Poland has officially – finally! – abolished its last remaining ‘LGBT-free’ zone, marking an end to a controversial chapter that saw around one-third of the country’s municipalities declare themselves as areas ostensibly free of LGBTQ+ influence. But don’t think they came to that decision themselves: the end of that particular era came in the wake of financial sanctions imposed by the European Commission, which withheld funding from regions that upheld these exclusionary policies.
The decisive vote occurred this week in the municipality of Łańcut, which had been the final bastion of this discriminatory designation. The ‘LGBT-free’ declarations, which began to appear in over 100 Polish municipalities in 2020, were initially driven by the ruling Law and Justice party (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość, PiS), known for its conservative, right-wing populist stance and its opposition to LGBTQ+ rights. The policy was widely criticised internationally for its impact on human rights and social cohesion.
The European Union played a crucial role in prompting this reversal through legal and financial measures. In 2021, the EU filed complaints against Poland and Hungary over their respective anti-LGBTQ+ laws: Poland for the ‘LGBT-free’ zones and Hungary for prohibiting educational materials with LGBTQ+ themes. The EU described these laws as restrictive and discriminatory, infringing upon fundamental human rights.
Even Poland’s Supreme Administrative Court declared the ‘LGBT-free’ zones unconstitutional, stating they violated ‘the dignity, honour, good name and closely related private life of a specific group of citizens.’ This formal judicial intervention added a legal imperative to the growing resistance against such zones.
Despite the political establishment’s stance, public opinion appears to be shifting in Poland. A survey conducted in 2024 revealed that 67% of Polish respondents now support same-sex marriage, indicating rising societal acceptance and increasing support for LGBTQ+ equality.
This political and social evolution contrasts starkly with some statements from Polish leadership, including the country’s president, Andrzej Duda, who in 2020 stated, ‘LGBT are not people; they are an ideology,’ comparing it unfavourably to communism.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58714658 – This article reports on three Polish regions—Podkarpackie, Lubelskie, and Małopolska—repealing their ‘LGBT-free’ declarations in response to European Commission threats to withhold funding.
- https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56366750 – The European Parliament declared the entire EU an ‘LGBTIQ Freedom Zone’ in response to Poland’s ‘LGBT-free’ zones, highlighting the EU’s stance against such declarations.
- https://www.euronews.com/2021/09/28/us-poland-lgbt – This article discusses the European Commission’s legal action against Poland and Hungary for violations of LGBTIQ rights, including Poland’s ‘LGBT-free’ zones.
- https://www.euractiv.com/section/non-discrimination/news/three-polish-regions-revoke-anti-lgbt-declarations/ – Euractiv reports on three Polish regions—Krakow, Rzeszow, and Lublin—revoking their ‘LGBT-free’ declarations after the EU launched legal action and threatened to withhold funding.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT-free_zone – This Wikipedia page provides an overview of ‘LGBT-free’ zones in Poland, including their origins, legal challenges, and the European Commission’s response.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_rights_in_Poland – This Wikipedia article offers a comprehensive overview of LGBTQ+ rights in Poland, including the history and impact of ‘LGBT-free’ zones.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The content is recent, referencing events in 2025 and developments from the past few years. It reflects current changes in Poland’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
The quote from Andrzej Duda in 2020 is well-documented, but there are no direct quotes in the text that are evidently original or unverifiable.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from Metro, a well-established publication, though not typically considered a primary news outlet like BBC or Reuters.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims are plausible and align with recent international reports on LGBTQ+ rights in Poland. The involvement of the EU and legal actions supports the narrative’s plausibility.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is well-supported by recent events and plausible claims. It originates from a known publication and reflects current developments in LGBTQ+ rights.
