Polarising Discourses on Sexual Minorities in Poland

• In Event: Global Politics of Queerness

Abstract

This paper explores the debate about LGBTQ+ rights in present-day Poland after its accession to the EU, focusing on the attempts made to restructure the legal system to serve the interests of sexual minorities. The membership of any nation-state in the European Union guarantees a minimum level of protection for minority communities, including the queer community, under Article 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, as opposed to limited legal protection under national laws. In the case of Poland, the 2005 parliamentary elections unfolded a new chapter for the LGBTQ+ communities in terms of the polarisation of perceptions and escalating political debates regarding the position of sexual minorities within the country's legal and social framework. Fuelled by overt hostility and antagonistic statements from state actors and religious authorities, activists and advocacy groups across the country have mobilised in increasing numbers to generate greater awareness about sexual identities and the need to recognise the rights of the queer community. Numerous protests and demonstrations have been organised in the past decade in response to existing Polish legislation that restricts the fundamental liberties of the LGBTQ+ community. These include a constitutional ban on marriage and restrictions on adoption and civil unions among others. The paper aims to understand the contrast between the Polish government’s conservative measures against the LGBTQ+ community and the EU's expanding liberal agenda for queer rights. Further, the study seeks to understand the impact of Poland's EU membership on the fate of the country’s sexual minorities and their efforts to secure democratic recognition and rights.


Keywords: Queer activism, European Union, Poland, democratic rights, Queer rights, sexual minorities

Author

• Lyimee Saikia, Jawaharlal Nehru University