‘This is where I apologise’: Polish state TV presenter says sorry to LGBT+ viewers | Poland

A Polish national TV host apologized for “shameful words” directed at LGBTQ+ people over the years, a moment a prominent rights activist hailed as the end of a chapter in Polish society.

Activist and filmmaker Bart Staszewski said Sunday’s live apology signaled a transformation for the broadcaster, which served as a mouthpiece for the Law and Justice (PiS) party during its time in power. Stated.

“For eight years, they have instilled this hatred into the people, presenting not only LGBT activists but also the LGBT community as a threat to the Polish state,” Staszewski said on Tuesday. “The words from the television studio were recognition and apology.”

Just before TVP’s show began on Sunday evening, Staszewski, who had been invited to appear on the station for the first time in eight years, nervously wandered outside the studio with transgender activist Maja Heban. was.

“I was so scared to walk through the door,” he said. “This was the door to a propaganda tool that has been used against us for many years.”

During last year’s election campaign, Donald Tusk vowed to quickly reform the broadcaster as part of a wide-ranging review aimed at reversing the damage done to the rule of law during PiS’s time in power.

Days after Tusk became prime minister, his government will dismantle the broadcaster’s management team and introduce sweeping personnel changes, with the new government rebuilding its own highly politicized public television network. This prompted criticism that it was dangerous.

On Sunday night, the show’s host, Wojciech Szeleg, who joined the channel in January, began his segment by saying he wanted to say something.

“For many years in Poland, shameful words have been directed at many people, because they choose to decide for themselves who they are and who they love,” Sjolong said, looking straight into the camera. That’s why,” he said.

Nodding to the prejudices instilled by the previous government, he added: “LGBT+ people are people, not ideologies. Specific names, faces, relatives, friends.”

He said as he faced two campaigners. “All of these people must have heard the words ‘I’m sorry’ at some point. I would like to apologize here.”

Staszewski said: “To some people, this is nothing, but to me it’s a big deal. After spending eight years keeping a low profile and being some kind of lower-class citizen. This came as quite a surprise to both Maya and I. . It was an emotional moment.”

He posted an apology video on social media and watched it go viral. “A lot of people on Twitter and Instagram told me it made them cry,” he said. “It was so meaningful and so necessary…Now we know that kind of a chapter is coming to a close.”

He described the exchange as a step toward healing as the country strives to rebuild democracy. In recent months, Staszewski and other rights activists have been negotiating with the government on changes such as adding sexual orientation and gender expression to national standards. hate crime laws and the introduction of same-sex civil partnerships.

Staszewski is Was chosen After protesting against dozens of Polish municipalities declaring themselves free of “LGBT ideology”, they hope to see cleansing of the past extend to accountability for those who incited anti-LGBTQ+ prejudice and hate crimes by the previous government. people all over the country said.

“We can’t continue with business as usual,” he said.

He also hoped the LGBTQ+ community would now hear another apology from Tusk. “If you hear it, you know this is a new beginning with leaders who are truly dedicated to the cause,” he said. “We’re not just looking at numbers and statistics and polls.”