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Sites and Insights Gay Poland News & Reports 2008 Also see: Video of Warsaw Gay Pride 2006 1 Poland defiant over gay adoptions 1/08 2 Poles appeal for funds to establish LGBT centre 3/08 3 Media Frenzy at Warsaw Airport for Arrival of Gay American Couple 3/08 4 Polish intellectuals apologize for president offending gays 3/08 5 Poland approves Lisbon Treaty with rights opt-out 4/08 6 Poland seen as "a country of homophobes and Teletubbies specialists" 5/08 7 Polish Catholics fund treatment centre to 'cure' homosexuals 5/08 8 Swedes donate 5,000 euros to Warsaw Pride 5/08 9 Rainbow flag to fly over second British embassy 6/08 10 From Athens to Sheffield, gays march with Pride 6/08
23rd January 2008 1 by PinkNews.co.uk staff writer Legal scholars have backed his position, claiming that the Court has no power to change rulings from Polish courts. The European Court of Human Rights is not an EU institution, but rather is a creation of the Council of Europe. The court enforces the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. It considers complaints of human rights violations committed by states who are members of the European Council. The Court ruled yesterday that refusing gay couples the right to adopt a child because of their sexual orientation is discriminatory and in breach of the European Convention. In the case of E.B. v France the Court held by ten votes to seven that there had been a violation of Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) in conjunction with Article 8 (right to respect for private and family life) of the European Convention on Human Rights. Ms. E.B. is a lesbian nursery school teacher who has been living with another woman since 1990. She applied for approval as a possible adoptive parent in February 1998, but her application was rejected. In June 2002, the highest administrative court in France upheld the rejection of her application. Polish gay rights activists were pleased with the verdict. Robert Biedron, president of the Campaign Against Homophobia, said: "It's a milestone. This decision prevents administrators of various countries from denying LGB people adoption which has happened in many places. I am shocked of the statements of some politicians who are trying to deny power of the European Court." 93% of Poles are against adoption by homosexuals according to a recent opinion poll. Gay activists in Poland were dismayed that the country's newly-elected government are to continue the policy of opposition to the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights. Before coming to power in November Donald Tusk had signalled he would sign up to the charter, which broadly mirrors the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. Former Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski of the Law and Justice party had claimed that Poland was "culturally different" from their EU partners, especially when it came to the rights of LGBT people and the use of the death penalty, and refused to sign up. In a TV debate during the campaign Mr Tusk pledged to sign Poland up to the EU Charter. However, in an address to the Polish parliament just atfter becoming Prime Minister, Tusk said he will honour the commitment of the previous government and join the UK as the only nations in the 27-member EU to opt out. The charter became legally binding on EU institutions such as the European Court of Justice as part of the new Reform Treaty agreed by the EU heads of government in Lisbon. The treaty needed a two-thirds majority vote in the Polish parliament to become law, which required the Law and Justice party to support it. For this reason the government decided to retain the opt-out. "Poland is not going to protect its citizens on equal level as 25 other EU member states," commented Tomasz Szypula, Secretary General of Campaign Against Homophobia. "In Poland there's no anti-hate speech, anti-hate crime, anti-discriminatory laws which mention sexual orientation and now there won't be the Charter of Fundamental Rights."
