The Captive (Homosexual) Minds. On Being a Writer and a Homosexual in Communist Poland (Wilhelm Mach, Jerzy Andrzejewski)
The Captive (Homosexual) Minds. On Being a Writer and a Homosexual in Communist Poland (Wilhelm Mach, Jerzy Andrzejewski)

Summary/Abstract: The article traces two queer (homosexual) writers’ biographies under communist regime in Poland. Wilhelm Mach (1916 – 1965) believed that the new communist morality (in contrast to his traditional peasant Catholic environment) will allow him to live more openly as a homosexual; so he became regime’s supporter. When he realized that his expectations won’t be fulfilled; he experienced very deep crisis. This crisis together with his fatal love affair with his Bulgarian friend resulted in author’s suicide in 1965. Jerzy Andrzejewski (1909 – 1983) soon after the thaw in 1956 became very critical towards the communist system and joined political underground opposition. Andrzejewski decided not to hide his homosexuality in order to avoid potential secret police’s blackmails. As “open” homosexual Andrzejewski may be considered as a hero of non-existent Polish sexual revolution.

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