You`re right. Black people do indeed attract some attention in villages and perhaps in some smalltowns as well. But that is only manifesting itself that in the way that the people look at the blacks as if they would see an UFO when they think that the black person dosn`t see that they are staring at him. There is no aggression in it.
I myself have seen black people many many times in person and normally I wouldn`t stare at them, but when I`m seeing them in Poland I can not hold myself from looking at them. It`s an automatic reaction.
Ofcourse there are always some people who don`t like ethnic minorities, but in Poland`s case I would argue that there is far less aggression against black/color people becaouse unlike in some other countries we don`t have any bad experience with them, which would stimulate racism, on the contrary blacks have a very possitive image in Poland. They as said they are mainly paramedics but they are also sportsmen (most of our basketball league consists of black players) or tv entertainers. Noone in Poland is associating black people with criminality and poverty as it is the case some other places hence 99.99% of the people here dosn`t have any negative feelings torwards them.
In case of the gays I have no idea. My guess is that many people from the deep province would react with staring as well. I don`t find that two men, if they would hold hands publicly would meet any sort of agression.
However there is always this small percent of people who would react with aggresion.
There has not been as much dislike against gays, as well as a matter of fact there was no talk about gays here untill some of the extreame gay organizations started organizing gay parades, and making our country a bad opinion abroad by making interviews in which they are making up stories that Poland is at least short of comitting a gay-genocide or that it is already happening ect (at least from my perspective).
I find that both sides - the gay organizations as well as the nationalists are being played out by politicians from both the left and the right to boost their popularity and this whole issue is an artificially created problem which has crossed the line into abssurdity.
I couldn't express it better. You are definitely right!
And my final conclusion: I think that people are just afraid of something they don't know, something which is not typical for majority. Psychologists say everybody would prefer to live in a society of the same race, religion, sexual orientation, ideas etc., because then everybody would be equal and similar or the same as us. However communists already tried to make us equal - with poor (fortunately) results.
If people get to know their gay neighbours - and find out that they live as an ordinary family - beside the fact that they are of the same sex - they will know that there is no threat from this group.
If all the homosexuals made their coming-out, it would turn out, that the nice girl you like to chat on the bus to work, the lady that serves you in your favourite shop and the policeman whose last brave action was so appreciated by the media are still the same wonderful people, no matter with whom they sleep.
Media created this agressive image of homosexuals willing as many privileges as possible, willing to demonstrate obscenity on the streets and so on. But on the other hand there are thousands of gays and lesbians who hate it, that a group of so called "gay-activists" is acting as if they were authorized by the whole homosexual society.
The only thing the homosexuals need is civil courage - to show that they exist in our everyday life. I know it is difficult right know, because the other thing that Poland needs is the basic knowledge - that homosexuality is not a desease and cannot jump from a gay teacher onto a pupil, gay is not a paedophile and a few other things.
The worst thing is, that politicians are threatening people with homosexuals - just for political purposes. And many ordinary people who haven't ever met a homosexual - believe in this bullsh*t coming from tv. Very often they change their attitude when they meet the first representative of this "abstract" so far social group.
To be liberal is simply being tolerant and acepting of our fellow man. If estiments are to be believed, they say aprox. 10-15% of the worlds population is either gay or bi-sexual. Those numbers by any standard are huge!
This statistic is a widely quoted, yet erroneous number. In the USA, 10 percent of the homosexual population is in California, with the other large population on the East coast. If you look at government statistics, the total population of homosexuals is at maximum, 2 percent of the total population of the US. The 10 percent is just the population of California, which has the highest concentration of US homosexuals.
Yes, I`ve heard about it. Here in Europe the highest gay concentration is located the UK, though some say that France has an even higher number of transvestites per capita.
I say before if you are polish gay you must come to England.So many gays here.So many gay clubs in London.Many English men are being gay.Do not tell the polish men but tell the english men they say it cool to be gay in england
I say this before-now log in.English men has no wife no girlfriend no boyfriend.Maybe 60% English men are being gay but has no boyfriend.Why?
if I may have a word - probably one of the first posts made most sense in this whole discussion. Tolerance is higher in cities than in small places, higher among younger people. If we exclude the criminal incidents (track-suiters, neo nazis ect.), you will be safe. City centres (except railway stations) are probably the best choice (look for other safety tips on this website).
