The country’s parliament has passed their first ever transgender recognition legislation.

Anna Grodzka – Poland’s first openly transgender politician – introduced the Gender Accordance Act in May 2012, and it was finally passed this week by 252 votes to 158, with 11 absentations.

Under the new law, and much like in Ireland, an unmarried transgender citizen would be legally eligible to apply for a new birth certificate and new educational and employment documentation, without having to undergo surgery or hormone therapy.

“It is a huge victory for trans people in Poland,” said Wiktor Dynarski, president of the Polish advocacy group Trans-Fuzja Foundation.

“For the past few days we have seen members of parliament advocating both against and for the law, but it was for the first time that we actually heard Polish policymakers openly protecting bodily autonomy of trans people and recognising that trans citizens need to have their dignity assured.”

It is expected that once the bill is passed by the senate and signed by the country’s president, the Gender Recognition Bill will become law in Poland as soon as early 2016.

Furthermore, Ms Grodzka has announced plans to run for the Polish presidency next year, according to Newsweek Poland.

Speaking to PinkNews in 2013, Ms Grodzka has said in the past: “Generally it’s hard but this is why I am doing this, to help others to inspire others.

“It’s difficult but I need to carry it on…it does affect my private life, it’s quite hard to share my life with another person with so much going on, but at the end of the day this is my life and I’m happy.”

“I hope I can show other transgender people that life is worth living.”