Introduction
Thousands of Poles participated in a Pride march in Gdansk on June 7, demonstrating support for the LGBTQ+ community amidst concerns following the election of nationalist candidate Karol Nawrocki.Context
Participants proudly displayed rainbow flags alongside blue, pink, and white banners symbolizing the transgender community. Many held placards with messages such as "Love is love" and "12 years together - when civil partnership?" A parallel Pride event took place in the western city of Wroclaw.Nawrocki, who is backed by the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, has raised alarm among LGBTQ+ advocates. During their time in power from 2015 to 2023, PiS made opposition to what it referred to as "LGBTQ+ ideology" a cornerstone of its agenda, portraying it as a threat to traditional values in the predominantly Catholic nation.
Developments
When asked about Nawrocki's victory, 23-year-old student Agata expressed her fears: "I was devastated to be honest. I am scared. I don't know what our future looks like." While LGBTQ+ issues were not as prominent in Nawrocki's campaign as in that of his PiS-supported predecessor, Andrzej Duda, he did include pledges to combat "ideology in schools" and to oppose adoption by same-sex couples.Nawrocki has stated that marriage should remain exclusively between a man and a woman. He has also rejected civil partnerships but indicated some openness to discussing legal recognition for a "close person," irrespective of sexual orientation.
In contrast, a pro-European coalition that assumed power in 2023 introduced a draft bill aimed at legalizing civil partnerships. Nevertheless, with the presidency holding veto power, the bill's fate remains unclear.