Words: Steve Brown

The European Parliament has condemned Poland’s ‘LGBTQ-free zones’.

Earlier this year, it was reported the Polish government warned the 'LGBTQ movement imported [into Poland] threatens our identity, our nation, its continued existence, and therefore the Polish state” and decided to declare themselves a ‘free from LGBTQ ideology’ zone.

But now, the European Parliament have voted to adopt a resolution condemning these homophobic ‘zones’.

The resolution – which received 463 of MEPS voting in favour, 107 against and 105 abstaining – discusses discrimination and violence against the LGBTQ community in all states but focuses on Poland, according to Notes From Poland.

Map showing (in red) provinces, districts and municipalities whose local governments have declared themselves 'free from LGBT ideology'.



Green = where such resolutions have been rejected



Yellow = where they're bring prepared



Via Kartografia Ekstremalna: https://t.co/Vf4MgfwM0b pic.twitter.com/7P6OByl16p — Daniel Tilles (@danieltilles1) July 21, 2019

The text reads around 80 areas in Poland have declared themselves free from “LGBTQ ideology” or have adopted “Charters of Family Rights” which “discriminate in particular against single-parent and LGBTI families”.

It goes on to say how these measures are part of a ‘broader context of attacks against the LGBTQ community in Poland, which include growing hate speech by public and elected officials and public media, as well as attacks and bans on Pride marches and actions such as Rainbow Friday’.

The EUP are now calling on the country to ‘firmly condemn discrimination against LGBTI people…and to revoke resolutions attacking LGBTI rights, including local provisions against ‘LGBT ideology’, in accordance with its national law as well as its obligations under EU and international law’.

It also calls on the European Commission to ensure that EU funds are not “being used for discriminatory purposes”.