As long as you're not exaggerated (female-gay), you'll probably draw little attention, hence few negative comments, looks ect. So for your own comfort (rather than safety as such) you may prefer not to demonstrate your preferences to the wide public. Most people still can't tell a gay from a straight guy just by the way he looks or dresses (unless it's very tight or colorful). Because coming out of the closet has begun relatively recently, the society is still not used to gays. It's human nature to be afraid or agressive with what you don't know, and you must forgive ignorance of many. Those who have gay friends are mostly understanding and nice. Those who don't (or don't know about it) will probably be more careful or perhaps hostile. By the way - if someone has gay friends, they're most likely to have met them abroad, myself for example.
When you come to Poland, go where you want to go, meet your relatives if you're planning that but to say "I'm gay" you'll probably need to be talking to friends. Visit gay pubs if you feel like but don't expect London-like or Amsterdam-like freedom. Enjoy yourself and go back home where you can be with your dad and feel more yourself than over here. Best wishes.
But in the US it`s still allowed to criticize what`s happening - in W. Europe it`s not.
Not so long ago a French parlamentarian during a parliamentary debate voiced his negative opinion about the anti-homophobic laws in that country.
Guess what...
He had been charged of homophobia and he has to pay a fine or go to jail.
And this is only one case - such things are happening in W. Europe all the time.
I`m not even mentioning all of the pro-tolerance laws that exist there - no wonder that many of those people are frustrated - and are only hiding their anger.
I predict a huge bloodbath in W. Europe that is going to happen during the next 15-20 years - and/or overtaking the power in some of the W. European states by facists (in France, Le Pen - a guy who openly admits that he wants to build concentraction camps for immigrans got second place in the last presidential elections in France - and it`s probably only the beginning).
We don`t have all of that crap limiting our freedom of speech, we have very strict immigration laws, we don`t give any social groups (gays, asylum seekers, Muslims or Jews or Blacks) any kind of privlidges and everybody is equal - the lefties in W.Europe accuse our government of "facism" - but we`re going to see what`s going to happen in all of those leftie-run countries in 15-20 years from now.
Yes - and "The south Asians have a much higher IQ than the white man" - Dude - YOU`re an immigrant in Europe yourself - and you are behaving like a nazi.
British Europeans - this is what you`re importing out of Asia...
Because We are the same!! And even more so human! We do not want anything that we are intitled as we pay taxes feed your children in school. why does it bother you so that we are the same as YOU! just with bigger heart's!
GAY E.U. REP SAYS POLAND IS 'PERSECUTING' HOMOSEXUALS
I was listening to radio Netherlands last night...I heard a 'GAY' EUROPEAN UNION REP/BUREAUCRAT making an impassione speech about the 'PERSECUTION' OF HOMOSEXUALS IN POLAND...he said '...ALL GAYS WILL STAND AGAINST THIS REPRE- SIVE & REACTIONARY ATTITUDE' on the part of the Polish government...APPARENT- LY, THE POLISH GOVERNMENT/PARLIAMENT HAS REACTED IN A PERFECTLY RATIONAL WAY IN OPPOSITION TO THE 'GAY AGENDA' RECENTLY...well, after all, Poland is an historically Catholic/christian nation...Can someone supply some info about this situation?
It's a pretty strange form of repression then, because new gay/lesbian bars are opening all the time here in Warsaw, and the atmosphere has never been freer. Even the premier is a confirmed bachelor...
Poles are not tolerant like Czechs towards gays.It seemed to me they are tolerant towards lesbians.Quite a few polish girls have bisexual experiences but this is not taken seriously.I saw many times couples who seemed to be lesbian but it is not common to see girls kissing in mouth in public as it is in Slovakia or Czech republic.I guess it is not acceptable in Poland.
Thought I'd be helpful and paste this list of GAY bars in Poland, found them on a website called Gay Poland. Before everyone starts taking the ****, I'm merely posting these to **** off the bigots.
