Since the creation of Polish state and
its Christianization, being homosexual was never a crime there, except during
periods of occupation. But homosexuality has been an implicit prohibition
subject for most of Poland's history.
Due to widespread social conservatism and
the influence of Catholic Church in Polish public life, homophobia has been a
common public attitude in Poland. In 1932, homosexuality was decriminalized in
Poland.
What is Warsaw's
LGBT+ Declaration?
In February 2019, this declaration was
signed by the liberal mayor of Warsaw, Rafal Trzaskowski in support of LGBT
rights. He also announced his intention to follow the guidelines of World
Health Organization and include the LGBT issues into the Warsaw school system sex
education curricula.
This declaration promised support to
LGBT+ citizens and fight discrimination. Moreover, the declaration included
12-points which promised changes and essential improvements in education,
security, culture, employment, administration and sport.
The declaration followed the European
Union and United Nations human rights principles, national law and the
Constitution of Republic of Poland. Several actions were proposed such as sex
education in schools, providing shelter for teenagers rejected by their
families etc.
Reactions to the
Warsaw’s Declaration
The declaration was opposed by
politicians of Law and Justice Party (PiS) as according to them it would
sexualize children. Some leaders of the PiS party also responded to the
declaration, calling LGBT rights “an import" that endanger Poland.
The declarations provoked the
conservative media and conservative politicians in Poland. Moreover, “LGBT-free
zone” emerged as a reaction to the Warsaw declaration. After the Warsaw
declaration, attacks on LGBT were triggered many folds.
What is
“LGBT-Free zone”?
In reaction to the Warsaw declaration,
some provinces, counties and municipalities in Poland passed some resolutions
called as ‘LGBT-free zone motions’. The municipalities, provinces and counties
which followed these resolutions declared themselves as free from “LGBT
ideology".
According to some activists, the declared
zones represent attempts to keep out the LGBT community. They also called the
declarations “a statement saying that a specific kind of people is not welcome
there.”
As of August 2019, these resolutions
which are in favor of the LGBT-free zones have been accepted by thirty local
governments, including four voivodeships which form the “historically
conservative” part of Poland. These voivodeships are located in the south-east
of the country: Lublin, Lesser Poland, Podkarpackie and Świętokrzyskie.
As of February 2020, local governments
which control a third of Poland officially declared themselves as against LGBT
ideology and pledged to abstain from uplifting and supporting tolerance or
funding NGOs working for LGBT rights.
What Happened at
the Town of Krasnik?
Two years ago, Krasnik was among those
towns in Poland which declared themselves as LBGT-free zones in resistance to
the Warsaw declaration. At that time, the mayor of the town Wojciech Wilk,
didn’t see much harm in what appeared to be a symbolic and legally pointless
gesture. But today he is disordered to contain the damage.
The May 2019 decision has become a
precious embarrassment for the town of Krasnik as it has risked millions of
dollars in foreign funding. According to the Mayor, the decision has turned the
town of Krasnik into a synonym for ‘homophobia' which he later insisted was not
accurate.
In protest to this decision, a French
town cleaved a partnership with Krasnik. To finance the developmental projects
in the town of Krasnik, Norway had to give $10 million starting from this year
but in September, it declared that it will not give grants to any Polish town
that declares itself “free of LGBT".
“We have become Europe's laughingstock,
and it’s the citizens not the local politicians who have suffered most,” said
Mr. Wilk.
Mr. Wilk is now trying to persuade other
councilors to revoke the resolution that put the town’s thirty-two thousand
residents in the middle of harsh debate over traditional and modern values.
Krasnik's mayor has cleared that he wants
this resolution repealed as unless his town’s “free of LGBT” status is
repealed, he has little chance of securing foreign funds to finance electric
vehicles and youth programs.
Reactions from
the European Union
In March 2021, it was declared by the
European Parliament that the entire European Union is an “LGBTQIA Freedom
Zone". The move was made in response to the weakening of the LGBTQIA rights
in some EU countries, especially in Poland and in Hungary.
According to this resolution, people
belonging to LGBTQIA community everywhere in the EU should enjoy the freedom to
live and publicly reveal their sexual orientation and gender identity without
being afraid of the intolerance, discrimination and persecution.
The resolution also adds that
“authorities at all levels of governance across the EU should protect and
promote equality and the basic rights of all, including LGBTQIA persons".
The resolution was welcomed and supported
by 492 Members of the European Parliament, while another 141 voted against it
and 46 refrained.
Written By – Sanjana Yadav
Edited by – Adrija Saha
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