46 ambassadors, diplomats, representatives of governments and international institutions signed the open letter published on Wednesday on the rights of the LGBTQI+ community in Poland. The date of its release is not accidental – May 17 is the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, Biphobia and Afobia.
The open letter has been signed by the Ambassadors of: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, Venezuela as well as the General Representative of the Government of Flanders, the CEO of Wallonie-Bruxelles International, the Representative of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region, the Head of the European Parliament Liaison Office in Poland, the Acting Head of the Representative the European Commission in Poland, Representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration, the Secretary General of the Community of Democracies, the Head of Poland and the Baltic States, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Resident Representative in Poland of the World Bank.
The letter is accompanied by a film made by Bartek Staszewski, in which we can see the Ambassadors of the signatory countries, as well as activists from our Coalition! Natalia from Kalisz (Bank Równości) says she left Poland for a few years after finishing high school and that she learned „how it feels to live in a country where there are civil unions and queer people can be themselves”. Even though she felt at home again upon returning to Poland, Natalia adds that she „also saw how her rights are being restricted”.
The following people speak in the video:
„I’m Kazik. I’m gay. I’m Christian. This is my village and here is my home,” says another person in the film who decided to stay in Poland and „fight for equality here”. Kazik is active in the Equality March in Lublin.
„I just wish I could be who I am,” says Maja from Krapkowice (activist in Rainbow Opole). „I would just like to have equal rights, to be treated equally,” she adds.
„I have a lesbian daughter and I’m proud of her. I would not like her to leave this country, I wish she could feel safe here and enjoy the same civil rights as other people do,” says Beata from Milicz.
The letter was handed over to representatives of the Coalition at a diplomatic reception on the occasion of the Norwegian Constitution Day and IDAHOBITA – International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia and Aphobia.
The film can be seen on the website of the Norwegian Embassy (here).
