The Republic of Poland and its main news outlets have never been as vocal on LGBT+ rights as they are now. As protests occur across the country, this seems a possible turning point in growing homophobia in the country, as happened after the Stonewall Riots in the United States. This article evaluates the ongoing situation in Poland and compares it to the riots that took place in New York City in 1969.
LGBT+ HISTORY: A STRUGGLE IN THE FACE OF DISCRIMINATION
The Stonewall Riots of 1969 in New York City has become a milestone for LGBT+ communities across the world. Prior to the Stonewall protests the discrimination of queer people had become a norm. The preceding fifty years saw continued efforts to discriminate against LGBT+ communities. For instance, in 1953 President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed an executive order which banned gay people from federal jobs. A number of civil servants and military personnel were also dishonourably discharged from services after coming out to their superiors. Moreover, the New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) effectively banned any alcohol beverages being sold to people associated with LGBT+ communities. Even after revoking its policy, the SLA continued to shut down bars where owners permitted queer individuals to gather on their premises.
The tide began to shift after the Stonewall Riots of 1969 when police raided Stonewall Inn in Lower Manhattan on the morning of June 28, entering the club and arresting 13 individuals. This sparked a surge in violence and protests outside of the Stonewall Inn, involving hundreds of people raising their voices against constant police brutality and social discrimination against LGBT+ people. The Stonewall Riots become a symbol of resistance and made queer people far more visible in the public eye. Within two years, the number of publicised queer groups skyrocketed across the country from a mere 50 to 2500. Although discrimination is still present in New York, attitudes have changed dramatically in the subsequent fifty years The spirit of Stonewall Inn has now decided to visit Poland.
THE CRACKDOWN ON LGBT+ RIGHTS IN POLAND
As a member of the European Union and a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights, it might seem unexpected that a country such as Poland would so blatantly turn its back on LGBT+ individuals. However, homophobia has increased in the country as a result of governmental inaction towards indirect forms discrimination. Rather than preventing future discriminatory practices, the Polish government turned a blind eye to the growing wave of homophobic events that swept across public and private institutions. Over 65% of queer people in Poland encountered at least one type of violence on the ground of their sexuality, 63% of LGBT+ individuals experienced verbal abuse and almost 70% of queer youths had suicidal thoughts in the period 2015-16. Discrimination increasingly seemed like a regular addition to the everyday life of queer people across the country as it did prior to the events of 1969 in New York City. However, shortly after the 2020 presidential elections the threshold of ‘enough is enough’ was reached.
SILENT NO MORE: THE DISSENT FROM POLAND’S LGBT+ COMMUNITY
Due to the anti-LGBT+ attitudes promoted by Andrzej Duda in the 2020 presidential elections, thousands of demonstrators turned out in a number of major Polish citiesincluding Warszawa, Krakow and Lublin. Moreover, news outlets around the world condemned the Polish government and its approach towards queer Polish citizens. For the first time, Poland saw massive demonstrations and actions of rebellion taken by the Polish LGBT+ groups and individuals such as Margot Szutowicz who deliberately hung rainbow flags over important monuments. LGBT+ people are now seen and heard in Poland, with a large number of filmmakers planning on confronting the government through the increased production on LGBT+ themed projects. Moreover, one of the biggest TV shows “Dzien Dobry TVN’ has included LGBT+ themes. Even individuals have made a large impact, with YouTuber Natasza Parzymies airing a miniseries on queer love gathering over 14 million views.
Although the events that took place in New York City in 1969 and in Poland in 2020 are over fifty years apart they share the same key message - enough is enough. Just as the people in New York could no longer stand institutional homophobia, queer people in Poland have decided to rebel against a system of oppression and invisibility. Queer people of Poland: the stage is now yours.
Sylwester is a recent graduate in International Politics and Law from Middlesex University in London. He is currently doing an LLM in Public International Law at the University of Amsterdam. Recently, he volunteered at IHLIA LGBT Heritage - Europe's largest heritage collection for the community. His research interest is looking at the treatment of LGBT+ communities through the lens of international law and humanitarian law.