All About Poland’s LGBTQIA Free Zone



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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