Artists, academics defend LGBT rights in Poland

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Dozens of authors, artists and scholars — including writer Margaret Atwood and film directors Pedro Almodóvar and Mike Leigh— have expressed outrage at the hostility being directed toward LGBT people in Poland by the country’s president and other politicians.

In what they called a letter of “solidarity and protest,” they wrote to Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, calling on the European Union to defend human rights values “being blatantly violated in Poland.”

“Homophobic aggression in Poland is growing because it is condoned by the ruling party, which has chosen sexual minorities as a scapegoat with no regard for the safety and well-being of citizens,” the letter said.

The letter, dated Monday, comes amid a bitter cultural clash in Poland, where calls for greater rights for LGBT people have been met with a furious backlash from the powerful Roman Catholic church and the right-wing ruling party, Law and Justice.

President Andrzej Duda, a party ally, won a tight reelection in July after a campaign vowing to defend the country’s traditional Catholic identity. He called the LGBT rights movement move dangerous than communism.

In the letter, also signed by Poland’s Nobel laureate for literature Olga Tokarczuk, came to the defense of activists who have been detained this month for protesting the anti-LGBT rhetoric.

“We speak out in solidarity with activists and their allies, who are being detained, brutalized, and intimidated,” the letter said. “We voice our grave concern about the future of democracy in Poland, a country with an admirable history of resistance to totalitarianism and struggle for freedom.”

Recently the EU did react by rejecting small amounts of funding to six communities that had declared themselves to be “free of LGBT ideology,”

On Tuesday, the Polish justice minister, Zbigniew Ziobro, said that one of those communities, Tuchów, had become the victim of “ideological persecution” by the EU and that his ministry was earmarking 250,000 zlotys ($68,000 or 57,000 euros) to support it from a special fund.

He praised the town for what he said was the support of “well-functioning family” life.

Associated Press

Gay Pride parade engulfs Sao Paulo despite unease over Brazil's conservative turn

SAO PAULO, Brazil — One of the world's largest LGBT Pride parades took center stage in Sao Paulo on Sunday, with the carnivalesque festivities tinged with unease over Brazil's conservative political climate under President Jair Bolsonaro.

Tens of thousands of people took part in the annual march through the heart of Brazil's economic capital, traditionally an exuberant celebration of camp, color and fantasy.

But this year, many participants said they were turning out because they feel their liberties are increasingly under threat.

"I came to fight against homophobia and disrespect," said 31-year-old Monique Barber, who said she faced verbal attacks at the start of the march.

"We have a homophobic politician and we are seeing things go backwards. Just imagine being attacked at the LGBT march itself," she said.

Bolsonaro, a right-wing ex-army officer who was elected president last year, has a long history of homophobic, racist and chauvinist remarks.

Since taking office January 1, he has doubled down on that anti-gay posture, calling a recent Supreme Court decision criminalizing homophobia "an error."

Bolsonaro, who is Catholic, has strong support from Brazil’s growing Evangelical community.

This week he became the first Brazilian president to join the annual "March for Jesus," also held in Sao Paulo, an event that attracts Evangelical faithful from around the country.

Marina Fernandes, 19, said she was taking part in the march for the first time in support of LGBT rights, although she identifies as heterosexual.

"I came because I feel empathy and because I believe in respect for others. You don't have to be homosexual for that," she said.

Nineteen sound vehicles ran the length of the parade route, laden with music acts that include Spice Girl Mel C, as well as the Brazilian performers Karol Conka, Iza and Luisa Sonza.

'50 Years Since Stonewall'

This year's theme is "50 Years Since Stonewall," in tribute to the protests at a New York gay bar in 1969 that helped launch the modern LGBT rights movement.

Pedestrian crossing lights on Paulista Avenue were retouched for the event; instead of the traditional red and green, they flash same-sex couples.

A medical station displayed enormous rainbow decorations, and some businesses joined in, draping storefronts with the movement's symbolic colors.

"Prejudice has a cure, through education," read a sign borne alongside the parade's lead sound truck.

"I define myself as powerful," said a smiling Jonathan Alves, 27, ducking discussion of his sexual preference.

Wearing black pants and bra, his lips daubed with pink lipstick, Alves said he had overcome his fears to take part in the march for the first time.

"You have to come because it helps you accept yourself. Some people hide their entire lives and it's important to accept yourself, and even more so to show that we are no different," he said.

Brazil under Bolsonaro is a scary place, said demonstrator Felipe Ferreira, 27.

"We have a homophobic government that promotes and facilitates the carrying of weapons. A president that does not believe that homophobia is a crime, and who empowers intolerant people," he said.

Ferreira, who lives in the Sao Paulo area, said that the LGBT community outside of the big cities is extremely vulnerable.

"Just holding hands with your partner could cost you your life," said Ferreira, who was shirtless and had a rainbow flag tied around his neck.

source: philstar.com