On Thursday, the European Parliament passed a resolution which proclaims the European Union to be an “LGBTIQ freedom zone”.
The project was prepared by MEPs from the European People’s Party, Socialists, Renew Europe, the Greens, and the Left. Polish liberal and left-wing MEPs also helped prepare the resolution, with 492 MEPs voting in favor, 141 voting against, and 46 abstaining.
PiS MEP Zdzisław Krasnodębski underlined, in an interview for Polish Radio, that he voted against the resolution as he believes that it is unnecessary and contains much false information. He added that LGBTIQ persons will not receive any new additional rights due to the resolution. Krasnodębski stated, however, that the intention itself to protect LGBTIQ minorities from persecutions was good.
Krasnodębski reminded also that European Parliament’s resolution does not have any legal power.
“This is like an ordinary parliament resolution. It is a political declaration,” the MEP pointed out.
Another PiS MEP, Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, noted in an interview for Polish Radio that statements concerning “Polish LGBT-free zones” are based on the lies of leftist activist Bart Staszewski.
“This narrative thread is being continued no matter what. No one is bothered about the fact that the LGBT-free zones are based on fake news. The EU is combating disinformation while permitting it at the same time,” he said.
Saryusz-Wolski emphasized that Polish opposition MEPs have managed to strengthen a false narrative about Poland.
“The message based on falsehoods has been confirmed by Poles in the European Parliament. This is partially a cynical move, but also an element of psychological warfare to dishearten their opponent. An undeclared war is raging within the EP,” he stressed.
The resolution calls for the European Commission to use all available tools e to oppose the violation of basic rights of LGBTIQ people in the EU. These tools involve using Article 7 of the treaty of the European Union, infringement procedures, the rule-of-law framework, and the recently adopted regulation on the protection of the EU budget in case of generalized deficiencies regarding the rule of law in member states.
