Life of Szymon Niemiec

Gay clubbing in Warsaw...hmmm

Warsaw is capital city of Poland. Last polls said that we have almost 2 000 000 people living here. Our "pink" media and NGOs declare amount 200 000 GLBT people in Warsaw. Huge numbers isn't it?

In 1998, when I became one of the first openly gay person in Poland, my city had four gay clubs. Two of them was located underground in old basements, one was Greek's style pub, and one was disco club. Warsaw's gay community doesn't have so much choice, so gay clubs owners had motto:

"Doesn't matter how our club looks, or what we will do. Queers will come anyway".

Not so much changed for this years. Now, in 2008 GLBT person in Warsaw can choose between 14 clubs, bars and saunas. Disco clubs, sex clubs, pub's style clubs, saunas and everything else. Nice...it will be nice, except one thing. Motto of gay club owners doesn't change. They still are in morality:

"We will give you place to come, and you will give us all your money.That's all what you can expect."

In most "western" countries, what I was proud to visit, gay club's owners was prepared not only for "take" but for "give" way of thinking. I mean "I will give you something special, because you are my client, and I want you to come back" way of thinking. But not in Warsaw. I remember how hard it was for me and my friends bring gay club's owners to participate in costs of Equality Parade. All of them was open and happy, when we propose them after party hosting. But their enthusiasm stopped just after first question: "How much you can donate to parade?". After few years nothing change. When you visiting Warsaw's gay clubs, you can expect nothing but standard. The same visage for years, the same Drag Queen's show as it was presented year ago, and the same "stars". What's changing? Entrance payments - thats for sure!

It is something what always surprised me. When I am going to "straight" club, entrance is free - owners charge me only if they offer something special - like show or concert. In gay clubs - tickets are for "Weekend Party". Just party, no show, no special guests, no "award" (of course you can named  welcome drink as "award" if you want). Why? Because:

"Queers are stupid, and they will come anyway"

Hopefully I see a little difference. New generation arise and young GLBT people expecting something more. So maybe it is a hope for Gay Life in Warsaw? Who knows?

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If you are a Polish atheist or gay and you die...

If you are a Polish atheist or gay and you die, your family may have problems with handling  your funeral with dignity. Why? First, most Polish cemeteries are under control of Roman Catholic Church. And second, not all cities has funeral service business prepared to organize and provide civil funerals.

It can be real problem for these of you, who don't want to buried by priest.
Hopefully there are some people in Poland, who serve as Masters of Civil Funeral Ceremonies. I am one of them.

What it is all about? In simple words - about dignity. When you are thinking about last moment on this world, and you don't believe in any type of God, you know that your last way shouldn't be connected to any religious ceremony don't you? Of course you don't have so many to say in this matter, because all funeral decisions will be made by your family. But, if they respect your decisions and wishes, they can try to conduct civil ceremony.

Some families decide make this by them selfs. But please believe me - this is not good idea at all. Emotions are too big, and it is really very hard to stay calm when you was close to dead person, and now you try to say something about him/her on his/her funeral. I know this very well, because some members of families, who used my services tried to stand and speak on the ceremony. It doesn't work - never.

This is why I always suggest to leave it to people like me. We, Masters of Civil Funeral Ceremonies, are prepared to carry people through this moment. Our work is hard and sad. Hard because we must deal with pain, memories, sometimes with hysteria. And sad, because no one better then us knows, what it is mean "Last goodbye".

But we are doing this. We are on the way between mortuary workers and priests. In our job we must be prepared to serve and work for others. Our goal is to make this last journey as dignified as we can. Even if we don't know nothing about dead person.

When I am preparing for next ceremony, I always try collect as much information as I can. I am asking family, what they want to be said and what was last wish of person who past-by.

It is not so easy in Poland, where almost 90% of population describes them selfs as catholics. For some of families civil funeral is shame, especially when they are forced by priest who don't allowed them to have religious funeral. Yes, it happens in Poland! If you are open gay or your family don't have enough money for priest - they will have problems. Hopefully we MCFC don't judge you. We know, that without any matter - you are human, and you deserve for dignity. Even on the last journey.

