Karol Adamovwicz
for
The Washington Post
Poland’s ‘LGBT-free zones’ energize some activists, prompt others to leave
Increasing levels of discrimination from the government in and religious leaders in Poland has created a “dangerous and unwelcoming” environment.
The worst incident happened to Adamowicz in 2015 when he was followed home in Warsaw, attacked and left bleeding on the sidewalk. The attackers hurled anti-LGBT abuse.
Adamowicz, who was brought up in a religious family with nine siblings, finally decided to leave Poland a year ago, with hopes of finding greater freedom abroad. But the pandemic has limited the options. Plans to get a job in a vegan restaurant in Berlin — sometimes jokingly referred to as the “gay capital of Poland” — fell through. A booked flight to Montreal to claim asylum was canceled. Now Adamowicz is considering a return to Poland, to work and save money.
“On the one hand, I feel like I’m somehow obligated to stay and fight for rights. But on the other hand, I know we can’t get it right now,” they said. “Change is impossible.”