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# Thousands sign petition against Poland’s LGBTQ+ free zones
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/thousands-sign-petition-against-polands-lgbtq-free-zones/
- Published: 2020-09-26T08:09:43.000Z
- Updated: 2020-09-25T10:13:10.000Z
- Description: Nearly 350,000 have signed an All Out petition which demands action against the rise in ‘LGBTQ+ free’ zones in Poland.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: Letters, News, Politics, All Out, Andrzej Duda, Eu, European Commission, Joe Biden, Krasnik, LGBTQ, LGBTQ Poland, LGBTQ+ free zones Poland, Poland, Ursula von der Leyen

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/lgbt_equality_flag-1.jpg)

Nearly 350,000 have signed an **All Out** [petition](https://action.allout.org/en/a/poland/?ref=scenemag.co.uk) which demands action against the rise in ‘LGBTQ+ free’ zones in **Poland**. All Out – a global equality organisation – said “hate and violence against LGBTQ+ communities in Poland are escalating” and urge people to ‘show their solidarity’ by signing. The petition is directed at head of the European Commission, **Ursula von der Leyen**, with the hope she will demand greater protection for the Polish LGBTQ+ community.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/offizielles-portraet-ursula-von-der-leyen-1.jpg)

Ursula von der Leyen

Ursula von der Leyen [condemned](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/eu-official-demands-action-against-lgbtq-free-towns/) Poland’s LGBTQ+ free zones in an address at an **EU** conference on **September 16**, saying they ‘have no place’ in the Union. **US** presidential candidate **Joe Biden** agreed with Leyen as he [tweeted](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/update-biden-condemns-lgbtq-free-towns/) ‘LGBTQ+ rights are human rights’. Opposition to LGBTQ+ rights has grown rapidly since the 2020 re-election of anti-LGBTQ+ president **Andrzej Duda** who vowed to crack down on what he refers to as ‘LGBTQ+ ideology’, causing some LGBTQ+ Poles to flee country in fear.

All Out estimates there are now 100 LGBTQ+ free zones in Poland, which have all signed pledges agreeing to ‘oppose acts of tolerance’ towards the queer community. Although the EU has already [blocked](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/eu-denies-funding-for-lgbtq-free-polish-towns/) funding for town twinning in some zones, one LGBTQ+ free town – **Kraśnik** – recently [voted](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/lgbtq-free-zone-votes-to-continue-its-anti-queer-policies/) to continue its homophobic policies despite the economic implications of this. All Out believes more drastic action needs to be taken to combat the hostility towards the Polish LGBTQ+ community.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/lgbt-rights-600-400.jpg)