Life of Szymon Niemiec

My letter to you

Dear Friends,

Almost twenty years has passed since Poland became a free democratic republic – some of her citizens continue to fight each day for equality within our society.  Poland's ethnic, sexual; women and religious minorities remain at a great disadvantage.

My name is Szymon Niemiec I am a 30 years old Polish gay activist, founder of the Polish Equality Parade (Gay Parade), artist and author.
I started my journey for equality in 1998 as one of the first Polish openly gay persons. Everything which I have been capable of accomplishing from that first parade in 2001 I required friends like you to help.

Today I write to you requesting that you assist us in our efforts to create the first Outreach center in our nation.  This will be a permanent institution  to enable us to gather together in fellowship as communities express our thoughts working to educate the public towards tolerance, advocate HIV prevention, offer assistance to those living with AIDS, and directing  those coping with identity problems to professional counseling. It is our aim to also unite the community in organization against political and societal discrimination.

Thanks to many universal friends last month I established the "Friends of Szymon" Foundation. It is a legally charted endeavor, tax-deductible charity dedicated to our missions.
The foundation's primary goal is to establish the first Polish LGBT Outreach Center in Warsaw. We named this project "Queer Central Station (c)".

In every big city there exist places where homosexuals and their friends may peacefully gather together in sharing ideals, engaging conversation, and camaraderie. Queer Central Station (c) will be a place where everyone is welcome. It is our desire to encourage artists worldwide to contribute to a special gallery with periodical exhibitions.  We envision a small shoppe that will include literature about homosexuals and other interesting topics and perhaps other items.

There is still much work to be completed and we invite you to stand united in solidarity with us as work towards launching this dream. To accomplish this project we need to raise 75,000 Euro. I understand, that it is a lot of money, but I believe, that with friends like you, everything is possible. This sum will ensure 2 years of stability as we grow and organize in our own space inviting friends to our fund
raisers with art and other events.

You may send money directly to our bank account mentioned on our website, via check into our office, or via PayPal link on our website.

With warm regards from Poland,

Szymon Niemiec

I am still going forward

It is possible people to change their country from grassroots. In year 2007 my worldwide friends established the website FriendsofSzymon.org to help me with my biggest dream - Queer Central Station. This is to be the first LGBT Outreach Center in Poland.

After twenty month under the governance of a ultra-conservative homophobic parliament, president and premier that government collapsed and Polish began to live gain with some dignity.

 

I've start to work hard on helping other LGBT Polish persons and have great hopes of creating a united effort to engage diplomatically the new government to protect all minorities.

 

Today the discussion about legal partnership in Poland is very difficult but this is not the singular most important issues facing us. We should take smaller steps ensuring basic equality in education, work and living standards in Polish society. Homosexual marriage is a dramatic leap for our society and I believe that it is not the "Big" battle in achieving equality but not now. First we must organize and unite and challenge discrimination within our society which causes us to live in fear – forced into closets throughout our nation's villages, towns and cities much like undesirables. But, waiting for miracle is not good idea either. We should take this time to make long term plans to establish ourselves politically thought our nation.

Our first idea was bring action to forward to parliament a suggestion for a "Hate Crime Bill."  This is not a new ideal in fact it was introduced  in 2003 as an idea of left side parties, and although the left side parties publically claimed to support the legislation they  did nothing to advance it even though they were in the majority and complete control of government.

Polish laws punish by incarceration for hate against speech and actions against a person for sex, religion, nationality and race. But these same laws do not protect against hate crimes against individuals for homophobia. I've started to lobby as a private citizen to change these laws. The Polish Secretary of the State - Mrs. Julia Pitera has been formally presented with my proposal. In my suggestion to her and the Polish parliamentarians our nations Hate Crime Bill should include the words "any conditions".

 

"Friends of Szymon" Foundation was officially established in January 2007. It is my hope to use this organization as a vehicle for progressive change within my country towards greater tolerance of LGBT individuals.

I will have a few important meetings next week with parliamentarians and people from Department of Women, Family and Nondiscrimination of Ministry of Work and Social Politic. I want to push HC Bill through.

FoSz Foundation has more programs and projects which we hope our worldwide friends will join us in advocating. There is a saying in Africa,"If you want to go quickly go alone; If you want to go far - the distance - take friends". This sage advice along with the words of
Luciano de Crescenzo in our websites introduction, we use both as a motto's of inspiration. "We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly, by embracing one another. ". We started this journey but  we cannot achieve victory alone. Therefore we ask our universal friends combined with these visions and knowledge to walk with us along this journey.

