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Description
The aim of the project is to counteract discrimination against LGBT+ people in smaller towns in the Lesser Poland Province. We want to train leaders who initiate changes in their communities. The analysis of the report ‘Discriminated/Discriminators in Lesser Poland’ shows that 70% of people identifying themselves as LGBT and living in Lesser Poland have experienced discrimination. Recent years have also been a period of acute changes in local government policies in the region. On April 29, 2019, the Lesser Poland Regional Assembly adopted a "declaration against the introduction of LGBT ideology in local government communities". In addition, individual counties (5) and municipalities (11) in Lesser Poland have adopted resolutions against "gender ideology" or signed Local Government Family Charters. In the current socio-political situation, it seems necessary to strengthen future leaders by increasing their knowledge, competencies and skills, including interpersonal ones, so that their voice can be heard in local communities, which may affect the change of attitudes towards LGBT+ people. Within the project we will conduct a 42-hour training for 2 groups, whose program will include workshops: anti-discrimination, assertiveness, communication and leadership skills, sexuality and psychosocial functioning of LGBT+ people, inclusive language. Each of the people participating in the project will benefit from 3 hours of individual mentoring, and then organize an anti-discrimination event for the local community. We will develop a publication containing knowledge about the psychosocial functioning of LGBT+ people, a mini anti-discrimination guide and interviews with project participants. The recipients of the project are adults living in the Lesser Poland Province, excluding the City of Cracow, who will take part in the project as well as people participating in local events.
Summary of project results
In Poland, 2/3 of LGBTIA people experienced at least one violent event motivated by prejudice. The ILGA Europe Rainbow Map ranking has been placing Poland in last place for years, giving it the title of the most homophobic country in the EU. The analysis of the Report Discriminated/Discriminated in Małopolska shows that 70% of people defining themselves as LGBT have experienced discrimination. Local governments of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship adopted declarations opposing the introduction of the "LGBT" ideology into local government communities, and also adopted resolutions on counteracting "gender ideology" or signed Local Government Family Cards. The Polish fight against "gender ideology" was strongly visible in the local media in Lesser Poland, contributing to the repetition of stereotypes and a worse perception of LGBT+ people.
From a 2020 report commissioned by the City of Krakow, the results indicated that 63.4% of LGBTQIA people in Krakow experienced discrimination, of which 61% was verbal violence. Every fifth gay in Krakow experienced physical violence. The study also indicated the repeatability of incidents. Over 84 percent cases of discrimination in Krakow took place in public space.
The experience of our foundation and collaborators has shown that in recent years, most LGBT+ people have reported adaptation difficulties and a state of increasing anxiety and stress in connection with the political and social situation.
It seemed necessary to strengthen future leaders in local communities by increasing their knowledge, competences and skills, including interpersonal ones, so that their voices could be heard in their communities, which was to influence the change of moods and attitudes towards LGBT+ people.
Leaders of change were to become architects of change in their communities. In such a model, they could conduct an indirect discussion in a relational way, with existing beliefs about LGBT+ people and discriminatory behavior.
People participating in the project took part in a 42-hour series of workshops and training, the program of which included: an anti-discrimination workshop, a self-development workshop in the field of assertiveness, communication, leadership skills, training in the field of sexuality and psychosocial functioning of LGBT+ people. During the workshops, we also discussed the topic of inclusive language, building a network of allies, and counteracting activist burnout.
Then, people participating in the project took part in individual mentoring and organized, with the support of mentors, an educational/artistic/cultural event addressed to the communities in which they function on a daily basis. Training and mentoring took place in two groups.
22 leaders were trained. 11 events were organized, including: workshops, training, Human Library, discussion meetings, attended by a total of 253 people.
The culmination and complement of the project is the publication "Rainbow essentials for beginner activists", which contains the most important information on issues such as sexuality, anti-discrimination, minority stress, and gender-sensitive language. The publication also includes interviews with selected people participating in the project, who can be an inspiration for others to take up activist activities, which can be difficult, but also give a sense of satisfaction, meaning and the possibility of having a real impact on reality.
There was also a project profile on Facebook, where educational content also appeared. As part of the project, 20 infographics were prepared, which contain the most important information regarding stereotypes, prejudices, discrimination and issues related to non-heteronormativity.
The result of the project is to increase the knowledge of training participants in the area of counteracting discrimination against LGBT+ people and the psychological and sociological functioning of LGBT+ people, as well as to increase their leadership competences. People participating in the project took active anti-discrimination activities in their communities. They organized 11 educational, artistic and cultural events. Events were also held in smaller towns in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, i.e. Wieliczka, Trzebinia, Zakopane, Wierzchosławice, often being the first activities of this type in a given town. The events were addressed to various target groups.