UNITED KINGDOM / POLAND: Demonstrators call for an end to anti-gay laws being proposed to Polish parliament

Protesters outside the Polish embassy in London on Thursday (May 17) called statements made by the Polish education minister, Roman Giertych on Wednesday (May 16) as homophobic and a violation of human rights. The protesters objected to Giertych's proposed law of banning teachers with a homosexual lifestyle and to the similarities he drew between homosexuals, communists and fascists. Thursday is the international day against homophobia, and the British youth council seized the opportunity to protest against Giertych's comments and to call for equal rights for homosexuals. Poland, which joined the European Union in 2004, has come under increasing fire from EU lawmakers, who singled it out in a resolution condemning homophobia in the 27-nation bloc. "Poland is very welcome as a member of the European family of nations. We are delighted that Poland is part of the European Union. But membership involves responsibilities, including the responsibility to uphold the human rights of all Polish citizens, including those who are gay or lesbian," human rights campaigner and spokesperson for the Green Party of England and Wales, Peter Tatchell said on Thursday. British Member of the European Parliament, Sarah Ludford said such statements made by politicians was an unacceptable and dangerous trend. "I think that's both absurd and quite dangerous, I think there really is quite a dangerous climate being generated from Poland which I deplore," Ludford said. A group of homosexual men, who have left Poland for the more liberal England showed their support at the demonstration. "You, want to be free, as do every single other people around you. In my free country, in my democratic country I can't be free," Krzysztof Krzemianowski said. Jarek Krol, also from Poland, but living in Belgium said the Polish government had 19th century attitudes towards homosexuality. He was frustrated by the treatments of homosexuals in his home country, but hoped the attention the matter is now receiving will now lead to improvements. "I think that at the end of the day it's a good thing that the issue is becoming an issue. And there are some sort of societal change going on, because what was implicit is now becoming explicit, and the issues are being put on the agenda. There is mention of civil partnership which shows something is changing in those countries," Krol said, in relation to the status of homosexuals in former communist countries. Giertych's party, a junior coalition partner in the conservative-led cabinet, proposed the new law to sack teachers who promote a homosexual lifestyle at a news conference on Wednesday. "It is a law which orders school directors to make sure that the school is free of actions propagating homosexuality or pornography or any other phenomenon which infringe social norms," Giertych said. "A school is not a place where these kinds of organizations could operate in and propagate these kinds of attitudes. (reporter question) It is the same principle on which I wouldn't allow communist or fascist organisations the right to come to a school and talk about their attitudes," he added. Polish president Lech Kaczynski and his twin brother, Jaroslaw, the prime minister, have been criticised for tolerating their coalition partner's anti-gay remarks, as well as their own conservative stance on the issue. Giertych said the proposal had been agreed with the prime minister and the third coalition partner, the leftist Self-Defence party, and would be passed by parliament in the near future. The law on sacking teachers also needs parliamentary approval.

ITN Source | May 18, 2007

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