The fight against Poland’s ‘LGBT free zones’
Towns across Poland have passed laws declaring “LGBT free zones”. What exactly do they mean – and how has the community been fighting back, online and on the streets?
New laws are being passed across Poland taking aim at the LGBT community. They’ve been called “LGBT free zones” as a shorthand. While they don’t necessarily mean that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are being thrown into prison, they are having a chilling effect on the community.
The laws have contributed to a more general climate of conflict and fear. In 2019, violence broke out at several equality marches after far-right groups held counter demonstrations.
After one such clash, LGBT activists fought back with a hashtag campaign - which led to more protests on the streets.
We meet the activists who are rallying support and the counter demonstrators who organise against them. And we find out whether young LGBT people in Poland are planning to leave the country – or stay put.
Presenter: Mike Wendling
Reporter: Ben Hunte
Producer: Sean Allsop
Picture caption: Anti-LGBT protesters burn a rainbow flag at a demonstration last year in Bialystok in Poland
Picture credit: BBC
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