Homophobia
in Poland:
First
of all, pleace watch a recent MinWashingtonNews about the situation
of Polish homosexuals:
Indeed,
Poland certainly has a dubious reputation regarding homophobia,
although there are some signs that attitudes are slowly changing
Statistics
in Poland:
-
80% of Poles opposed same-sex marriage
-
90% opposed adoptions by gay couples.
-
5% of Poles consider homosexuality as a 'normal' thing
-
51% of homosexuals had experienced psychological violence and 17% of
them had experienced physical harassment
-
41% of homosexuals hide their sexual orientation from their family
The
Campaign Against Homophobia (KPH) is a nationwide public-benefit
nongovernmental organization with non-profit status working for the
equal rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. It was
founded in Warsaw in September 2001 and since it has grown to the
biggest NGO of this kind in Poland.
KPH
aims to contribute to establishing a tolerant society, in which gay,
lesbian, transgender and other minorities feel comfortable in. It
undertakes numerous of propaganda activities in order to increase
tolerance and acceptance while tackling stereotypes and prejudices
including:
-
social awareness campaigns
-
conferences
-
workshops
-
research and report writing,
-
providing legal and psychological counselling
-
cooperation with similar organisations from other countries and
international bodies
Some
of the activities undertaken by KPH have attracted massive publicity,
and influenced the Polish public. These include:
-
"Niech nas zobaczą" ("Let Them See Us"
campaign)
- "Rodzicu, odwaz sie mówić" ("Parents, dare to speak out!" campaign)
-
"Co się gapisz, pedale/lesbo" (The campaigns teaser
posters "What are you staring at, faggot!?" and "What
are you staring at, lesbo!?")
-
The Tolerance March
LGBT
(lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) persons rights in Poland:
-
Anti-discrimination laws in employment since 2003
-
Gays allowed to serve in the military
-
Right to change legal gender
-
MSM (Men who have sex with men) allowed to donate blood since 2005
-
Access to IVF (In vitro fertilization) for lesbians
What
LBGT activist are fighting for now:
-
Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services
-
Same-sex marriage(s)
-
Recognition of same-sex couples
-
Adoption by same-sex couples
Overall,
the situation of homosexuals in Poland is slowly improving also there
is the growing understanding and acceptance of LGBT issues in Poland.
Moreover, thanks to the KPH and other LGBT organizations the Polish
media has become more sensitive to the rhetoric that they use
regarding LGBT issues, and homosexuals are no longer presented as
'freaks', but as normal people with the same problems as the
heterosexual majority.
In
any case, the homosexual minority in the country has a long way to go
before it catches up with the West.
Questions:
- In your opinion, what are the reasons behind homophobic attitudes in Polish society? Do you think that the Roman Catholic Church influences homophobia in Poland?
- Have you ever heard about KPH organization before? What do you think about its campaigns and activities?
- Do you agree with the statement that the homosexual minority in Poland has a long way to go before it catches up with the West?
First of all why do you think Homophobic is something wrong ? Why a person who doesn't accept homosexuals adopting children is called homophobic, which clearly has negative meaning. Why being fully tolerant is ok, why agreeing to everything what minority wants is ok and arguing with minorities automatically makes a person close minded.
ReplyDeleteI'm totally against homosexuals adopting children in my country and I'm really happy that still majority of Polish citizens are so called homophobic. I don't care what gays or lesbians do in their homes but I'll never give my vote for allowing them to adopt children.
I'm working in a multinational company where a lot of different cultures meet. In offices we have white,black,asian people, catholics, muslims, sikhs, hetero/homo and no one ever made any racist comment on someone else. Everyone is equal as a human beings but also everyone respects each other without forcing majority to change their culture. That being said for instance in Warsaw office we have a traditional Christmas dinner and in Los Angeles office they have Thanksgiving Day. I would feel very offended if a foreigner would told me that he doesn't wish to see Christmas tree in December in Warsaw because it hurts his religion feelings.
In my opinion that kind of company culture works - at least in a company where I work. So in basic words you tolerate others but you're not trying to force them to change their culture.
There are quite open societies where homosexuals can be married, adopt children and everybody can legally use drugs. And that's fine, great, by why every society needs to be like this ? Is really global village needs to mean that everything is same everywhere ?
Maybe in few next generations Poland will look more like Holland where for having homophobic opinions a person is taken to jail.
Anyway - good article.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, reason behind "homophobic" attidues in Poland can be dived on three types:
ReplyDelete1. Old fashion tendecy of people to bully on weaker individuals, as stereotypical gay is effeminate person.
