The former ruling party targeted Poland’s queer communities. Now it’s out of power, they have high hopes for equality, says academic Roch Dunin-Wąsowicz
The former ruling party targeted Poland’s queer communities. Now it’s out of power, they have high hopes for equalityor LGBTQ+ people in Poland, the past eight years under the Law and Justice party have been a period of turmoil and a test of endurance. Now that PiS is on its way out after last month’s elections – it wasled by Donald Tusk – there is a sense of hope on the horizon.
LGBTQ+ rights have been in the political spotlight since democratisation in the early 90s, and Pride marches in particular were a flashpoint in past culture wars. Yetthat acceptance of queer people – their lives, relationships and autonomy – has grown since the campaign to vilify them began. The sheer visibility of LGBTQ+ people has grown significantly, with many activists and ordinary individuals living openly even in the remotest corners of Poland.
They seek the introduction of a ban on homophobic hate speech, particularly in public media and among public officials. To achieve this, they are requesting a swift amendment of the penal code, introducing penalties for hate speech related to sexual orientation and gender identity. They are also calling on the government to scrutinise public grants, as there have been examples of public money going to entities with homophobic agendas.
The election results were a decisive endorsement of democracy, and came with the highest turnout since 1989 – this suggests that most Poles oppose populist hate speech and endorse equal treatment for all. However, actually introducing LGBTQ+-friendly policies will depend on the incoming government’s ability to navigate compromises between theabout to form a ruling coalition.
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