LGBT Rights in Poland - Living Conditions

Living Conditions

A survey from 2005 found 89% of the population stating that they considered homosexuality an "unnatural" activity. Additionally, only half believed homosexuality should be tolerated. Acceptance for LGBT people in Polish society increased in the 1990s and early 2000s, mainly amongst younger people and those living in larger cities. There exists a gay scene with clubs all around the country, although again most of them are located in the large urban areas. There are also a number of gay rights organizations, the two biggest ones being Campaign Against Homophobia and Lambda Warszawa. Gay media include several weekly or monthly magazines as well as numerous web portals focused on a broad range of issues, from queer studies to gay dating.

An opinion poll conducted in late 2006 at the request of the European Commission indicated Polish public opinion was generally opposed to same-sex marriage and to adoption by gay couples. The Eurobarometer 66 poll found that 74% and 89% of Poles respectively were opposed to same-sex marriage and adoption by gay couples. Of the EU member states surveyed, only Latvia and Greece had higher levels of opposition. According to one gay magazine, Poland is one of the 10 "anti-gay countries in the world", ranking at number eight (despite the fact that homosexuality is criminalised in over 70 countries around the world, while not in Poland). A poll in July 2009 showed that 87% of Poles were against gay adoption. A poll from 23 December 2009 for Newsweek Poland reported another shift towards more positive attitudes. Sixty percent of respondents stated that they would have no objections to having an openly gay minister or a head of the government. Further, 9% indicated that they "did not know".

In 2004 and 2005, Warsaw and other Polish cities, including Kraków, blocked gay pride parades, citing various reasons including the likelihood of counter-demonstrations, or interference with religious or national holidays, or the lack of a permit. Despite this, about 2,500 people marched on 11 June 2005. Ten people were arrested but were released soon afterwards. The parade was condemned by then-Mayor of Warsaw Lech Kaczyński, who said that allowing an official gay pride event in Warsaw would promote a "homosexual lifestyle".

In the second half of the last decade, several Polish celebrities came out as gay, a decision that is widely regarded as helping increase the acceptance of homosexuality in society. These people include actor Jacek Poniedziałek, TV personality Michał Piróg and film critic Tomasz Raczek. The latter has been in a 15-year-long relationship with a writer, Marcin Szczygielski, and the couple received a prestigious award, "Couple of the Year", from the mainstream women's magazine Gala in 2008.