The main blog in Polish was launched in November 2007. I launched this English version at the beginning of March 2008. The two versions are updated simultaneously, but step by step I am also translating all the posts from the past.

Sexuality is not a private thing!

by Wianek

This post was written by my friend Wianek (I only translated it), who will probably become the co-author of this blog.

Actually, I just wanted to comment on the previous post, but my thoughts had grown so much that I decided to pay the duty I promised when I was drunk and write a coherent text, even if it’s only a long comment.

A gay is a human like everyone else and I don’t care what he’s doing in his bedroom. Nice, isn’t it? Internet fora are full of similar statements. It’s even trendy to have such modern opinions. But I do care. I’ve been raised in a conviction that Romeo fucked Juliet, Tristan fucked Iseult and Petrarca wrote his poems to Laura, not to, let’s say, John. I have this problem that I’m just not able to put another Romeo in place of Juliet and I think I’m not the only one. All these attempts to show a couple of perfect gays in a way invented by heterosexual majority (vide Brokeback Mountain) just make me laugh. There’s no male Juliet, Iseult or Laura.

gay culture: visions of

I am definitely a heterosexual, who recently cured myself of homophobia and it was right after a long conversation with a couple of Irish gay guys in a pub (Irish, of course) over coffee and cigarettes. I have never been too anti, but before there had been some things always irritating me, that is this appearance, common among gay guys (not only, though), expressed in their gestures, walk etc., which me and my friends used to call briefly: fagness. And that Irish gay couple was evidently faggy. I think that thanks to that beer we were drinking together as well as that chitchat about everything (history of Ireland and Poland for example, also about gays) I got used to it and it no longer irritates me.

I’m not going to become a supporter or an activist of gay movements, of course. It makes me laugh when someone sometimes backs his artistic or intellectual mediocrity with his sexual orientation (and I know such persons), or something of which I once heard in TOK FM radio station and called gay culture. I think that sexual orientation is a private thing of every one of us. Of course in Poland it is not, it’s a taboo and the orientation other than heterosexual is a perversion and a sin.

MacKozer

Warsaw Pride 2008, Equality Parade - impressions

Warsaw Pride 2008Yesterday’s Equality Parade was the final point of last week’s Equality Days (with the slogan Live, Love, Be!) in Warsaw. Organizers assess the number of people who attended the Parade at 7-8 thousand, the police and mass media give the number of only 2 thousand. The truth lies somewhere in between and whether it’s many or not - that’s a relative thing. But one thing is certain, there were much fewer people than at the memorable year 2005 Parade, which was banned by former Warsaw’s mayor, Lech Kaczyński. Nevertheless, I was impressed. This was the first time I’ve attended the Equality Parade (last year I was still in China at that time; before - I’d better not mention) and in my own opinion, which knows only such expressions as many, few, I don’t know and something about that, it was a crowd.

Rainbow British embassy

Rainbow flagThe British announced yesterday that on the occasion of today’s Warsaw Pride and in token of solidarity with the Polish LGBT community the British embassy in Warsaw will fly the Rainbow flag just next to the UK flag. Ambassador Ric Todd has raised the flag yesterday, i.e. on Friday, at 4 p.m. and it will fly over the embassy till Monday morning. Last week the embassy in Rigue did the same thing. It is common for the Rainbow flag to fly from municipal buildings to mark Pride or other events, but it is thought that last week (in Rigue) marked the first time a British embassy has displayed it.

The UK remains committed to promoting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people overseas.

- said Mr Todd.

Warsaw Equality Parade 2008

Homosexuals are gay66% of the Poles say that gays and lesbians should have been forbidden to organize public demonstrations, 27% say they should have had this right. 66% think that the Poles’ attitude towards homosexuals is hostile, 25% - that it’s neutral and only 1% think that the attitude is friendly. 25% express the opinion that homosexual couples should have the right to show their lifestyle in public, 69% want them to stay invisible.

At the same time, only 15% of respondents admit that they know someone who is gay personally! And these are mostly citizens of some big cities. Young ones. Well, it’s hard to underestimate their level of education - better educated Poles more often consider homosexuality a totally normal thing, but it’s poor 8% in general.

Konrad and Paul

Konrad and Paul is a comic book, in which everything is put straight - crude humour, brilliant observations concerning characters’ every day and sexual life. Bad for them that they’re gay, because everyone will pay attention to their bed adventures and these are rather occasional… Sure, they talk about sex quite often (especially one of them), but this makes the comics even more funny.

What’s so shocking about this comic? When I hear such opinions, I sometimes feel as if I had gone back in time. In the West it really doesn’t shock anyone any more, we have to get through with this hypocrisy which dominates here in Poland - fags do exist, whether anybody likes it or not.

Wojtek Szot, abiekt.pl

Warsaw Pride 2008

Equality Festival 2008Hooray! A bit late though, but finally I know the complete schedule of this year’s Equality Days in Warsaw. Due to above mentioned I just have to share my precious knowledge with You and invite You to familiarize Yourself with the schedule. If by any chance You’re in Poland, in Warsaw or perhaps will be here next week, this is this unique chance to take part in such a wonderful event :]

The slogan of this year’s Equality Days is Live, Love, Be!. The main event will be the TV and Cinema Equality Film Festival, held between May 31 and June 6. Tomasz Raczek, one of the most important Polish media celebrity and film critique, will be the art-director. The Festival will take place in the Luna cinema in Warsaw. Apart from movie shows, that’s the place where the Hiacynt Prize (Hyacinth Prize - the prize which goes to people who made a great contribution on the fields of tolerance, equal rights and fighting homophobia) presentation ceremony, books and comics premières, as well as Equality Days opening and closing ceremonies will be held.

The Reverend Trytek Superstar: for fags - stake!

Dear Reader, let me introduce an up-and-coming star of Catholic anti-fag show business! Give a big hand to the Reverend Trytek!

(the full version of this post contains a video of the Reverend Trytek sharing his opinions about homosexuals and of what should be done to get rid of them; it’s in Polish, of course, but there’s nothing I can do but to provide You with a proper translation :] proceed and enjoy!)