10th March 2008 2 by Gavin Lambert Poland is a very conservative Roman Catholic country, where for many people the teachings of the Church are still the sole basis of moral grounding. The country has had a poor record on LGBT rights since joining the EU in 2004. The election of the homophobic Lech Kaczynski as President in 2005 and the elevation of his twin brother Jaroslaw to the office of Prime Minister that year hampered efforts by gay groups and the EU to push through legal protections for LGBT people. The brothers are members of the Law and Justice Party (Prawo i Sprawiedliwosc), a political party with deeply held homophobic attitudes. In 2005 Lech Kaczynski, as Mayor of the city of Warsaw, refused to issue a permit for a gay Pride parade. A short while later he issued a permit for a "normality parade," which was denounced by the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) as a "demonstration whose main objective was an incitation to hate and intolerance toward LGBT people." Amnesty International has also expressed concern about a climate of intolerance in Poland against the LGBT community, characterised by the banning of public events organised by the LBGT community, openly homophobic language used by some highly placed politicians, and incitement of homophobic hatred by some right-wing groups. Amnesty International also expressed concern over the recent abolition of the government office responsible for promotion of equal treatment for sexual minorities. The removal of Jaroslaw Kaczynski from power late last year and his replacement with Donald Tusk as Prime Minister as leader of the Civic Platform (Platform Obywatelska) did little to improve the Polish government's attitude to gay rights. In December 2007 the European Court of Human Rights issued a ruling upholding its previous verdict against the Polish Government and the ban by the Warsaw city authorities of the city's Gay Pride in 2005, declaring such a ban to be illegal. Despite this ruling, in January of this year Civic Platform declared the ruling void in Poland. It is hoped that the establishment of a permanent centre in Warsaw will act as a visible sign of the LGBT rights movement in Poland that will act as a teaching tool and a rallying point for the community. Donations can be made at www.friendsofszymon.org
March 31, 2008 3 Warsaw – Gay Americans Brendan Fay and Tom Moulton found a media frenzy when they arrived at Warsaw airport yesterday for a three-day visit. The couple, who were married in Canada, hit the international headlines when their wedding image was used in Polish President Lech Kaczynski’s televised prime-time address to scare the Polish people against supporting the Lisbon Treaty, arrived to Warsaw for a three-day visit. The trip is sponsored by TVN Television.
Their first day in Poland was an opportunity to meet with Polish gay rights leaders Tomasz Szypula and Greg Czarnecki from the Campaign Against Homophobia (Kampania Przeciw Homofobii – KPH) as well as other members of the LGBT community. Fay and Moulton were eager to get to know about the situation and issues of LGBT people in the East European nation. The Polish activists showed the couple from New York some major sites in the city such as the former Jewish Ghetto and the Old Town and attended a Catholic Mass in the afternoon. They were also able to see a rock concert in solidarity of Belarus. Later they had dinner together with one of Poland’s most prominent gay couples Tomasz Raczek, film critic, and Marcin Szczygielski, writer. “For us this is a journey of friendship and solidarity. It’s a most unexpected opportunity to share our story and hear the stories of the courageous lesbian and gay community in Poland”, say Fay and Moulton. In a statement, KPH said: “We are very honoured to have Fay and Moulton here in order to start a public dialog on domestic partnerships. We are happy that in fact the couple has received a lot of expressions of support from Poles both within the country and abroad.”
28 March 2008 4 by DPA According to the paper Dziennik, 600 signatories - among them writer Olga Tokarczuk and sociologist Ireneusz Krzeminski - signed a letter saying they were embarrassed by Kaczynski's speech, assuring the US-couple of their support and solidarity. Poland's president warned that the adoption the charter by Poland could undermine Catholic morals and strengthen the rights of displaced ethnic Germans. The national-conservative twin politicians Lech and Jaroslaw Kaczynski, a former prime minister, are outspoken opponents of legalizing gay partnerships.
7th April 2008 5 by PinkNews.co.uk staff writer Gay activists in Poland were dismayed late last year when the newly-elected Tusk government decided to continue the policy of opposition to the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights. Before coming to power in November Donald Tusk had signalled he would sign up to the charter, which broadly mirrors the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. Former Justice and Law Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the twin brother of the President, had claimed that Poland was "culturally different" from their EU partners, especially when it came to the rights of LGBT people and the use of the death penalty, and refused to sign up. Last month a Presidential address to the nation tried to used heavy-handed tactics to warn of the dangers of the Lisbon treaty. During the transmission images of a pre-World War Two map of Germany encompassing parts of Poland was interspersed with news footage of German Chancellor Angela Merkel talking to a campaigner for Germans expelled from Poland. Over footage of two men getting married in Canada the President, a notorious homophobe, claimed the Lisbon treaty would "affect the accepted moral order in Poland." Despite the President's dire warning that the treaty would lead to the introduction of gay marriage in Poland, 69% of respondents in a poll taken after the speech by daily newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza. did not believe him. Overall 65% want the treaty to be approved and 15% do not. 64% of Poles do not think the Lisbon treaty will not lead to Nazi-era property claims. Prime Minister Tusk commented after the Presidential address: "Scaring Poles that the EU poses a danger on the part of homosexuals and Germans is foolish, indecent, contrary to our experience and fatally harmful to Poland." The Kaczynski brothers have caused several controversies within the LGBT community. On a state visit to Ireland at the beginning of last year President Kaczynski said that the promotion of homosexuality would lead to the eventual destruction of the human race, while Jaroslaw has also been known to make homophobic remarks during his political career. As the then Mayor of Warsaw, Lech Kaczynski banned the city's gay pride parade in 2004. He also banned the event in 2005 while allowing a homophobic counter-demonstration, the "Parade of Normality." In August 2006, when quizzed by the EU over his gay rights record, Jaroslaw Kaczynski said he was not a homophobe. As Prime Minister he proposed a range homophobic legislation, but it was abandoned when he was defeated in last year's election.
