Acting against growing hate against LGBTI in Poland

Berlin, 06 of April 2020. 16 administrative districts as well as 37 counties and 55 municipalities have given themselves an LSBTI-hostile label in recent months and openly boast being a so-called "LGBTI-ideology-free zone" or "Pro Family Zone". It is to be expected that this conflagration, which already affects a third of Poland, will even spread. The Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany (LSVD) has written to over 300 German cities and municipalities that maintain a partnership with Poland, calling for solidarity and action. Stefanie Pawlak from the LSVD federal board declares:

With great concern the LSVD is taking note of the further deterioration of the human right situation for lesbians, gays, bisexual, trans- and intersexual people (LGBTI) in Poland. Those who support the LGBTI-hostile decisions of city councils not only endanger cohesion and democracy in Poland, but also attack the foundations of our European house. Decisions on "LGBTI-free zones", under whatever name they may be called, are not demotic, but an invitation to pogrom. In Poland, those who boldly name these practices are already being prosecuted. We must not allow this to happen in the middle of Europe.

Together we must protect and promote our European idea of respect for human dignity and human rights, freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law. We must defend ourselves against those who, through nationalism, misanthropy and religious fundamentalism, want to attack and overturn these values.

In our letter, we asked the German mayors to openly address and criticize resolutions and decisions hostile to LGBTI to their Polish partners, and also to reconsider the nature of their cooperation. They should make it clear that the protection of LGBTI's fundamental rights is the basis of town twinning and other cooperation. They also could approach Polish LGBTI associations and initiatives in their partner regions, seek dialogue and support them. Particularly in times when civil society organisations in Poland are coming under pressure, support from international partners is needed.

Background

• "They sue me for "violating their good name" and demand 24.000$ financial compensation for pro-family associations". Interview mit Kuba, Autor des polnischen Atlas of Hate
• "LSBTI-freie Zonen" in Polen - Steigener Hass im Nachbarland. Bürgermeister*innen der deutschen Partnerstädte gefordert
• Solidarität mit LSBTI in Polen. Anschreiben des LSVD an 300 deutsche Städte und Gemeinden (Letter from the LSVD to 330 cities and municipalities in Germany (in German)
• Atlas of Hate Poland
• LGBTI hatred in Poland (Uchwały anty-LGBT i inne dyskryminujące akty prawne (Paulina Pająk, Cuba Gawron)

The Federal Lesbian and Gay Association in Germany (LSVD) is a civil rights association and represents the interests and concerns of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and intersex people (LSBTI). Equal rights, diversity and respect - we want LSBTI to be accepted and recognized as a part of social normality.