Polish writer Jacek Dehnel can take a breath a sigh of alleviation. Literary occasions for his audience are occurring in his homeland once more– and he is being welcomed. This was not a provided under the previous federal government of the national-conservative Law and Justice celebration (PiS), which was in power in Poland from 2015 to 2023.
“Things gradually reduced and got worse over time,” Dehnel informed DW.
The freely gay writer is among Poland’s best-known modern authors. He has actually created many books and verse collections, along with gone far for himself as a translator. His jobs have actually been converted right into German and English.
Five years earlier, Dehnel got to the final thought that Poland was “not a safe place for LGBT people.” The PiS federal government was continuously stimulating bitterness in the direction of LGBT areas.
Polish President Andrzej Duda, that continues to be in workplace till mid-2025, asserted that “LGBT is an ideology, not people.” Almost a 3rd of Polish cities and districts were stated “LGBT-free zones.”
“It was discrimination, persecution of our community, state-organized agitation,” Jacek Dehnel stated, discussing why he and his hubby, author Piotr Tarczynski, chose to make their home in the German funding, Berlin.
No lawful adjustments
Now, these “PiS refugees” are going back toPoland “To a somewhat better Poland,” Dehnel stated with a smile, although he confessed his homeland is “not heaven on Earth.”
“Many things in Poland still need changing and improving,” he stated. “The legal situation for LGBT people hasn’t changed.”
Poland was a pioneer in the emancipation of its homosexual residents. Same- sex connections were legalized there in 1932, contrasted to 1957 in East Germany and 1969 inWest Germany But ever since, there has actually been little progression.
“Fundamental changes have not yet taken place, such as protection against hate speech based on sexual orientation and identity, and the possibility of same-sex partnerships or marriage equality,” Dehnel stated.
Poland is among 5 EU nations that does not use signed up same-sex collaborations, not to mention marital relationship.
The existing liberal federal government under Prime Minister Donald Tusk wishes to transform this. A costs on signed up civil collaborations has actually currently existed, starting a difficult fight within Tusk’s very own union, that includes the Christian democratic-conservative partnership The Third Way.
It’s unclear when the legislation could enter into impact, and also if it is passed, Duda, a PiS ally, can ban it.
Changing culture
Dehnel and Tarczynski have actually been with each other for 21 years and obtained wed in London in 2018. Their marital relationship is not identified in Poland, where they have actually an arrangement signed up with a notary.
“The Polish state treats us like strangers. When we cross the bridge over the Oder River and enter Poland, we are divorced until we drive back and are married again on the Oder. A wedding made out of water,” is Dehnel’s symbolic summary of his circumstance.
Although the lawful circumstance in Poland has actually not yet altered, there is hope. What Dehnel called a “huge societal change,” which is “in some ways more important.”
“Many people already think quite differently about us,” he stated gladly. Recent surveys show that most of Poles sustain same-sex civil collaborations. “There’s a big difference between Polish society, which is increasingly open, and the political class, which is still conservative and afraid of the church.”
More and extra LGBT individuals are appearing, consisting of some somebodies. Dehnel stated he sees Pride ceremonies as evidence of this. For a long period of time, they were separated occasions that just happened in large cities. Now, individuals with rainbow flags march in greater than 30 areas, consisting of some towns. “The parades are becoming safer; people are getting used to them,” Dehnel stated. With yearly that passes, raising disgust versus LGBT individuals ends up being harder.
However, it continues to be to be seen whether they will certainly have the ability to live their lives as freely in Warsaw as they have inBerlin Dehnel has actually not experienced any type of homophobic remarks in the German funding– “except one, from a Pole.”
Even in Berlin, however, the circumstance is transforming, and it can differ relying on which area you remain in. “German LGBT organizations indicate that there has been a sharp increase in violence against queer people in Germany,” Dehnel stated.
Berlin in ‘extensive situation’
And this is not the only point that worries him. Dehnel mentioned living problems and the “profound crisis” the German funding discovers itself in as various other factors for leaving. Many deportees locate the city no more measures up to their assumptions. The worst point, he stated, is the administration, which “constantly multiplies problems.”
As instances, he defined the non-recognition of Polish records, “the malicious querying of various things,” and long haul times for authorities choices. “My husband waited 11 months to be recognized as an artist, then had to pay retrospective health insurance contributions for those 11 months when he wasn’t able to claim on the insurance,” the author stated.
He emphasized that this is much from a separated instance. Many deportees have actually come to be frustrated and are leaving the city, he stated. Once renowned for its social visibility and resistance, economical rental fees, and a vivid imaginative scene, Dehnel thinks Berlin no more measures up to its credibility.
His objections were released at the end of October in the Polish Newsweek publication and on social media sites, and triggered fairly a mix amongst Poles living inGermany “We are citizens of the European Union. When we come to Berlin, we’re not really moving away — we’re coming to another part of the community to which Poland and Germany belong. We have certain expectations,” Dehnel informed DW. Expectations such as having the ability to handle particular elements of the administration in English, to pay with a charge card, and gain access to much better electronic facilities.
“I expect a certain quality of service. More than this: I compare it with the level in Poland,” he included. The contrast typically becomes in Poland’s support.
Dehnel has actually been staying in Warsaw given that the start of December, having actually symbolically separated once again time when he went across theOder He’s maintaining his house in Berlin, however– simply in instance.
This write-up has actually been converted from German.
