2021-06-17, Poland: Stop Religiously Motivated Hate

Press Release

Warsaw, 2021-06-17

Campaign “STOP RELIGIOUSLY MOTIVATED HATE”

#niemusisznienawidzić #youdontneedtohate

The Kazimierz Łyszczyński Foundation, together with partner organizations, has launched a billboard campaign “Stop religiously motivated hate.” The campaign will take place in 22 Polish cities and will have an international dimension as well. The first part, taking place during Equality Month, aims to raise awareness of society’s responsibility for the tragic consequences of LGBT+ rights violations, and to show that an alternative is possible.

The alliance of throne and altar in Poland has led in recent years to the clericalization of all spheres of life, in law and practice, to an unprecedented degree. Under pressure from the Church, women in Poland have lost their right to decide about their bodies and their fates. Now comes the turn of LGBT+ people. The hate speech of the Church hierarchy, calling non-heteronormative people a “rainbow plague” and crying “non possumus!” resulted in an outbreak of physical violence in Bialystok and other cities. The shameful “LGBT-free zones,” established in dozens of cities, recall the worst examples of the Nazi ideology of dehumanization and exclusion. The victims are not “gender ideology” or “LGBT ideology,” but real people. 70% of LGBT youth think about suicide, 40% think about leaving Poland. The number of LGBT+ suicides is increasing, but there are no official statistics.

“This stone did not kill me yesterday, but every day I am killed by indifference” wrote a participant of the Equality March in Bialystok, struck with a paving brick. Responsibility for this situation falls not only on the Church and state authorities. The entire Polish society is responsible for the tragic consequences of homophobia. That’s why the campaign’s slogan is: “HOMOPHOBIA KILLS. YOU DON’T NEED TO HATE.” No one needs to hate or condone the spread of hatred. A hate-free person is happier. A hate-free society is as well.

The press conference will be held on June 19 at 2 p.m. in front of the main entrance to the PKiN.

Contact : Nina Sankari, Vice-President of the Kazimierz Łyszczyński Foundation

Phone: +48 501518757, Email Address: biuro@lyszczynski.com.pl