Researchers warn that the homophobia is widespread in Poland than in other Eastern European countries. The attacks on a Pride Parade in the Polish province of the show.
Anti-LGBT protesters in the Polish Białystok
When Polish writer Jacek expansion went to school, gave it to there, officially no Gay. “A few years ago,” he recalls in an interview with DW, “I was again there, and I’ve seen gay couples – and everyone knew it.” The 1980-born Jacek expansion married last year to his Partner in London, the writer and Translator Piotr Tarczyński. In his native Poland, a same-sex wedding would not have been possible. However, many things have improved – for example, there is today in Poland, homosexual, and transsexual members of Parliament, mayor or selectmen, says expansion.
At the local level, he observed a lot of Aggression: “Local politicians explain the new areas of Poland as a ‘LGBT-clean’, as ‘Jews’. The hits us and sets us, even the Tough,” says the writer, and calls for mutual support. He advises Gays and lesbians to come out.
At the weekend, Jacek expansion experienced in a particularly painful way, how strong is the prejudice against people from the LGBT Community are still. He was on the Pride Parade in the Polish city of Białystok. The participants were attacked by nationalists and Hooligans, and spat on, with rotten eggs, Firecrackers, stones and even bottles full of urine were thrown at them. “We see about ten meters ahead, the people of thugs to be attacked. A big guy in a red Balaclava, which covered his whole head, distributed kicks to people around around them, including teenage girls. Some of the races way more ‘knights’ to come, Packed, with angry faces,” the author wrote on his Facebook page. Only after the police had brought the riots and the Chaos somewhat under control, he could hold his speech at the opening of the Pride Parade. “I participated in protests, neither speakers, nor a Gay activist, is still a old Wise, I’m just a writer. And happens to be gay,” says Jacek expansion.
The Polish writer and painter Jacek expansion
Right-wing politicians stir up Fears
When it comes to homophobic incidents, also carry right-wing politicians are a part of the blame: “you are using the prejudices of their voters, to them, the fear of alleged threats to scare,” says Michał Bilewicz in the DW-interview. He directs the center for prejudice research at the psychology faculty of the University of Warsaw. 2015 will be the had been the migrants, 2018, the Jews (in the context of an international debate over a controversial amendment to the law on the Institute of National remembrance), and today, people from the LGBT Community.
“In Poland, the homophobia are indicators higher than in Western Europe and even in other Eastern European countries to Russia and the Caucasus countries,” says researcher Michał Bilewicz. Why? “75 percent of poles say that they do not know any Homosexuals.” And just in Podlasie, the Region around Białystok, which should be particularly know a few gay people – just because they do not speak out of fear of negative consequences open about their sexual orientation.
“If there is no direct contact, making it possible to verify prejudices, it comes to such issues: That politicians say, who’s the enemy – immigrants, Jews, or just the LGBT people. Violence is not the result,” explains Michał Bilewicz. “The best remedy against prejudice is, if you have a neighbor or a seller, or a teacher from such a group.” Then you realize that he is basically not so different from you.
Prejudice researcher Michał Bilewicz: “politicians say, who’s the enemy”
Liberalisation or religious fundamentalism?
Despite the change of power four years ago – by the election victory of the national-conservative party “law and justice” (PiS), became the Polish society as a whole is more open, says the writer, Jacek expansion: According to a recent survey, 56 percent of poles are for registered partnerships, and 41 percent for same-sex marriages. “Ten years ago, there were still 16 per cent,” he recalls.
Even the Pride Parade in Bialystok, he can something Positive – in spite of the incident: “Once upon a time there were two in Poland, three such marches, this year will be a total of 25 to be. Including for the first Time in Białystok and Lublin, where this would have been even a few years ago, impossible.” More and more people in Poland would come out of the closet today, “including many who can be role models, especially for Teenagers who struggle with their sexual identity”. This is particularly important. “Because LGBT youth have six times enjoyed so often, thoughts of suicide, like other age – and we know that it often remains, not only in the idea of” stressed Jacek expansion in his speech at the Pride Parade in Białystok.
From his point of view, Poland is in a phase of upheaval. The country could develop in two completely different directions: “Either there will be a liberalisation, perhaps similar to that in very Catholic Malta, where, after a political change, the same-sex marriage was introduced”, says Jacek expansion. “But it can also go to a Catholic confessional fundamentalism, according to the Islamic pattern.”