28 October 2021
Spokespeople available
Ahead of today’s discussion in the Polish Parliament (Sejm) about the proposed ‘Stop LGBT’ bill which would ban Pride marches and other LGBTI gatherings, Amnesty International warned that signing the citizens’ initiative into law would put the rights of LGBTI people in Poland at greater risk than ever.
“Pride is an important moment for LGBTI people and their allies to celebrate their love. It is also a protest against exactly the kind of discrimination that the Polish authorities are gradually writing into the law. This proposal, which is part of a wider crackdown on LGBTI rights, has no place in any parliament. We call on Polish MPs to recognise that love is love, and reject this hateful proposal which is discriminatory to its core,” said Nils Muižnieks.
“This proposal would restrict people’s rights to peacefully protest. Such restrictions are never acceptable, let alone when supposedly ‘justified’ by discrimination. This initiative may not have originated with the Polish government, but let us be clear: the government’s normalisation of hateful rhetoric has created an environment in which people feel empowered to spew bigotry.”
Nils Muižnieks
The ‘Stop LGBT’ bill originated as a citizen’s legislative initiative, which can be submitted to parliament if it receives signatures from at least 100,000 citizens. If passed, the bill would ban Pride parades, and any other public gatherings that “promote” non-heterosexual sexual orientations and diverse gender identities.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Amnesty International press office on [email protected], +44 (0) 20 7413 5566, twitter: @amnestypress
BACKGROUND
A debate on the bill will take place on Thursday 28 November at 18.00. The vote will take place on 29 November 2021.