Poland's Transsexual And Gay MPs To Be Sworn In

Poland is the unlikely location for a significant increase in the LGBT presence on the political scene. Poland's first transgender member of parliament, fifty-seven year old Anna Grodzka,  is to be sworn in on Tuesday.  Joining her is Poland's first openly gay MP, Robert Biedron.

The party to which they both belong, the Palikot Movement, has taken a strong anti-clerical stance, criticizing Roman Catholic priests who get involved in politics. Palikot surprised many observers by winning 10% of the vote in the general election in October, making it the third largest political grouping in the Polish Parliament.

Robert Biedron has said he will campaign for legislation to tackle discrimination against gay and transsexual people in Poland, and to legalise civil unions for gay couples.

The electoral success of the Palikot Movement is seen as a sign of the waning influence of the Church; it has campaigned for the legalisation of abortion, gay marriage and marijuana.

Anna Grodzka says the response to her election has been mixed.

"When I've met people on the streets I've mainly had a favourable reaction."

"Of course there's also been aggressive behaviour too," she says.

"It's been a little worse in political and media circles that don't always understand the problems of transsexual issues and they try to use the fact I was a man against me."