Opinion of the Commissioner for Human Rights on the draft law restricting the rights of LGBT persons
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The Civic Bill, which proposes restrictions on the freedom of assembly and expression of LGBT+ people, has been strongly criticised by the Commissioner for Human Rights. The bill is based on false assumptions, including that homosexuality is a disorder leading to paedophilic tendencies and that the public expression of LGBT+ orientations is a threat to public morality.
The Human Rights Commissioner argues that homosexuality and transgender identity are not disorders, but natural personal characteristics supported by scientific research. Drafting laws based on false assumptions can lead to stigmatisation and social exclusion of LGBT+ people and increase feelings of hatred towards them.
The Commissioner also accuses the government of violating the principle of human dignity, which is a fundamental value in a democratic state. By drafting the law on the basis of false assumptions about sexual orientation and gender identity, the authors of the bill violate this principle and Poland's international obligations.
In addition, the bill proposes restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, contrary to the Polish Constitution and international standards. Freedom of expression and participation in assemblies is a crucial element of a democratic society and cannot be dependent on the acceptance of the majority or the beliefs of the current political authority.
All of these allegations lead to the conclusion that the proposed law is incompatible with the principles of a democratic constitutional state and constitutes a serious violation of the rights of LGBT+ persons. Therefore, the Commissioner for Human Rights calls for the rejection of the bill and stresses the need to respect the dignity and rights of all citizens, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
