EU now ‘LGBT freedom zone’ opposing Poland’s ‘LGBT-free zones’

The European Parliament has declared that the whole of the European Union is now an “LGBTIQ Freedom Zone”.

The resolution was passed on Thursday in response to authorities in Poland labelling themselves “LGBT ideology-free zones”, reports the BBC.

The letters are used to refer to people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (or questioning), and intersex.

Poland, a staunchly Roman Catholic country, also intends to close a loophole that allowed same-sex couples to adopt.

The Polish government announced its proposal for the adoption ban just hours before the European Parliament’s declaration in support of LGBT rights.

Same-sex relationships are not legally recognised in Poland, and the country already bans homosexual couples from adopting children together. However, as single people are permitted to adopt, some have managed to get around the ban by applying to adopt as single parents.

Under the new law, authorities will be required to perform background checks on anyone applying to adopt a child as a single parent. If a person is found to be applying as a single parent when they are in a same-sex relationship, they will be criminally liable.

Announcing the new plan, Deputy Justice Minister Michal Wojcik said: “We are preparing a change where a homosexual couple will not be able to adopt a child.”

The EU resolution declares that “LGBTIQ persons everywhere in the EU should enjoy the freedom to live and publicly show their sexual orientation and gender identity without fear of intolerance, discrimination or persecution”.

It adds that “authorities at all levels of governance across the EU should protect and promote equality and the fundamental rights of all, including LGBTIQ persons”.

Thursday’s resolution said that discrimination not only needed to be addressed in Poland, but that it was “an issue across the EU”.