A personal request

Dear friends, I can't express how relieved I was to hear the Pride march in the Polish city of Płock last Saturday went peacefully. But the photos of rainbow waving Poles flanked by a cordon of masked police in heavy body armor left a bitter taste in my mouth. The threat is real. I was born in Poland under the socialist regime when the country was subjected to the Soviet Union. Through the last two decades, I've watched Poland from the outside as it has transformed into a modern, open-minded, and more LGBT+ friendly society. Recent studies have shown rising support for civil unions and marriage for same-sex couples. But the far-right government and leaders of the Catholic Church are not having it. They're using LGBT+ people as a tool to advance their political agenda and to divide society. So far, it has been mostly words. But words can easily turn into deadly action. Friends, you and more than 30,000 people have signed our petition in solidarity with the Polish LGBT+ community. You can really make a difference by sharing the campaign with some of your friends: SHARE IT ON FACEBOOK SHARE IT ON WHATSAPP SHARE IT ON TWITTER Thanks for going All Out, Mathias Wasik Director of Programs Here's the previous email: -------------------

Dear friends, We're under attack in Poland. Jarosław Kaczyński, the leader of the ruling Law and Justice party, calls us a "threat to Polish identity, to our nation." His party colleague Elżbieta Kruk even said: "I think that Poland will be a region free from LGBT." But Poland is our home, too. We will not back down and let politicians scapegoat us by turning us into a fake "public enemy." We saw under the Nazis and Soviets where this can lead. Hate speech can very quickly turn into hate crimes. Friends, we are determined to defend ourselves, but we could really use your support. Poland relies heavily on funding and investment from the European Union. If EU leaders condemn the attacks on our community, the government will have to act. Can you sign our petition and call on the European Union to support us? Over the last few weeks, around 30 Polish municipalities have declared themselves "LGBT-free zones"; a newspaper distributed stickers with the same inflammatory slogan and a crossed-out Pride flag; participants at a Pride march in the city of Białystok were attacked with stones and bottles by nationalist hooligans and far-right groups; and now, anti-LGBT+ groups are calling on Facebook to block another Pride march in the city of Płock this coming Saturday. With all the bad news, it's easy to forget that there are positive developments, too: This year, 23 Pride marches have been registered across Poland – more than ever before. And recent opinion polls have shown that a majority of Poles now support civil unions for same-sex couples. While many Polish people are starting to open their hearts and minds, politicians are declaring us "enemies of the state" to support their agendas. Friends, show your solidarity with Polish LGBT+ people by signing the petition. Thanks for going All Out, Justyna Nakielska, Kampania Przeciw Homofobii – KPH (Campaign Against Homophobia) SOURCES:  ● Polish cities and provinces declare 'LGBT-free zones' as government ramps up 'hate speech' – The Independent, 20 July 2019  ● Polish city holds first LGBTQ pride parade despite far-right violence – CNN, 21 July 2019  ● Kampania Przeciw Homofobii website (in Polish) Help fuel global campaigns for LGBT+ equality. Become an Equality Champion with a small, monthly gift! DONATE TODAY

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