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Description
Poland is seeing increased hostility on the part of the Polish government and public towards LGBT+ people. This is the minority that faces the greatest public dislike and discrimination in Poland. In the first phase of the project, training will be held for 12 local leaders, on conducting homophobia prevention activities. The participants will create a local network and devise a common strategy for action. In the second phase, the people who have undergone the training will prepare and conduct a series of 18 discrimination prevention events in their local communities. The project also envisages a joint venture of a new network of leaders, in which a local community campaign will be prepared and conducted in the public sphere and online. The events and creation of the network will go hand in hand with a bilateral exchange with the Norwegian organization FRI in the form of online meetings and a study tour. The project will employ the Partner''s best practices in areas such as building a strategy for working with local government authorities, managing a network of local offices, or including immigrants in the organization''s activities. The project will empower and develop local leaders, organizations, and informal groups acting to promote human rights, primarily of LGBT+ people in Dolny Śląsk and neighboring voivodships. A local network campaigning for acceptance of LGBT+ people will also be formed as a result of the project.
Summary of project results
The project responds to the problem of growing homophobia in Poland. In recent years, there has been a growing oppression of LGBTQ people in Poland, manifested by hate campaigns by far-right-wing organisations, the establishment of so-called ''LGBT-free zones'' by local authorities, hostility of the authorities towards anti-discrimination and sex education in schools, hateful statements by politicians in the media, or the demonstrative detention of an LGBTQ activist. The political and media hate campaign has the effect of increasing public fear and resentment towards LGBTQ people, and thus the wellbeing of LGBTQ people who experience homophobia in schools, at work, at home, in public places. 25% of gay and lesbians report frequent contact with hate speech and 70% of LGBTQ youth have suicidal thoughts (KPH, 2016). On the other hand, there is a positive trend of increasing social activism among young people. This is evidenced, for example, by the increasing attendance at equality marches and the involvement of young people in LGBTQ activism.
As part of the project, the Projecy Promoter conducted a series of trainings for 12 local leaders preparing them for anti-discrimination, direct action and advocacy. Those participating in the programme created a local activist network. They organised 19 anti-discrimination events in their communities (in places such as Opole, Kalisz, Legnica, Gorzów, Wrocław, Lubin, Zielona Góra, Milicz) and jointly developed and carried out a local social campaign in public space and on the Internet called #TyMówiszJaCzuję. The Project Promoter also participated in a study visit to a Norwegian Partner, where discussions included an action plan for LGBTQ people in Oslo and the ''Pink competency'' education programme. The project also benefited from the Partner''s experience in areas such as building strategies for cooperation with local authorities or network management.
The project served to strengthen and develop local leaders, organisations and informal groups working for human rights, mainly LGBTQ people in Lower Silesia. It has succeeded in creating a local network which, by exchanging experiences and supporting each other, is stronger, more visible and more effective in its activities. Thanks to local equality events and a social campaign, awareness of the situation and needs of LGBTQ people has been raised, especially on the topic of inclusive language and the recognition of trans and non-binary names and pronouns.
Summary of bilateral results
Our partner was the Norwegian organization FRI Foreningen for kjønns- og seksualitetsmangfold in Oslo. During this project, we had a study visit and several online meetings with our partner. The goal of our project was to network organizations in our region. Working with FRI helped us to deepen our knowledge of networking. This made our networking activities more effective.Partnering with FRI allowed us to learn more about how the organizational structure and activities on many levels of activism work. The partners shared their knowledge and experience with us in working with local authorities, and building relationships with other organizations.We are open to continuation of contact and cooperation with the partner from Norway. At the moment we do not have any cooperation planned.