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Description
The BARAKAH theatre has been repeatedly criticized and condemned for working with LGBT people. In 2019, the Małopolskie Voivodship Local Council proclaimed the entire voivodship an LGBT-free zone, and, locally, severalf municipalities and districts in Małopolska followed suit. The project is intended to express opposition to unlawful and discriminatory resolutions adopted concerning LGBT-free zones.Under the project, seven meetings will be held in the form of debates with the LGBT community and with activists, researchers, journalists, artists, lecturers, and the public on current LGBT community problems in Polish society. The meetings will address the issues of the situation of LGBT people in Poland under the law, parents of LGBT people, LGBT in provincial areas, LGBT and the church, LGBT art, drag queens, and countering homophobia. Approximately 350 people will take part in the debates. Artistic presentations will be created by LGBT artists, and this will include a theatre premiere, exhibitions of works of artists related to the LGBT community, and workshops for 60 heterosexual persons on discrimination and the consequences of discrimination. The project will also comprise two public anti-homophobia campaigns (online and in the public sphere).The project will be implemented in partnership with the Spółdzielnia Ogniwo, Federacja Znaki Równości, and Stowarzyszenie All in UJ. The partners will provide expert support to the project and help to increase the number of participants.
Summary of project results
The project is a response to growing homophobia in Poland. In 2019, the Malopolska Voivodeship and its several municipalities and districts introduced so-called "LGBT-free zones" on their territory. At its peak, "Zones" covered as much as 30 % of the entire country. In the same year, there was a homophobic attack on the project promoter’s headquarters; the investigation, despite the discovery of the perpetrator, was discontinued by prosecutor’s office . Meanwhile, according to research, as many as 84% of LGBTQ people under the age of 25 have suicidal thoughts (K. Kolodziej, 2020). Poland’s legislation procedures treat LGBTQ persons the worst in the entire European Union (Ilga-Europe, 2022). In turn, the radicalisation of social attitudes towards LGBTQ people and growing homophobia, often fuelled by right-wing politicians, is reported in research by the Centre for Research on Prejudice (P. Górska, 2019).
As part of the project, the project promoter organised a series of seven debates in Kraków with people from the LGBTQ community, as well as those involved in equality activism, science, media, culture and art. The debates were devoted to such topics as: the legal situation of LGBTQ people in Poland, LGBTQ parents, LGBTQ in the provinces, LGBTQ and the church, LGBTQ art, drag queens, countering homophobia. A total of approximately 220 people took part in the debates. Artistic activities prepared by LGBTIQ people were also an important part of the project, including: the performance "Ophelia", drag queen shows entitled "Come back", exhibitions of works by LGBTQ artists. There was also an anti-discrimination workshop with a lecture on the effects of discrimination on the LGBTQ community. As part of the social campaign, advertisements with the inscription "tolerance" were hung in four different locations in Krakow.
The project was an important /initiative on the map of Krakow and Poland, a voice against the ''LGBT-free zones'' established by local authorities, the erasure of LGBTQ-friendly artists, and institutions, and against growing homophobia. Undoubtedly, a safe space was created in the theatre for LGBTIQ artists and activists, as well as for the audience andrecipients of their art. The campaign was well received and attracted the attention of representatives of the City of Krakow authorities.