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The 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.

This small gesture is a symbol of the British embassy’s commitment to equality and acceptance for all. This weekend’s Pride March will be a celebration of diversity in Poland, Europe and beyond.

The embassy’s initiative follows the issue of an LGBT Toolkit by The Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The document’s aim is to support LGBT rights movements in other countries and it’s been sent to 261 British embassies, high commissions and other diplomatic posts all over the world.

The FCO fully supports equality in the enjoyment of human rights and the inadmissibility of discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation.

The FCO should identify, with the support of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and international LGBT groups like the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA), countries where support from Posts and The British Council would provide added value to equality and non-discrimination work.

Initial discussions with the TUC suggest that countries of particular concern include Colombia, Egypt, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Nigeria, Uzbekistan and some of the new democracies of Eastern Europe. It’s only a small part, of course.

Human rights treaties do not specifically mention sexual orientation. However, the adjudicator bodies for the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights have both determined that discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation is contrary to their respective treaties.

EU laws and policies include equality and non-discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. This involves working for this objective as part of the common foreign and security policy.

If you’re interested, feel free to download (pdf) FULL TEXT OF LGBT TOOLKIT.

How positive, isn’t it? But on the other hand - Poland calls itself an European country, by which I mean being a member of the UE. In many countries (eastern ones) Poland is perceived as this so called West. And? Obeying some elementary human rights in this country is for the others to care about. I’m surprised at the British initiative, very positively surprised, rising the Rainbow flag is a really wonderful gesture. It may be small for the Ambassador, but for me - quite the contrary. This LGBT Toolkit is also an exemplary thing, because if my own country is not able to ensure me a sense of dignity and safety, perhaps it would be better indeed, if someone else influenced the situation, otherwise I couldn’t wait until kingdom come.

source: PinkNews

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