Creating a conservative sentiment: Poland’s attitude towards LGBTI when PiS was in charge

In the last two decades, life for people from the Polish LGBTI community has changed dramatically. Coming from a country filled with Catholicism and a caution towards everything that threatens what they call their 'Polish identity', the topic of homosexuality and gender identities is one of taboo. But just like it has all around Europe, and many places in the world, the LGBTI community has become more visible. More people than ever are coming out for who they love. People are screaming louder and louder in their pride marches. People have changed attitudes in terms of religiosity, liberalism, and their views on people being able to live their lives in a way that makes them happy. But, of course, that comes with a response from the conservative Polish government, and a price for the community to pay.

PiS and the politics of tradition

The years 2015 to 2023 were times of hope for the European LGBTI community.

The European Union was busy rolling out strategy after strategy to support the LGBTI community. Think, for instance, about the 2015 List of Actions and the 2020 LGBTIQ Equality Strategy. But while the EU moved towards acceptance, Poland didn’t follow. Under former President Andrzej Duda and his conservative party Law and Justice (PiS), the focus shifted elsewhere: higher wages, more child benefits, and traditional family values.

LGBTI rights weren’t part of the plan. Sometimes, they were even pushed back against. During his 2020 campaign, Duda even called “LGBT ideology” more dangerous than communism. He described it as something foreign that threatened the Polish identity. With 88% of PiS voters reportedly sharing that view, the message landed.

Former President Andrzej Duda (bron: ANP)

Critics, like a Polish citizen named Thomas Krotkiewski, argued that this was no coincidence. On a public forum, he wrote: “A populist government needs external enemies. Preferably, an enemy that is unknown and a little scary to the small-town folks. It’s an old-school populist PR trick, nothing more. Sad, but true.”

Between 2018 and 2021, ILGA Europe tracked a rise in anti-LGBTI comments from politicians and public figures. The community was often portrayed as a threat. To kids, to religion and to the national identity. While most of Europe focused on inclusion, Poland chose a different path. And for many queer people in the country, that choice had real consequences.

 

Of course, the government didn't create that sentiment alone. Interested in some other factors? Read about them here! 

The influence of the overwhelming Catholic faith

“My home country, Poland, is one of the most religious countries,” said queer Polish citizen Agnieszka Czajkowska, when asked why queer rights keep getting pushed back. “Even though the clergy’s power has faded, their values are still baked into everyday life, and the government’s only reinforcing that.”

She’s not wrong. Catholicism runs deep in Poland. In 2022, 85% identified as Roman Catholic, the highest rate in Europe, and by 2024, that had jumped to 88.8%. But numbers only say so much.

In truth, cracks are showing. Cities like Częstochowa and Warsaw have started cutting funding for religious education. And when the 2019 documentary Tell No One exposed child abuse in the Church and the cover-up at the top, public trust plummeted. A 2020 study, set in motion by the newspaper Dziennik Gazeta Prawna and RMF FM Radio, showed nearly two-thirds of Poles believed the church was hurting, not helping, society.

Still, its influence can’t be denied. The church helped shape Poland’s conservative identity, including views on homosexuality. A religion in which in the eyes of many, being queer isn’t just wrong, it’s seen as a sickness that becomes a sin the moment you act on it. Believing the Bible says so. Not everyone thinks that way anymore, but in a country so tied to the Church, those beliefs still echo through the culture.

The role of the media and the picture they paint

We can’t forget the media. “The Polish media has mostly promoted extreme stereotypes (by often using footage from Western pride parades) for decades. This has influenced public opinion about gay people, for them to be perceived as perverted, pushy, and destructive to society,” says queer Polish citizen Agnieszka.

For many, the media is their primary source of information about homosexuality, as they may not personally know any queer people. Research from ISOPS shows that 36% of people report knowing someone who identifies as LGBTI. “Many gays are still in the closet, as they fear losing family, friends, and sometimes their jobs.” 

So, the negative sentiment towards queer individuals causes them to keep their sexual orientation to themselves, which in turn limits visibility. That invisibility leads much of the public to rely on media portrayals, often distorted or negative, further reinforcing harmful stereotypes.

LGBT-free zones: Where LGBTI-ideologies couldn’t be spread

One of the most talked-about actions taken during PiS’s time in power was the creation of so-called LGBT-free zones. The first appeared in 2019.

Despite how it sounds, officials said these zones weren’t targeting individuals. The focus, they claimed, was on preventing the spread of 'LGBT ideology', not on restricting the rights of LGBTI people themselves. This distinction made it difficult for opponents to challenge the zones legally. But in practice, it meant that local governments could oppose things like inclusive sex education in schools, pride events, anti-discrimination training, and funding for LGBTI organizations.

While homosexuality remained legal in Poland, these zones created a climate where many LGBTI individuals, especially in smaller towns, reported feeling unsafe or unwelcome. Some faced verbal abuse or harassment. A few even experienced physical violence. Activists also reported receiving threats. The Catholic Church, a powerful force in Polish politics and society, expressed support for the zones, viewing them as a means to preserve traditional values.

Over time, about a third of the country was declared an 'LGBT-free' area by local governments. This map colors the places that have been such a zone at some point. You can click on the map for more information. The lack of red shows that today, every LGBT-free zone has been revoked.

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