2. Second one mostly concern older people, who doesnt really know why they dislike homosexuals, it is the way how they has been raised in catholic faith.
3. Good understanding of mechanism that rules the society, and knowing why homosexuals lobby is a thret to it.
I'm the third type of "homphobic" person. I'm also fed up of homosexuals imposing society their vievs, behaviours and ideas that most of society simply don't agree with. They claim respect for them selfs, and they simply does not respect any person that hold a different vievs. It has come to the situation, where minority dictate the majority. They are also calling pople like me homphobic, which is kind of offensive as they sugest me, that I am some peasant moron that is afraid of them.
Also, homosexual lobby promotes a promiscuous life style. Like it or not, in order to survive society has to stick together, and all individuals has to be productive and useful. Life style they promote, leads to decandence of society, turning their attention away from things that really matters, like education or family. Among other things it will cause lowering our birth rate, which is already negative in most western country. In longer period of time extinction of natives in western countrie will happen, as they will be replaced with emigrants, coultures that we percive as primitive.
Tolerance to single sex couples is not the measure of development, as concetrating on such down to earth problems as someones sexuality wont make us cleverer.
I could bring here lot more arguments, but I dont want to write an essey here.
I have never heard of KPH organisation before, but I am aware of campaigns for homosexuals rights. I'm just not interested in them at all, excluding parade of equality, which I found vulgar.
Homosexual minority in poland doesnt have long way to go to catch up with west, as the are almost equally impudent and disrepectfull as same minorities in the west. But if we would have same laws and "mentality" as people in the west, I would already be in court, and branded by society as public enemy.
It is very end of freedom of speach.
Like Łukasz and s9962 said, it's hard to precisely define the word "homophobic". I conclude that your question applied to a general aversion to homosexual people. In that case, I think that like other societies poles need time to grow their tolerance. When considering this, I like to think about how it was before year '89, when there was no "homosexual propaganda" but also more (but less freedom in expressing own views).
ReplyDeleteI think that campaigns agains homophobia are important and, as yet, are neither glaring nor too intrusive. However, I understand that too much of such actions for people that are not seriously involved in the problem, may cause feelings that gays and Lesbians "promote themselves".
About question about comparing the situation of Polish and western gay- it's hard for me to answer, because I don't know how it really is in other countries. When visitin countries as a tourist it's impossible to gain actual knowledge of such social issues, you need to delve deeper. Simply I do not feel competent.
1.In your opinion, what are the Reasons behind homophobic attitudes in Polish society? Do you think That the Roman Catholic Church influences homophobia in Poland?
ReplyDeleteI really do not know what is the cause of this state of affairs. But I know myself I am not convinced as to the matters relating to adopt children through the relationship between two women or two men. It seems to me that the problem may lie in our culture and even some years must elapse. He sometimes I have a problem with the definition of my views on these matters. I think that without discussing the world will not be changed. I know that the world will never so perfect that everyone loved and tolerated. I also know that over the years will change the perception of other people and these issues.
2.Have you ever heard about KPH organization before? What do you think about its campaigns and activities?
I've never heard of. I do not care about it and do not seek specialist
3.Do you agree with the statement with the new hotel homosexual minority in Poland has a long way to go before it catches up with the West?
Firstly, I do not know where is the minority now, compared to Western Europe. Without that information, I am not able to answer this question unambiguously. But seeing the approach of my friends think that even some years would it take for the whole of society tolerated and treated in the same way homosexuals.
Religion, not only Catholics but almost every religion (*1) do not approve homosexualizm. The main reason of that is immoral unnatural - they are considered as sin.
ReplyDeleteTaking in to consideration "naturalness" of such behavior lets look at homosexuality in nature. According to wikipedia such behaviour was noted in above 1500 species (*2). As far (as Christian )I know animals do not have free will and can't go to haven and can not sin. So... only I see some inconsistency here? :)
In my opinion this behavour is normal, natural. Jesus said that we have to love every one, He did not give us list of exeptions of that rule.
From my point of view KPH and others like them makes good job in this topic.
Same as katarzyna_girwicz, I do not know the situation in western countries, so I can't give my opinion.
(*1) http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religie_a_homoseksualizm
(*2)http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homoseksualne_zachowania_zwierz%C4%85t
I’m a little confused about this whole topic. First of all I’m not thinking of myself as intolerant, but for some I am. Why one of my friend said “you are intolerant”? Because I am standing on position that sexual orientation (hetero or homo or any other) is not something to show to other people. I am not understand why so many people so much time arguing about others private life. For me issue is fact that sexual orientation becomes a public matter and I do not agree with that, I do not want to know the sexual orientation of politician, a teacher, a doctor or a police officer, let them leave this knowledge for themselves.
