Ausgrenzung und Diskriminierung der LGBT-Community im polnischen öffentlichen Diskurs
Exclusion and Discrimination of the LGBT Community in the Polish Public Discourse)

Summary/Abstract: In recent years, the debate about the rights and social status of the LGBT community in Poland has intensified. Numerous political, religious, and media figures have taken a stance in this debate. The LGBT community is not only perceived as a political and social movement but is also frequently associated with ideological concepts or threat scenarios. The aim of this article is to analyse the mechanisms of exclusion and discrimination in Polish public discourse and to shed light on their social consequences. First, the current social and legal status of the LGBT community in Poland is presented. This is followed by an analysis of homophobic statements, as well as images, posters, and banners disseminated in public spaces and on social media. The analysis shows that portraying the LGBT community as an ideological movement is a key tool of discrimination. Particularly conservative and nationalist politicians deliberately employ the rhetoric of an “LGBT ideology“, which is depicted as a threat to traditional Polish values. These narratives are especially prominent in election campaigns, where political figures use opposition to the LGBT community to mobilise specific voter groups. Beyond politics, the Catholic Church plays a significant role in shaping public discourse on the LGBT community. High-ranking church officials have repeatedly associated homosexual people with diseases or moral dangers. This article aims to raise public awareness of this issue and illustrate how language, in combination with images, contributes to the spread of hatred against LGBT people.

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