Hostile school environment and no government partnership with civil society: -5/10 | There is no evidence of the government providing funding or working in partnership with civil society: 0/10 | The government provides funding and works in partnership with civil society to promote inclusive education for one ground of discrimination: 5/10 | Two grounds: 7.5/10 | Three grounds: 10/10
Poland has grown increasingly hostile towards LGBTQI people since 2018. Starting from 2018, Polish towns began declaring themselves “LGBT-free zones” or adopting “Family Charter” resolutions, the latter also being an implicit attack against LGBTQI people and organisations. In 2021, seven municipalities withdrew these declarations. The campaign was condemned by regional and international actors. In 2021, the European Parliament adopted a resolution declaring the European Union as an “LGBTIQ Freedom Zone”. In 2025, the last municipalities withdrew these declarations.
Countless anti-LGBTQI rallies have taken place since 2018, featuring hateful slogans, signs, and chants. These events were not condemned by the authorities. On the contrary, several LGBTQI activists were arrested and detained in 2020, in what amounted to degrading and inhumane treatment by the state. Others were taken to court for ‘insulting religious feelings’. Anti-gender and anti-LGBTQI rhetoric have been commonly used by religious and political leaders, including President Duda, who was re-elected in 2020.
Hostilities have been ever present in the area of education as well. In 2018, local LGBTQI organisation KPH’s annual school campaign Rainbow Friday received serious backlash and had to be called off. The campaign aimed to ensure the safety and well-being of LGBTQI students, but was attacked by political and religious figures. The education superintendent in Małopolska Voivodeship, Barbara Nowak, ordered school inspections, and teachers reported being threatened if they welcomed LGBTQI-related content in their classes. Civil society organisations petitioned for the removal of Nowak from the superintendent position, but were unsuccessful. The Minister of Education also condemned KPH’s campaign and called it a violation of Polish law. According to a report of the Campaign against Homophobia by KPH, 70% of young LGBTQI people in Poland have experienced violence in schools.
In 2021, Poland started the process of appointing a new Commissioner for Human Rights. The European Network of Equality Bodies (Equinet) and other regional and international bodies have expressed concern about the potential outcomes.
ECRI has noted that intersex children face discrimination and condescending treatment, not only by peers in school, but also by teachers.
The government does not provide funding, nor does it actively work in partnership with NGOs to promote LGBTQI inclusive education.
