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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