You can ask, why I am writing about this today. So...it is because of phone call what I received today. Woman who called me living in small town on the east of Poland. Her son died two days ago. He was gay. Priest from their church said, that he will not make funeral mass for "sinful sodomy man". I didn't know this guy. But he will have his last journey full of respect for him as a human - as he deserve for.

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I am still going forward

It is possible people to change their country from grassroots. In year 2007 my worldwide friends established the website FriendsofSzymon.org to help me with my biggest dream - Queer Central Station. This is to be the first LGBT Outreach Center in Poland.

After twenty month under the governance of a ultra-conservative homophobic parliament, president and premier that government collapsed and Polish began to live gain with some dignity.

 

I've start to work hard on helping other LGBT Polish persons and have great hopes of creating a united effort to engage diplomatically the new government to protect all minorities.

 

Today the discussion about legal partnership in Poland is very difficult but this is not the singular most important issues facing us. We should take smaller steps ensuring basic equality in education, work and living standards in Polish society. Homosexual marriage is a dramatic leap for our society and I believe that it is not the "Big" battle in achieving equality but not now. First we must organize and unite and challenge discrimination within our society which causes us to live in fear – forced into closets throughout our nation's villages, towns and cities much like undesirables. But, waiting for miracle is not good idea either. We should take this time to make long term plans to establish ourselves politically thought our nation.

Our first idea was bring action to forward to parliament a suggestion for a "Hate Crime Bill."  This is not a new ideal in fact it was introduced  in 2003 as an idea of left side parties, and although the left side parties publically claimed to support the legislation they  did nothing to advance it even though they were in the majority and complete control of government.

Polish laws punish by incarceration for hate against speech and actions against a person for sex, religion, nationality and race. But these same laws do not protect against hate crimes against individuals for homophobia. I've started to lobby as a private citizen to change these laws. The Polish Secretary of the State - Mrs. Julia Pitera has been formally presented with my proposal. In my suggestion to her and the Polish parliamentarians our nations Hate Crime Bill should include the words "any conditions".

 

"Friends of Szymon" Foundation was officially established in January 2007. It is my hope to use this organization as a vehicle for progressive change within my country towards greater tolerance of LGBT individuals.

I will have a few important meetings next week with parliamentarians and people from Department of Women, Family and Nondiscrimination of Ministry of Work and Social Politic. I want to push HC Bill through.

FoSz Foundation has more programs and projects which we hope our worldwide friends will join us in advocating. There is a saying in Africa,"If you want to go quickly go alone; If you want to go far - the distance - take friends". This sage advice along with the words of
Luciano de Crescenzo in our websites introduction, we use both as a motto's of inspiration. "We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly, by embracing one another. ". We started this journey but  we cannot achieve victory alone. Therefore we ask our universal friends combined with these visions and knowledge to walk with us along this journey.

 

Let's join forces to eradicate discrimination in this world. If we each do something this creates momentum and once we have momentum the crimson tide will overcome obstacles and barriers.

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Rest in Peace Sir Michael...

Today I received information, that one of people, who I know died.
Michael Pirog wasn't my friend. In fact many times he was my big opponent in discussions about LGBT rights and politic.  He was very good know as Polish Blogger "Antykaczy" (Anti Duck).
This young warrior made suicide. I am still in shock. Whats going on with this world?
We are loosing young fighters, who are loosing their hope, their dreams, their passions.
Why? Why we cannot keep them on way to change things what they disagree?
This is so sad.
In my memory Michael always will be Sir Michael. Opponent, but with honor and respect for others.
Rest in Peace Sir Michael, and see you at the better world.

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Super Bowl in silence

This year's Super Bowl will be very special. For the first time this loud event will have one minute complete silence. Thanks to Pepsico, who prepare a very special commercial. You probably know, that every 30 sec. commercial on SB costs about 30 million USD? And this time Pepsico prepared commercial spot without sound. Why? Because they want to show that they care about people, who cannot hear.
Check this video, and see, how in funny way, we can be together in diversity.