ReplyDeleteI think that the main reasons for Polish people’s negative attitude toward homosexuals is actually connected with Catholic Church. In my opinion Polish society is concerned with what Catholics say and this is what makes them oppose to marriage between same-sex people. Tradition and culture in Poland are very important and unable people to accept anything that is new and unknown. This is what differs our society form the one that lives in Western countries.
ReplyDeleteYes, I have heard about KPH organization before and I really appreciate what people who are responsible for this campaign do. In Poland there is a huge need for spreading tolerance. The more people talk about it, the more they accept it. Hopefully.
Yes I absolutely agree with the statement that homosexuals have a long way before they catch up with the west. The main problem lies in the society which is still too attached to the tradition. However, I think that such campaigns as KPH will help us to be more tolerant and to learn to treat people properly because we are all human beings who differ from each other but still need respect and understanding.
I think that the main reasons for Polish people’s negative attitude toward homosexuals is actually connected with Catholic Church. In my opinion Polish society is concerned with what Catholics say and this is what makes them oppose to marriage between same-sex people. Tradition and culture in Poland are very important and unable people to accept anything that is new and unknown. This is what differs our society form the one that lives in Western countries.
ReplyDeleteYes, I have heard about KPH organization before and I really appreciate what people who are responsible for this campaign do. In Poland there is a huge need for spreading tolerance. The more people talk about it, the more they accept it. Hopefully.
Yes I absolutely agree with the statement that homosexuals have a long way before they catch up with the west. The main problem lies in the society which is still too attached to the tradition. However, I think that such campaigns as KPH will help us to be more tolerant and to learn to treat people properly because we are all human beings who differ from each other but still need respect and understanding.
To be honest I hope our society will never catch this glorious west society model.
ReplyDeleteCall me homophobe if you like to but I am totally against homo-marriage and homo-adoption.
I am not against law that will simplify inheriting, sharing medical or financial information.
But calling same sex couple marriage is pretending. Marriage definition is pretty clear for me. If anybody wants to have word for gay couple – should be free to find new one but it is not a marriage for me. Modern people in modern world are very happy to find new words for Easter or Christmas – why they do not find new word for “ marriage of gays”.
Medical statement of American Psychological Association that homosexuality is not a disease is very weak and soft prove that there is nothing wrong with human being having same sex orientation. I do not care about that. If people feels fine being gay and they feel totally all right – that is good for them. I have neoplasm myself, lucky me it is not a cancer and I hope will not influence my life length, but it is disfiguring me a bit, a little bit more then bit actually. And I feel OK with that. I am happy. But I am convincing no one it is fine and there is no problem. So I have really nothing against homosexual people, I see them being like me in fact. But I am very reluctant to say it is same good as being heterosexual. This is kind of dysfunction. I do no go to public pools and I am avoiding beaches, just not to force other people to look at my deformed skin. I am not shy. I used to that – I just do not need to prove I am normal – I am not… and I am happy.
I have one friend who is very homosexual. And I love him as every other friend I have. We were hiking together in Beskidy or Bieszczady mountains many times. We were talking long hours about poetry and art. We were listening to music and doing crazy jokes to our friends. I have no phobia regarding him.
But still I do not want my children, while in preschool, to watch movies and read books how beautiful homosexual relationship can be. And how normal and fine it is. Why?
Because this very same APA says: "there are probably many reasons for a person's sexual orientation and the reasons may be different for different people". So this literally means no one knows what is the cause of homosexuality. And no one is able to tell me there is no psychological factor that will increase probability to develop homosexual orientation while being exposed to homo-affirmative content. And this is exactly why I will never approve homo-affirmation until it is clearly explained.
So as a bottom line. I have nothing against homosexuals. I support their right to be happy, to have successful and full of love life. And I will defend “marriage” word meaning. And I will defend my children as long as I am not sure there is no danger for them.
And I am catholic, yes. And being catholic makes me love all people. And it makes me say there is no divorce and no second marriage for divorced people as well as there is no marriage for gay people. And this is not against love... it is supporting it. But I will say this only to other catholics. If you are not Christ follower, I won’t tell you what to do, but one thing… God, your creator and Prime Supporter in havens is waiting for you with all his love, and all his power to make your happy. Does not a matter if you are gay, divorced, sinner or saint.
My political and social opinions are influenced by Bible somehow, but talking about laws and social model I am always thinking about solution that will serve best to all of people leaving here. Not only few… very few.