Transgender issues and the world's only transsexual MP

What's it like being the world's only trans-sexual MP?

Poland's Anna Grodzka is Europe's first, and currently the world's only, transsexual MP. On a recent trip to London, she talked to David Hudson about her life in the spotlight

David Hudson writing for the Guardian (Thu 30 May 2013):

LGBT-related news from Poland is rarely positive: the Catholic country is not known for embracing its LGBT community. Gay Pride parades have endured disruption, while a 2010 study found that Polish people were overwhelmingly against gay marriage.

Coming out takes courage, but even more so in a country where the Catholic church continues to dominate politics and societal attitudes. It makes the political career of Anna Grodzka – an MP in the Polish parliament – all the more remarkable. Elected in 2011 as a member of the Palikot's Movement party (her constituency is in Krakow), Anna is currently the world's only transsexual MP. She is the second transsexual MP in world history – after the former New Zealand MP, Georgina Beyer – and the third transgender MP after Beyer and the former Italian MP, Vladimir Luxuria.

A vocal spokesperson for LGBT rights, Grodzka, aged 59, was recently invited by the LGBT campaigning group, The Kaleidoscope Trust, to give a lecture in London to mark IDAHO (International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia). It was during this visit that I was able to meet her and, with the aid of a translator, find out more about her remarkable story.

Born in 1954, in the central Polish town of Otwock, Grodzka's political activism dates back to her student days. She became involved with the Polish United Workers' Party, while pursuing an entrepreneurial career in publishing and film-making. She also married, and became father to a son. She says that she realised that she was transgender in her 20s, but because of her marriage, made the decision to present herself to the outside world as a man.

Grodzka began to live life as a woman in 2007. In 2008, she founded a non-governmental organisation, Trans-Fuzja, devoted to the transgender community and advancement of LGBTQ rights in Poland. She underwent male-to-female surgery in 2010 in Bangkok, although she is quick to correct my terminology: "I never changed my biological sex, I have only undergone adjustment surgery, because I don't believe you can change your sex. The surgery that trans people go through are adjustment procedures."

Shortly afterwards, the party of which she is now a member, the Palikot's Movement, asked if she would stand as an MP. At first she declined, stating during her Kaleidoscope Trust appearance that standing would mean that she would never again "be able to hide". Upon reflection, however, she decided to accept the invitation. Her elevation to MP indicates that Poland may well be making progress in its attitude towards LGBT people. Indeed, she is quick to defend her fellow countrymen when I suggest that Poland lags behind other nations in respect to LGBT rights, saying that it is impossible to make generalisations about the whole country.

"The real issue is a lot more complicated and Polish people are a lot more divided on the issue."

Indeed, she says that she is "100% confident that civil partnerships will become available in Poland at some stage. It's even possible that it could happen this year. In July, the draft bill on civil partnerships that was submitted by the ruling party will be debated in the Parliament. So, I'm pretty sure it's going to happen – it's just a matter of time."

She also acknowledges, however, that there is much work to be done. Only in February this year, former Polish president, Lech Walesa, disappointed many with his comments about gay politicians. He said, "gay people belonged on the back benches of parliament… or even 'behind the wall'." In response, Grodzka – and her fellow Palikot MP, Robert Biedron, Poland's only openly gay MP – purposefully placed themselves in the front row of the Parliamentary benches at the next available opportunity – an elegant and dignified protest.

"What I found striking in what he [Walesa] said was his whole philosophy and understanding of social fairness, because what he said meant that the majority can decide for everyone else, so minorities don't count."

The Palikot's Movement is the third biggest party in the Polish parliament, which is currently dominated by the Liberal-Conservative Civic Platform party (PO), and the Conservative Law and Justice party (PiS). Some have claimed that the church's grip over the country is weakening, but Grodzka is not so sure.

"I wouldn't say the influence was weakening. I would say the influence remains strong because the political elite use the church as a tool in political propaganda, particularly in Conservative circles, and this is why the influence remains so stable."

Since becoming an MP, despite being a member of the minority party, Grodzka has – unsurprisingly – become well-known in Poland. Has she received abuse?

"Definitely. I have been through unpleasant situations when I have met people who have shown contempt or displeasure," she says. Nevertheless, she says she has received less abuse than she anticipated. "Because I am very well-recognised in Poland now, it gives me a lot of opportunity to observe reactions to me, and there are a lot more positive reactions than negative reactions."

Her elevated profile in public life may now work in her favour, and help to break down public prejudices towards transgender people, but she is the first to admit that it has not always been so. Like most transgender people, explaining to friends and loved ones that she was transsexual, did not always elicit a supportive response.

"As you may suspect, this is the hardest part of the procedure. A lot of people, even those close to you, do not understand the change, and this is therefore the most difficult part. I would say that about half my friends – my fair-weather friends – have been lost."

"I have no relationship with my ex wife. She has taken that decision, and I am not surprised that she has taken that decision after I split on these grounds. If I could, I would have maintained a relationship with her – some sort of relationship. With my son, however, I have a very good, very strong and warm relationship."

The 6'2" Grodzka says that she is currently single, and that she thinks it would be very difficult to now enter into a relationship. "I don't have a partner, and it would be very difficult for me to have a partner now because of the fact that I am well-recognised in Poland, so it might be difficult for someone to accept," before adding with a mischievous smile, "And where am I going to find a man taller than me?"

That answers my final question about how Grodzka would define her sexuality – whether she is attracted to men or women – but she once again resists being pigeon-holed, replying: "You should be partnered with somebody who loves you, and who you love, and I have no idea who will fall in love with me, or who I will fall in love with."

Having been on such an incredible and unexpected life journey, Grodzka is wise enough to know that one can rarely, reliably predict what might happen in the future.