Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the chairman of Poland’s conservative ruling party and considered the de facto leader in Poland, has called the LGBT rights movement a foreign import that threatens the Polish nation.
Kaczynski added that everyone must accept Christianity and that questioning the powerful Roman Catholic in Poland is unpatriotic.
Kaczynski made these statements in a lecture on patriotism in the central city of Wroclawek as Poland prepares for the European Parliament vote next month and a general election in the fall.
Kaczynski and his party, Law and Justice (PiS), won a 2015 election, at the height of the migration crisis into Europe, after a campaign that portrayed Muslim refugees as a threat to the nation.
In recent weeks, the party has portrayed LGBT rights as a risk to families and children.
His comments also come as the church in Poland comes under scrutiny over pedophilia, with victims increasingly breaking the taboo to speak out about their abuse. A movie that deals with the problem, “Kler” (Clergy) was a blockbuster hit and opinion surveys show that support is falling for having nuns and priests teach religion in public schools, as is now the case.
Meanwhile, the LGBT rights movement has become more visible in recent years, with more and more cities and towns holding LGBT pride parades. These are often met by counter-protests organized by far-right groups.
