Homophobia in Eastern Europe
23 March 2009
Lesley Hedges reports from a fringe meeting held at the Green Party's spring conference in Blackpool:
Aleksandra Kretskowska from the Polish Greens spoke passionately about the prejudice and even violence faced by LGBT people in Eastern Europe. Discrimination continues towards out gay men and lesbians in many countries, including Poland, Latvia, Serbia and Lithuania. Prides and other demonstrations have been attacked by right wing and religious groups.
Attitudes and opposition are slowly changing. Kretskowska said that in Poland, Prides were small at first, with about 100 people attending. Over the last few years, confidence has grown, and so have the numbers who feel safe to come together to celebrate being gay and lesbian, bisexual and trans. They are gradually challenging the invisibility which has been forced on them.
The fringe was organised by Joseph Healy at the Green Party’s Spring Conference in Blackpool at the weekend (20th to 23rd March) and is part of a programme of meetings and activities of LGBTQI Greens to champion LGBTQI rights in the UK, Europe and the world.
The Green Party’s LGBTQI group pledged to help LGBT people in Eastern Europe and elsewhere in the world. We will be asking for alternate European Green Party meetings to be held in Eastern European countries and will publicise the hardship faced by our communities there and encourage people to support them through letter writing or attending Prides and other activities there.
Aleksandra said that European Union laws are making a difference in countries in Eastern Europe. Green MEP Jean Lambert, who represents the London Region, has pushed forward the human rights agenda including LGBT rights and has helped gay asylum seekers to find safety in the UK.
LGBTQI Greens also agreed to continue to combat homophobia in other parts of the world and to take action for IDAHO on May 17th.
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Notes:
- Joseph Healy is International Officer for the LGBTQI Greens.
- Lesley Hedges is Green Party LGBTQI spokesperson.
- Aleksandra Kretkowska is currently in London on European Exchange Programme is assisting with the London Euro election campaign
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