Is there more than just closeted walls in sight for Queer Polish people?

Being Queer in Poland is not something to be open about. Calling the LGBTQ "ideology" a threat worse than communism, President Andrzej Duda's polarizing remarks are reminiscent of those made by Eisenhower during the Lavender Scare in the United States. It was Duda's homophobic rhetoric that led to the Law and Justice Party's creation of "LGBT-free zones." However, with the party recently ousted by Platforma Obywatelska (Civic Platform), led by Donald Tusk, there is a newfound sense of optimism for queer individuals.

Nevertheless, Poland's LGBTQ+ community does still grapple with the lowest legal protections in the EU. In fact, homophobia has been the Law and Justice Party's major theme since 2018. However, despite the political zeitgeist, public opinion, especially among younger generations, within Poland reveals a shift towards more progressive, accepting views on LGBTQ+ rights. Concurrently, grassroots initiatives led by NGOs and activists, alongside the European Commission threatening to withhold EU funding from local constituencies, have led to the zones' virtually utter disappearance.

Since the fall of communism and the democratization of Poland, LGBTQ+ rights have been a topic of political disagreement. However, in recent years, societal attitudes have become more inclusive; in fact, from 2016 to 2019 the number of pride marches grew from 6 to 20. Duda's villainization of Queerness actually caused the acceptance of queer people among the public to grow.

So, what is the reality for queer people in Poland now?

While promises to legalize same-sex marriage have been made by the opposition, we still await concrete measures. The recent election's outcome gives us some hope, for it signifies a widespread rejection of hate speech alongside support for equal treatment. However, the actualization of LGBTQ+-accepting policies is complicated and may be a little unrealistic due to President Duda's ability to veto legislation. Despite these challenges, the Polish LGBTQ+ community finds itself closer than ever to achieving long-standing goals.