Enfnts Terribles

In recent years, the situation for the LGBTQ+ community in Poland has been escalating to the point that the country now has several “LGBTQ ideology-free zones” and more. In recent months, the situation has intensified because of weekly protests, which led to numerous arrests and violent behavior from police and far-right groups.

Why are LGBTQ+ organizations protesting in Poland?

The weekend protests come amid intensifying anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric by government officials and state media after the recent re-election of President Andrzej Duda. The anti-EU populist leader was sworn in for a second five-year term as president on a strong anti-LGBTQ+ platform, branding LGBTQ+ rights an “ideology” worse than communism and proposing a “Family Charter”, including a vow to block legislation allowing gay couples to get married or adopt children. The charter also included a ban on “the propagation of LGBT ideology in schools and public institutions,” reminiscent of Russia’s notorious ‘gay propaganda law’ in 2013.

Since 2019, authorities in one-third of cities across Poland have adopted resolutions declaring themselves “LGBTQ ideology-free zones”.

Zalando “Clothes Reborn with Pride” campaign

According to KPH, 70 percent of LGBTQ+ people have experienced homo-, bi- and transphobic violence. At the same time, only 4 percent reported these assaults to the police. Zalando’s campaign titled “Clothes Reborn with Pride” tells the real stories of LGBTQ+ community members who became victims of violence due to their sexual orientation.

For the campaign, Zalando gathered clothes damaged during various acts of violence against LGBTQ+ people in Poland. It then gave the damaged pieces to the world-famous Polish fashion collective MISBHV to give them a new life and meaning. The unique five-piece collection aims to bring empowerment to the community, which continues to fight for recognition and equal rights in Poland.

Images and video by Zuza Krajewska