Poland: Penalties for engaging in homosexual activities while serving with the military in 1992
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 January 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | POL30939.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Poland: Penalties for engaging in homosexual activities while serving with the military in 1992, 1 January 1999, POL30939.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac2dc.html [accessed 22 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Information regarding penalties imposed in 1992 for engaging in homosexual activities while serving with the military in Poland could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. A Polish military sociologist is cited as having stated in 1991 that:
In the Polish armed forces there are no laws discriminating against homosexuals. I have also not found instances of extra-legal discrimination. ... The fact that the armed forces do not discriminate against homosexuals does not mean that they are accepted. Rather it can be said that as far as the military structure is concerned, they simply do not exist. (ASAP Nov. 1993)
In October 1994, however, media reports refer to a special report prepared by Polish gay and lesbian advocacy group Lambda which contained examples of discrimination against gays serving in the military, including discharge "from career army service on the basis of alleged mental disorder" (Polish News Bulletin 5 Oct. 1994; Warsaw Voice 16 Oct. 1994).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in preparing this Response.
References
ASAP. November 1993. David Segal et al. "Homosexuals in Western Armed Forces; Homosexuals and Military Culture." (NEXIS)
Gazeta Wyborcza. 5 October 1994. "Gays Plan to Petition Sejm." (Polish News Bulletin/NEXIS)
The Warsaw Voice. 16 October 1994. "News Brief." (NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
Index on Censorship [London]. January-February 1996. Vol. 24, No. 1. Laura Bruni. "Legal: Gay Legislation."
Horeman, Bart, Marc Stolwijk and Anton Luccioni. November 1997. Vol. 1. Refusing to Bear Arms: A World Survey of Conscription and Consciencious Objection to Military Service. London: War Resisters' International.
ILGA Bulletin [Brussel]. Quarterly. 1992.
IGLHRC Action Alert [San Francisco]. Quarterly. 1993.
The Third Pink Book: A Global View of Lesbian and Gay Liberation and Oppression. 1993. Edited by Aart Hendriks et al. Buffalo, NY: Prometheus Books.
Electronic Sources: IRB Databases, LEXIS/NEXIS, REFWORLD, Internet, and WNC.
Unsuccessful attempts to contact an oral source.
