Silence.

There is growing violence and hate in Eastern Europe and once again when the oppressed demonstrate for their rights they are vilified by the right.

Under fire over LGBT rights, Polish leader blames activist
Associated Press
By Vanessa Gera
October 5, 2020


WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Bart Staszewski felt angry and hopeless when local governments in Poland started passing resolutions last year declaring themselves to be free of "LGBT ideology.”

The activist and filmmaker objected to the way conservative officials were using the word “ideology” to describe what he considers a natural desire for people who love each other to be together. At least 100 municipalities or regions, mostly in conservative southeastern Poland, have passed declarations that vowed to keep out “LGBT ideology” or adopted “family charters” that backed heterosexual unions.

“I am just a normal Pole who just wants a good life with my partner and to be able to marry him one day,” the 30-year-old said. “Where is the ideology?"

In response, he settled on a protest around the communities that are now widely referred to as “LGBT-free zones," a move that has enraged Poland's conservative, nationalist government as his posts have gone viral.
[…]
With Poland under mounting international criticism for its treatment of its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki accused Staszewski of carrying out a “hoax” that has led some to believe that Poland has a human rights problem.

The Pope met with LGBTQ parents…

Pope holds private meeting with parents of LGBT children
Crux
By Inés San Martín
September 18, 2020


Pope Francis on Wednesday told a group of parents of LGBT children that God loves them as they are, and that the Church loves them because they are “children of God.”

The pope’s words came during a short, private encounter with some 40 Italian mothers and fathers of LGBT children that took place following his Wednesday general audience.
[…]
In 2013, Francis signaled a new approach to homosexuality in the Church with his famous declaration that if a person “is gay and is searching for the Lord and has good will … Who am I to judge?”

In 2018, he said that the Church has to find a way to help the parents of gays and lesbians so that they “stand by” their children. He also said he’d advise a parent whose child comes out to pray.

But is the Pope speaking out over the oppression of us in Poland and other Eastern European countries?

Poland is a heavy Roman Catholic country and most of the oppression is being lead by the Bishops.

Polish Bishop Claims LGBTQ Movement Is “Most Serious Threat to Humanity,” But Scholars Are Pushing Back
New Ways Ministry
September 14, 2020


A Polish bishop claimed in a homily that the LGBTQ movement is “the most serious threat to humanity,” escalating tensions in that country between advocates for equality and the nation’s episcopate, who have continued to receive criticism–from a philosopher and a Jesuit theologian/psychotherapist–about their August offensive statements.

Bishop Ignacy Dec, who once headed the Diocese of Świdnica before his retirement earlier this year, made the anti-LGBTQ remark during a September 5th homily. Radio Maryja reported (via Google Translate):
“The [bishop] drew attention to the negative influence of LGBT communities on society. Offensive actions by representatives of this environment destroys the existing values and ‘exceeds the norms of ordinary human decency.’
[…]
The term “LGBT-free” is sensitive because it carries an association of language used by Nazi Germany to describe areas free of Jews — Judenrein or Judenfrei — after they had been forced out or killed during the Holocaust.

Last year another Polish Bishop is against us...

Church in Poland continues confrontation with the LGBTQ community
National Catholic Reporter
By Jonathan Luxmoore
August 19, 2019


KRAKOW, POLAND — On this city's fabled Market Square, the Assumption Basilica, known as Kosciol Mariacki, towers over a maze of cobbled streets and alleyways. Founded in the 13th Century, the gothic edifice has long been a symbol of national defense, and a famous fanfare, or Hejnal, is still broadcast daily from its 260-foot tower, commemorating the moment a Polish trumpeter was shot by a Tatar arrow while rousing inhabitants against an attack.

So when Krakow's Catholic archbishop, Marek Jedraszewski, chose the basilica for a televised denunciation of LGBTQ campaigners on Aug. 1, the 75th anniversary of Poland's uprising against the Nazis, he would have been aware of the likely impact on audiences across the country.

"The red pestilence no longer marches across our land, but a new, neo-Marxist one has appeared, which seeks to conquer spirits, hearts and minds — not red, but rainbow," Jedraszewski told his massed congregation.

"The greatest tolerance becomes the height of intolerance when violence, humiliation and sneers against sacred symbols issue from mouths proclaiming fairness. … We are called to stand against this and defend authentic freedom."

Jedraszewski's words were aimed at people of same-sex orientations and transgender identities, who've been staging controversial equality marches across the country. As such, they marked a new stage in the Polish church's confrontational stance.

Meanwhile in the rest of Europe they have no problems with the LGBTQ community and even some of the urban areas of Poland are accepting of us, they are areas where the Catholic church has less power.

Belgium Just Elected a Trans Woman as Its Deputy Prime Minister
Petra De Sutter is now one of the most senior trans politicians in Europe.
Vice
By Bianca Ferrari
October 2, 2020


Petra De Sutter, a gynaecologist and Green party member, has been appointed deputy Prime Minister of Belgium. “Incredibly grateful for the support I have received from my party!” she tweeted last night.

De Sutter is a longstanding activist on sexual health and trans issues. Last year, she was elected as a Member of European Parliament for the Green party where she chaired the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection. She’s one of seven politician to hold the Deputy Prime Minister title, one for each of the seven parties that form Belgium’s new coalition government, which was sworn in on the 1st of October.
[…]
De Sutter is currently the most senior transgender politician in Europe. The list also includes Mary Cau, the first openly trans mayor in France, Gianmarco Negri, the first trans mayor in Italy, plus members of parliament in Spain, Sweden, Germany and Poland.

We are being used a scapegoats to direct the people from the real problems in Europe and the rest of world.

---

An update to yesterday’s post about Gay Inc.

It seems to me that many gay men put money before human rights. They know that they are supporting a party that wants to criminalize us and force us back in the closet but they donate to the Republicans anyway hoping for some table scrapes from them.

Advocate and Out Magazine Owner Breaks 2018 Pledge, Donates to Anti-LGBTQ Republicans

The Wrap

By J. Clara Chan

September 29, 2020

Adam Levin, the owner of the parent company behind the magazines Advocate and Out, has broken a 2018 pledge to stop donating to anti-LGBTQ Republicans with recent donations to Sens. Steve Daines and Thom Tillis, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

As first reported on by LGBTQ Nation, Levin donated $2,800 each to Daines and Tillis, as well as $5,600 to the Tillis and Daines joint fundraising committee. Both senators received a zero on the Human Rights Campaign’s congressional scorecard, in part, for not supporting legislation like the Equality Act and other non-discrimination bills.

In 2018, Levin came under fire for his donations to Republicans with anti-LGBTQ stances like Devin Nunes, Dean Heller, Josh Mandel and Dana Rohrabacher. At the time, Nathan Coyle, then the CEO of Pride Media — the parent company of Advocate and Out, which is owned by Levin’s Oreva Capital — said Levin supported those politicians because they were pro-Israel but would no longer do so if they were also anti-LGBTQ.