Poland: Gay Atheist MP Promises Social Transformation

Robert Biedron, a gay atheist politician, has launched a new party with a policy-agenda which contests the conservative control over politics exercised by Poland’s political establishment and the Catholic Church.

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 “We want no more Polish-Polish war, we want mutual respect and dialogue,” said Biedron during the party’s inauguration. The MP also told a conference hall packed to the brim that the party would be named Wiosna, meaning Spring.

“These last years have been cold and gloomy. Instead of talks we got unending conflict, instead of common good, party interests, instead of empathy, growing enmity (...) We are the spring, we bring fresh air to Polish politics,” added Biedron.

Biedron started in politics in the 1990s through LGBT activism. He rose to fame in 2011, when he became the first openly gay MP, and then became mayor of the town of Slupsk.

Biedron is now considered the progressive opposition to the ruling conservative party Law and Justice, which has strong ties to the Catholic Church.

Some of Spring’s policies, which defy the conservative status quo, have been laid out. “End tax breaks for the Catholic Church, stop religious lessons in school, and guarantee access to contraception and the right to an abortion until the twelfth week of pregnancy,” according to The Telegraph.

His policy proposals have not gone unnoticed by conservatives who fear his platform will make Poland a “civilization of death,” AP news reported.

Through his charisma and receptivity to dissenting views, Biedron promises to make Spring a common ground to break the political deadlock between the two main parties Law and Justice pro-business Civic Platform party.

The ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS) have been active in thwarting political integration and federalism in the EU. The party also tacitly encourages groups with roots in the fascist and anti-Semitic movements. The PiS also refuses to allow immigrants from the Middle East and North Africa into the country. 

The gay atheist MP promises to continue the legacy of the mayor of Gdansk Pawel Adamowicz who is famous for his support of women and minorities.

Adamowicz was stabbed to death in January while participating in a charity event attended by thousands.