Happy...

Christmas time... as every year I see many people in "Christmas Crazy Mood". I can imagine why. In Poland (and probably in most of the countries) last week of December is very important. For Christians it's Birthday of Jesus The Christ, for Jews - Hanukkah, for Muslims  - Birthday of Prophet Isu ben Josef. For the rest of the world - Day of Last Judgment.
Yeap... cleaning, shopping, cooking, meeting... who doesn't know this?
But we all together should remember, that this day is very important to all of us. Old tradition says that 25th of December is a day of forgiveness. In this day we should sit with family and friends and forgive  anything bad.
So, without looking for who you are, please feel free to sit with me here, catch my hand and feel freedom, happiness and joy.
Marry Christmas , Happy Hanukkah, Happy Birthday and Happy whatever you want for everybody!!!

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Mr. Biedron against justice?

As I wrote yesterday, Polish Institute of National Memory (IPN) started official investigation against communist crime known as "Hyacinth Action". This crime was prepared and done by communist regime against homosexuals in Poland. More then 11000 people was arrested, and pushed to sign "Homosexual Card" - piece of paper what said: "I, near signed declare that I am homosexual from date of birth, and I wasn't in any criminal group, and I don't have any sexual contacts with non adults". All victims of this action has "pink files".
With Mr. Jacek Adler from Gaylife.pl I signed a petition to IPN, asked for justice for victims. We demand official investigation.
Today in Polish newspaper "Dziennik" Anna Monkos wrote article about this. She said, that our first goal is to put all this shame files in one closed catalog, where nobody will have access. This is only way in our law, to secure victims of this crime.
I was sure, that Polish gay organizations will be happy about it. But I was wrong.
Mr. Biedron said to "Dziennik", that he is against us and our demands. Why? He don't explain it, but for me it is quite interesting. Mr. Biedron is a member of SLD (Former Communist Party), so it is very interesting, that he want to protect his friends, who was oppressors for gays. What is even more funny, he demand to destroy "pink files". He started demanding this in 2004, and he don't stop, even after he realize that our law don't allowed destroy any documents in IPN.
Only way to secure this shame files is by investigation and court. Campaign Against Homophobia - association under Biedron's management didn't do  anything for 3 years. They forget about victims of Hyacinth Action. They don't care that most of them are still live in fear. For Biedron, his friendship with post communists are more important as I see. Thats shame...big shame for him, and in fact for this "gay movement."

VIDEO RELATION (in Polish)

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Vote for my friend!!!

Dear Readers, Friends and Supporters,
I want to ask you for a little help. Not for me this time, but for my friend Alan, who is into contest for Best Dressed Man of the Capital Region. I think he is cute (look for the photo!!!) and he should win.
You can help him by going via this link, and giving your vote for him.
Let's do it together!!!

22 years in silence

15th November 1985 gen. Czeslaw Kiszczak - minister of Internal Administration and Secret Service in Poland under communist regime, signed order starting Police and Secret Service action against homosexuals. This action are known as "Hyacinth Action".

By two years over 13000 people was stopped by Police, some of them was arrested, some bitten. We know also about a few deaths. Police created "pink files" for all victims. This files was missing after 1989, when Poland become free republic. Until today, nobody knows, where this files of shame are.

Before last elections, I send with Mr. Jacek Adler, letter to National Institute of Memory (IPN), demanding official investigation. Until today, we don't receive answer.

Yesterday, Jacek send open letter to president of IPN, asking him, whats going on...

Maybe this time this 22 years silence will be broken, and victims will find a justice.

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Day of Independence

Today in Poland we celebrate Day of Independence. 89 years ago Poland become a free country.
This is great day for all of Polish people. In our history we have many bad times. For ages we was under occupation. Russia, Germany, Austria, Sweden, all this countries in the past was our enemies. Now, they are our friends. Except the Russia, all other "old enemies" are part of big UE family.
Day of Independence is big day for us. It teach us, how important is to fight for freedom and national stability. I hope, that now we can learn, how to live in peace with all our "outside friends".

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