London protest during Poland's PM visit
Please find below information about the protest organised in London during the Polish prime minister's visit to London plus a brefing and background information on homophobia in Poland by ILGA-Europe.
Gays condemn Marcinkiewicz’s homophobia
London 24 November 2005
Poland’s homophobic Prime Minister, Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz, made an undignified entrance via a side street to avoid gay rights protesters picketing his lecture at Chatham House in London this afternoon (24 November).
Instead of entering Chatham House via the grand entrance in St James’s Square, Mr Marcinkiewicz was bundled in via a side entrance in a nearby backstreet, Duke of York Street.
Outside Chatham House, London-based Poles joined a picket organised by LGBT human rights group, OutRage!, with the support of the European Region of the International Lesbian & Gay Association.
Martin Canerai and Swietlana, from Warsaw, were among the Poles who took part in the protest. They expressed their horror and fear at the rise of Mr Marcinkiewicz and his homophobic, right-wing Law and Justice party:
"We appreciate this protest in London," said Swietlana. "Polish lesbians and gays need international solidarity."
Shortly after being named Prime Minister, Mr Marcinkiewicz declared homosexuality "unnatural," adding: "The family is natural, and the state must stand guard over the family."
Mr Marcinkiewicz, a Catholic fundamentalist, went on to say that if a homosexual "tries to infect others with their homosexuality, then the state must intervene in this violation of freedom."
"This protest was very necessary, especially following last weekend’s violent police arrests of gay marchers in the Polish city of Poznan," said David Allison of the LGBT human rights group OutRage!.
"We want the Polish Prime Minister to know that homophobes are not welcome in the UK," said Mr Allison.
Further information: Brett Lock OutRage! - + 44 (0) 770 843 5917
Nigel Warner ILGA-Europe - + 44 (0) 20 7278 1496