May 21, 2008 6 by Tony Grew Over footage of two men getting married the President, a notorious homophobe, claimed the treaty would "affect the accepted moral order in Poland." Donald Tusk, who took office as Prime Minister in November, succeeded the President's twin brother, Jaroslaw Kaczynski. When asked about the Hall of Shame, he said: "The image of homosexuals were used in the context of a curse and disaster which are lurking over Poland. I would prefer that Poland, whoever it concerns, whether the Prime Minister or President, not be regarded in the world opinion as a country of homophobes, Teletubbies specialists, but rather that they consider us normal. I sympathise with the President because as you remember, he said he didn't watch the address before it was aired. This could be a warning for him to do so especially when there are these types of people who prepare addresses as in this case. That would be safer." The country was widely mocked last year when it was revealed that Ewa Sowinska, a government-appointed children rights watchdog, said she would ask psychologists to advise if the Teletubbies' camp antics could affect children. "I noticed [Tinky Winky] has a lady's purse, but I didn't realise he's a boy," she said. "At first I thought the purse would be a burden for this Teletubby. . . Later I learned that this may have a homosexual undertone." Her office later dropped the issue. Miss Sowinska, a member of the militantly anti-gay and anti-abortion League of Polish Families, resigned last month. The party was a junior coalition partner in Poland's previous government but lost its seats in parliament in an election last year. Tinky Winky is the largest of the Teletubbies, sporting a triangular antenna on his head. He is also found dancing in a ballet-style tutu from time to time, which is also often worn by Laa-Laa. Pawel Kowal, an MP for the President's Law and Justice party, attacked HRW and the "Hall of Shame." "It happens that serious organisations make a mistake. In this case it's a matter of completely misunderstanding the point of the speech. The facts are that there which would support this claim, and I say this with the deepest sincerity as a Christian who would never do anything against people with a different sexual orientation which is not sanctioned by Catholic doctrine." Lech Kaczynski was not the only public figure "who attacks LGBT people and families for political ends." HRW also nominated the President of Uganda and the Home Office for "making prejudicial policies and public statements that deny people’s dignity and endanger their lives."
May 23, 2008 7 by Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk The American Psychiatric Association issued a critical statement backed by numerous other mainstream medical organisations, which stated: "There is simply no sufficiently scientifically sound evidence that sexual orientation can be changed." The statement went on to say that positions espoused by ex-gay organizations, "are not supported by the science" and that they "create an environment in which prejudice and discrimination can flourish." The centre, which is funded by a Catholic Church group, has received criticism from gay rights activists who claim that the 'treatments' used can cause lasting psychological harm and even push people to suicide. Attempting to 'cure' homosexuals is nothing new. Beginning in the US with Evangelical Christians, the 'ex-gay' movement has become popular among other religions around the world with the Catholic Church, Church of the Latter Day Saints, Jewish, Muslim and non-religious groups taking on the idea of treatment centres. In 1991 14-year-old Lyn Duff's experiences after coming out to her parents made headlines. Concerned about her daughter's sexual orientation, her mother took her by force from her grandparent's home to Rivendell Psychiatric Centre, a residential treatment centre near Salt Lake City, USA. There she received 'treatment' reportedly included shock therapy, aversion therapy, psychotropic drugs, hypnosis, and behavioural counselling. After 168 days in Rivendell, Miss Duff escaped and initiated legal action against the facility and her mother.
