptance and tolerance in Poland. Until recently, denying gay rights or fighting against same-sex marriage was "politically correct." But ever since joining the European Union in 2004, the country is changing. In the summer of 2010, Poland even hosted the International Gay Pride celebrations in Warsaw. 

Poland is still far from completely Gay-friendly. Three-quarters of Poland's population is still opposed to same-sex marriage and against the adoption of children by same-sex couples. However, cracks are beginning to appear and there is a chance Poland will precede Australia in accepting and recognizing same-sex couples married abroad.  A bill put forward in the Polish parliament will allow LGBT Polish citizens married in other countries to have the same rights as any other couple living in Poland. This comes after a long legal battle in which a man took the Polish government to court for his spousal rights to inherit his dead partner's apartment and finally won after two years of red tape. This precedent now paves the road for many other same-sex couples throughout Poland.

By John "Jasz" Szlachetka, Feature Author

John Szlachetka, also known as Jasz to many of his friends, has been an activist, speaker, and writer for LGBT rights, for a number of years.  A former high school teacher, he has seen the discrimination and bullying  LGBT youth face everyday.   He himself has lived through discrimination and homophobia both from his family and society in general.  This has made him stronger and more determined to fight for the equality of his LGBT brothers and sisters.   Besides his activism, he also councels LGBT couples with problems that arise in their relationships.  He is also a pastor for the Universal Life Church.    When he is not marrying couples, he is saving them from crisis.   You can also find him in many different facebook groups, fighting along side his LGBT brothers and sisters. 

As a member of the 10,000 couples team, Jasz hopes to promote both the e-magazine, and to to bring more couples into our 10,000 couples family.  Now that Same-Sex-Marriage has become an important subject world wide, he wants bring together everyone in the LGBT community to fight for the rights of our community.