“We keep receiving shocking stories of harassment of young people,” says Ania Tereszko from the Queer May Association, which launched a study of the situation of LGBTQIA people in Krakow’s secondary schools with the support of the City of Krakow. The data and stories of discrimination and violence are intended to show the scale of the problem, which cannot be downplayed by school principals and, above all, by Superintendent Nowak, who has been keen to comment on anti-discrimination education recently.

Several hundred students have already completed the Queer May Association’s survey, which, in cooperation with the city, is examining the situation of LGBTQIA people in Krakow’s secondary schools, noting that there is a need to combat discrimination among the youngest. However, Superintendent Barbara Nowak, whose statements are often a collection of falsehoods and prejudices, has recently spoken critically about anti-discrimination measures. “We hope that our research and current state of knowledge will one day be better evidence for people like Barbara Nowak than their own prejudices. Because young LGBTQIA people are simply suffering in schools,” says Ania Tereszko from Queer May.

The Queer May Association, which organizes the Equality March in Krakow, makes no secret of the fact that many young people are among those affected by their local activities. “They follow our social media, contact us, and tell us about the harassment they experience,” says Ania Tereszko from the organization’s board. The issue of whether Krakow’s secondary schools are LGBT-friendly has been recurring for some time. “Bullying, harassment, homophobia, and harassment of LGBT students are things that we hear about regularly. I myself remember a priest at one of Krakow’s high schools who used physical violence against us,” adds Tereszko.

Patrycja Andrychowicz, a recent graduate of a Krakow high school who is involved in the organization’s activities and strongly supports the Queer May study, is also aware that things can vary in Krakow schools. “Polish schools are not only homophobic and transphobic, but also violent. I have experienced this myself many times and I would like other young LGBT people to have a better experience,” she says, adding that another problem is the lack of trust in adults. Such views are confirmed by the stories that reach the Association. One of the most drastic was that of two girls who, because they were a couple, were subjected to compulsory “therapy” by the school principal.

The Queer May survey is not the only recent gesture on the part of the city. The municipal authorities have announced anti-discrimination workshops for school principals. “Recently, public opinion has been stirred up by reports of an anti-abortion and homophobic lecture at one of Krakow’s high schools, which students were forced to attend despite their guardians’ lack of consent, something that the right wing has been pushing for in its anti-discrimination efforts. We therefore welcome the city’s initiative to address the problem and hope that, together with our recommendations, this will be the beginning of change in Krakow’s schools,” says Wit Kania from Queer May. This idea did not appeal to Małopolska school superintendent Nowak, who in a letter to school principals emphasizes, among other things, that anti-discrimination education is “contrary to Christian values” and “is not part of the core curriculum.”

Queer May emphasizes that in light of the survey results, teachers and principals should understand what actions need to be taken in schools, regardless of Superintendent Nowak’s hateful statements. The members of the research team also hope that Barbara Nowak will finally realize that she is acting against the best interests of students.

The survey can be found at this link: https://www.queerowymaj.org/?page_id=406 

The public task “The situation of LGBTQIA people in Krakow’s secondary schools” is financed by the City of Krakow.