May 28, 2008 8 by Tony Grew "Our Polish lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender friends face harsh resistance both in politics and as individuals," said Jonah Nylund, president of Stockholm Pride. It is therefore important that we support Equality Foundation, the arrangers of Warsaw Pride, both financially and by our own presence." Polish courts and the European Court of Human Rights have found bans on pride events in Polish cities in 2004 and 2005 to be unlawful. The 2007 Warsaw parade drew a record 5,000 supporters and little protest, and a smaller march in Krakow went forward without major incident. "International support gives us the strength and courage to carry on our work and makes the whole event possible," said Marcin Sroczynski, coordinator of Warsaw Pride. We hope this year's festivities with the film festival will be successful and contribute to Poland's progress on our way towards normalcy." This summer Stockholm Pride is hosting EuroPride from July 25th to August 3rd. Warsaw Pride website: www.paradarownosci.pl For further information about Stockholm Pride and the solidarity fund: www.stockholmpride.org
June 6, 2008 9 By Tony Grew "The UK remains committed to promoting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people overseas," said Mr Todd. "This small gesture is a symbol of the British embassy's commitment to equality and acceptance for all. This weekend's Pride March will be a celebration of diversity in Poland, Europe and beyond. I particularly hope participants travelling from the UK will enjoy the festivities." It is common for the Rainbow flag to fly from municipal buildings to mark Pride or other events such as the annual International Day Against Homophobia, but it is thought that last week marked the first time a British embassy has displayed it. In May the Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed its commitment to engage with foreign governments about the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans people. It issued an 'LGBT Toolkit' to its 261 embassies, high commissions and other diplomatic posts. The kit contains information on the official British policy on gay rights and instructions in how to "provide added value to equality and non-discrimination work." It covers a wide range of issues, from decriminalisation, sexual health, reproductive rights and health education to bilateral work with other countries. The document states that LGBT activists are often targets for persecution and that the FCO should ensure these people are "included among human rights defenders concerning whom the UK will lobby and will engage the support of other governments, especially EU members." A spokesperson for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office told PinkNews.co.uk: "The UK remains committed to promoting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people overseas. Last December the FCO adopted a programme of action for promoting the human rights of LGBT people abroad. This made clear that sexual orientation cannot be a qualifying factor in the application of human rights. We have now worked with partners to develop a programme to guide our embassies overseas. This programme has now been sent to all our diplomatic posts worldwide. We will continue to engage with our posts to promote the rights LGBT people across the world."
June 9, 2008 10 by Sophie Picheta On Saturday Her Majesty's Ambassador to Poland, Ric Todd, raised the flag over the British Embassy building. The Pride march passed on its way through the city. The Rainbow flag also flew in Riga last week, to mark that city's Pride event. Szymon Niemiec, who took part in Saturday’s Pride, told PinkNews.co.uk: "Thank you Great Britain. I had tears in my eyes when I saw our flag in front of your embassy today." Pride events have also been held in other major European cities. More than 10,000 people took to the streets in Rome for the Pride parade, which had previously been denounced as "an act of sexual exhibition" by the city's mayor Gianni Alemanno. In Athens, Pride festivities were disrupted by right wing sympathisers. Police had to intervene. One of the four people married in a same-sex ceremony last Tuesday attended. Tassos Alfieries, the Mayor of Tilos, an island with a population of less than 600, offered to perform Greece's first gay wedding, after two men announced their intention to wed in a newspaper notice. Lesbian and gay rights activists argue that the law does not explicitly proclaim a civil union must take place between a man and a woman. In the UK, hundreds of revellers took to the streets of Sheffield on Saturday for the city’s most successful Pride ever. "We were thrilled that we have been able to follow cities such as Manchester and London and host our own gay pride event in South Yorkshire,” Lisa White of the South Yorkshire Pride Committee told the Sheffield Star. |
