Poland Opposes Gay Adoptions

As European gay activists were hailing a ruling from the European Court of Human Rights that France could not disallow gay couples to adopt children, Polish officials put a quick damper on the celebrations. Deputy speaker of the Polish Parliament, Stefan Niesiolowski, a member of the ruling party, said ""If a similar judgment dealt with Poland we would still not agree to adoption by homosexuals," according to UKgaynews.org.uk.

The Polish government has not been friendly to gay rights. It banned a Pride parade in Warsaw and has made anti-gay several statements on a wide-ranging series of issues. The ruling by the Strasbourg-based court, however, puts the government on a direct path of confrontation with the rest of Europe.

Since joining the European Union, Poland has legally had to cede some of its policies to the commonweal of Europe. But the anti-gay rhetoric has remained a sticking point. "It won't be enforced in Poland, Niesiolowski said of the adoption ruling. "We will defend ourselves because it's unthinkable that homosexuals would adopt children."

Polish gay rights activists point to a campaign of harassment and intimidation that has included everything from shuttering gay bars to banning schoolbooks that are perceived to be tolerant toward homosexuality. Most people in the deeply Catholic country resent what they see as European intrusion on the issue; most people are opposed to gay rights. Left-wing politicians, however, have taken pro-gay stances in the face of public opposition.

Polish gay groups vow to continue the fight. The 1997 constitution bans discrimination "on any grounds."