"I just remember curling up into a ball." Green Party leader, Zack Polanski, recalls homophobic assault

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has spoken about a devastating homophobic attack that once left him fearing for his life.

Now six months into his leadership, the Salford‑born politician has reflected on the extreme prejudice he faced as a teenager simply for holding hands with another boy.

Recalling the assault, Polanski said: “I felt a smack on the head and someone shouting ‘f**got!’ I fell to the ground and the kicking continued. I just remember curling up into a ball and hoping it would stop.”

Despite requiring hospital treatment, the Member of the London Assembly - recently named Attitude 101 Trailblazer of the Year - never told his parents about the incident.

Speaking to Attitude, he explained: “This was around the Section 28 era. You weren’t finding community in school; it didn’t feel like there were any support groups. The way I was discovering who I was came through bars and nightclubs, which is a completely unacceptable environment for a 14, 15 or 16‑year‑old to be in.”

Polanski has also reiterated his ambitions to pursue what he calls “bold politics”, aiming to re‑imagine the UK’s economic model and redirect political focus away from “the wealthy who are hoarding power and wealth.”

He has recently entered the national debate on small boat crossings, arguing that the UK should reopen discussions on establishing a processing centre in Calais. “I really want to stop the boats. Let’s make sure we have a processing centre in Calais. That’s not some kind of dream,” he said.

According to Polanski, such plans were seriously explored until 2016, before being shut down by the Conservative government, which he claims intentionally fuelled a backlog of asylum applications to create a narrative of “invasion” rather than addressing “the real problems created by austerity”.

In December 2025, the 43‑year‑old visited asylum camps in Calais to witness conditions first‑hand. “People are trapped in a kind of purgatory, treated appallingly,” he said. “Most of the small boats are being steered by children offered free passage. Their families are so desperate to get them out of Calais that they risk their lives in freezing water rather than leave them in those unimaginable circumstances. That’s how grim Calais is.”

The Attitude March/April issue is out now.