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Description
Currently in Poland, due to homophobic government policies, it is not possible to advocate for LGBT+ people at a central level. According to surveys conducted in 2021 by the IPSOS company and the Centre for Public Opinion Research, public support for LGBT+ rights ranges from 34% to 56% depending on the survey methodology. Therefore, actions aimed at increasing support for LGBT+ people in Polish society are possible. Taking action in support of LGBT+ people in Poland outside of large centres – in towns with fewer than 200,000 inhabitants and in villages where around 80% of Poles live – is key to bringing about a lasting change in thinking and acceptance of LGBT+ rights. Actions on a larger scale can be carried out primarily by people belonging to and involved in their local communities. It is difficult for LGBT+ people themselves to speak openly about themselves in a small community and to conduct self-advocacy. Therefore, in this project, we place particular emphasis on engaging allied people who are more easily able to address this issue in local communities. As part of the project, we are running a 4-month education and development programme for 16 LGBT+ people and their potential allies in towns of up to 200,000 inhabitants. We are funding their activities to undertake in the local community. At the end, there will be an additional meeting to discuss the results of the activities undertaken, the changes achieved, an evaluation of the programme, as well as additional workshops to support the sustainability of the activities implemented. The aim of the project is to bring about a change for the perception of LGBT+ people in local communities through participatory engagement, education, advocacy and community activities. In doing so, we aim to protect the safety of LGBT+ people, as well as to develop supportive and welcoming attitudes towards LGBT+ people in the communities.
Summary of project results
The project was intended to respond to discrimination against LGBT+ people in Poland and hate speech that was sustained and fueled at the central and local level by introducing a change in the perception of LGBT+ people in local communities through:
- personal work of participants, educational, advocacy or community activities,
- increasing the safety of LGBT+ people
- developing supportive and friendly attitudes towards LGBT+ people in local communities.
There were 5 training meetings, 16 training courses and workshops for 19 people participating in the educational and development program, including 14 LGBT+ people. 17 local activities for the LGBT+ community in 16 towns carried out by 18 people:
- Meetings of the local community in Chropy (Łódź Voivodeship) with the LGBT+ community and queer culture
- Study visit to LGBT+ organizations in the Equator Center in Toruń and Stonewall in Poznań, for young people from Wałbrzych
- Workshops for parents of trans people from Szczecin and the surrounding area - educational, psychological, anti-burnout (mindfulness)
- Educational and respite workshops and integration for parents of trans people from Bydgoszcz and the surrounding area
- A series of meetings of a support group for LGBT+ people in Garwolin
- A series of meetings of a support group for LGBT+ people in Bydgoszcz
- Psychological first aid for young people - workshops for parents and teachers on supporting young people from the LGBTQ+ community and support and educational workshops for LGBTQ+ youth in Gniezno
- Rainbow picnic with a discussion panel about LGBT+ people in Nysa
- Workshops and support meeting for transmasculine people in Gliwice - Queer Talks, Dumy Podcast - educational series - podcast about the LGBT+ community for young people from Grodzisk Maz. and the surrounding area
- Workshop on knowledge about the LGBT+ community for teachers in Wągrowiec
- Film meetings on queer themes in Bielsko-Biała
- Picnic and workshop for trans people from the Silesian agglomeration in Katowice
- Integration trip to Mniszków with workshops for young people from Jedlina
- Integration meetings and workshops about the LGBT+ community and inclusive language in Białystok
- 1st Equality March in Krosno - Zine
- a collection of artistic works by non-heteronormative women and people on the spectrum of femininity from Toruń and the province. Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship and a meeting of this community
-2 webinars promoting the Changing Step by Step program and a webinar on local advocacy for the rights of the LGBT+ community
From our observation and experience, as well as individual feedback from participants, we know that the adopted formula of the Changing Krok by Kroku development and educational program (2 stationary and 3 online meetings), as well as the training plan and topics will be implemented in the next two editions, for which we have already received grants.
From the feedback from the summary of activities (each person implementing the activities described what they succeeded and what they failed to do, whether they felt any personal change after starting the activity, whether they managed to respond to a local need and introduce change, whether they feel like they want to continue activities in the local community or in general for the LGBT+ community). All 18 people who completed their action replied that they wanted to continue their activism for LGBT+ people, they felt a change in themselves, and they felt their potential for further active social involvement. Almost all people are in close contact with us, participate in our thematic webinars, and are active on our Facebook group. 3 people from the program are involved in 3 initiatives Queerowy Garwolin, Tychy Osiedle Q, Tęczowy Parasol which received a grant from the community in our Grants for Variety competition, and one applied and did not receive a grant.
Summary webinar: 3 participants talked about their unique experience of being in the program and their actions, which are and will be an inspiration for other Changelings and Changelings (recording on YouTube) An additional webinar on local advocacy for the rights of the LGBT community conducted by Alina Szpetycka, expert, plenipotentiary of the Mayor of Wrocław for equal treatment, is full of practical tips and inspiration on how to engage local politicians, how to build alliances, and where to look for support. It is a universal compendium of knowledge on how to seek support for the rights of LGBT+ people at the local level. (recording on YouTube).