Gdynia U Ireny, 2 Folwarczna St., 2pm-??? except Sundays, discos on fri, sat, sun 5pm-5am ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------
Jelenia Gora Galery, 67 Wroclawska Street, ph # 216-94 [from the owner: it's really worth to go there!] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------
Katowice Polonia, Kochanowskiego St., drink bar at the hotel Maxim, 14 Mariacka St., nite club, 6pm-???
Plock Wrzos, 11 Nowy Rynek St., restaurant U Adama, 3 Kolejowa St., bar ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------
Poznan Sauna Klub, 8h Lokietka, mon-fri 12-9pm, sun 12-6pm, sauna ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------
Sopot Mezzo, 31 Niepodleglosci, 9pm-???, nite club [am not sure - it could be a mistake] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------
Warszawa Red Club, 9/15 Marszalkowska St., restaurant, drink bar, disco Kozla Club, 10/12 Kozla St., pub, bar Rudawka, 53 Elblaska St., restaurant, disco
Wow check this out....ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaah this should have the Nazi's choking in their boots..... I found this as a link from...er..not sure anyway, it list cruising areas...ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Outdoor Cruising
Centralna railway station (WC) The park area between Plac Trzech Krzyzy and ulica Ksiazeca at night at the back of National Museum & Polish Army Museum (AYOR) ulica Zurawia between Krucza and Plac Trzech Krzyzy (male prostitutes only) Park Skaryszewski-Praga (AYOR) - can be really dangerous after dark!
Centralna railway station (WC) The park area between Plac Trzech Krzyzy and ulica Ksiazeca at night at the back of National Museum & Polish Army Museum (AYOR) ulica Zurawia between Krucza and Plac Trzech Krzyzy (male prostitutes only) Park Skaryszewski-Praga (AYOR) - can be really dangerous after dark!
The thing is I just can't understand why anyone would care what sexuality people are. As long as, as an individual you are centered in who you are, then who gives a toss about other people and what they do. More women for me I say.
When people moan about homosexuals spreading AIDS, well unless your sleeping with a homosexual whats the worry? People say they corrupt our children? How by being a day time TV presenter or making a up a large part of the artistic community?
Then people say the corrupt the morality of the country? Who's morality, unless you are bent over chair taking in the ass your morality is not being corrupted.
I mean look at the Greek and the Roman empire's they were based upon buggery and they lasted pretty long.
Another classic is people say no gays in the army? Why not. If people are so homophobic surely gays in the frontline is exactly where you WOULD want them. Taking one for the straight boys.
Its a short step from repressing the rights of gay men, to telling women where their place is. Oh I forgot the current regime in Poland IS trying to put women in their place using the tools of the pro-life lobby. Oh and this is an extention of the catholic church, who incidently world wide have a REALLY bad record regaring homosexuals within the prelature, let alone nonces hidden their in.
Besides, I didn't know he was an authority on homosexuality;)
He's not an authority on homosexuality (as far as I know). He is however an authority on the Kaczyński brothers, having known them for most of their adult lives.
Thought I'd be helpful and paste this list of GAY bars in Poland, found them on a website called Gay Poland. Before everyone starts taking the ****, I'm merely posting these to **** off the bigots.
Unfortunately that list is very out of date. One of those places has been closed for 8 years to my certain knowledge. A more up-to-date list can be found on gejowo.pl
There are plenty more bars in Poland, and new ones all the time. It seems that supposed homophobia is having quite a positive effect on the scene here!!
Er...well I'm sorry, I'm not an authority on the subject......... I would like to apologies to any readers who have wasted their time hanging about in the aforemention places, please follow Czareks advice.
He was talking about some party he attended, and said that Lech Kaczyński was there with his wife and Jarosław Kaczyński was there with his 'husband'.
He's no friend of the K brothers, they fell out with each other a few years ago, but there's no smoke without fire. Even before they became famous as politicians, when they were just former child actors with an interest in politics, I heard rumours about his behaviour.
Unfortunately that list is very out of date.
Er...well I'm sorry, I'm not an authority on the subject......... I would like to apologies to any readers who have wasted their time hanging about in the aforemention places, please follow Czareks advice.
But thanks for posting it anyway. Any visitors to Poland, gay or otherwise could do worse than visit one or two of the gay bars, which for the most part are friendly, good value, safe and happy places.
