Poland Rises in EU LGBT+ Ranking, Still Second to Last
Poland’s ranking in ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map has improved, rising from the lowest position in the EU to second-lowest, surpassing only Romania. This increase to 20.5% from 17.5% reflects a better “civil society space,” with fewer state obstructions of LGBT+ events and the repeal of all anti-LGBT+ resolutions by local authorities. However, significant challenges remain, including a lack of hate crime protections and legal recognition of same-sex relationships, resulting in zero scores in those categories. Despite a government bill to criminalize anti-LGBT+ hate speech passing parliament, President Duda’s referral to the constitutional court has stalled its enactment.
John Q. Hosedrinker