 

Let's join forces to eradicate discrimination in this world. If we each do something this creates momentum and once we have momentum the crimson tide will overcome obstacles and barriers.

Polska wersja poniżej:

Rest in Peace Sir Michael...

Today I received information, that one of people, who I know died.
Michael Pirog wasn't my friend. In fact many times he was my big opponent in discussions about LGBT rights and politic.  He was very good know as Polish Blogger "Antykaczy" (Anti Duck).
This young warrior made suicide. I am still in shock. Whats going on with this world?
We are loosing young fighters, who are loosing their hope, their dreams, their passions.
Why? Why we cannot keep them on way to change things what they disagree?
This is so sad.
In my memory Michael always will be Sir Michael. Opponent, but with honor and respect for others.
Rest in Peace Sir Michael, and see you at the better world.

Polska wersja poniżej:

Super Bowl in silence

This year's Super Bowl will be very special. For the first time this loud event will have one minute complete silence. Thanks to Pepsico, who prepare a very special commercial. You probably know, that every 30 sec. commercial on SB costs about 30 million USD? And this time Pepsico prepared commercial spot without sound. Why? Because they want to show that they care about people, who cannot hear.
Check this video, and see, how in funny way, we can be together in diversity.

Oh LOL..Oh My sweet Lord of Mercy.....

It's nothing better then good ROTFL for the end of the day.
I was sure that I saw almost every idiotic idea in my country. But I was wrong...
Most of you probably know, who is the most powerful, and evil priest in Poland.
The Grey Eminence of Polish conservatives. Fr. Tadeusz Rydzyk, from Radio Maryja. (on the photo).
He is really known in Poland. In fact outside of Poland he is known too. We know him as one of the most unhumanitarian, antisemitic, homophobic person, who had so much power in Poland ever.
His radio, television "Trwam" and newspaper "Nasz Dziennik" are always full of hate speech, but nobody never did anything against him. You can ask why? It's simple. He has over 3 million people under his power. Most of them are old, not rich ladies. And you can imagine, how strong electors are they...
So most right side parties was fighting to become a closer friend of Fr. Rydzyk. And today I read about a really great joke, what he done to all of them.
On the meeting with his fans, he announced that he will create a new political party named "National Party", what will be more conservative that Law & Justice.
You can ask me, why I am so happy about it? I am happy, because it means, that end of Fr. Rydzyk is close.
First problem, what he will have soon is law of his church. In Roman Catholic Church in our country, priest must have a special permission from the bishop to join political party, or to start in the elections. An I don't think, that any Polish bishop will agree to give weapon to enemies from the left side, who showing clearly, that separation of church and state in Poland is a fiction.
Second problem is, that now Fr. Rydzyk will have no more friends from political world. Even his old friends from League of Polish Families will be against him.
Third problem of Fr. Rydzyk is in his own emporium. If he will stand against his bishops, he will loose everything, starting from the radio to the priesthood. Now he is one of the 10 richest persons in Poland...and he can loose it very quickly. I hope he will try to be "hard"....

Polska wersja poniżej:

Did you have your GT copy?

Did you have your copy of Gay Times? No? So I think you should order one today!
Especially if you want know, what I think about Poland, Polish gays and new government.
In the January issue of GT, you can find my article about it.
So Girls and Boys...go to Gay Times website and check, what Mr. Niemiec has to say ;)

Polska wersja poniżej:

Blog Roku

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Dura lex sed lex...

In 2004 Mr. Wojciech Wierzejski - Vice Marshall of Region Mazovia on the meeting about Equality Parade refused to shake hands with me. He said, that he don't want to shake hand with "deviant" because he is afraid about AIDS. After this scandal I send him a open letter, where I said, that he can be sure, that I will never shake hands with him anymore. Quite the same letter was sent to him by many people.
Mr.Wierzejski, who is a member of League of Polish Families, post list of names of this people on his website with title: "List of gays and lesbians, who attack Vice Marshall". He post our names and addresses, what is illegal by Polish law.
I sent official demanding to our General Inspector of Protecting Private Data (GIODO) and to Police. GIODO sent notice to procurator, who started investigation. But in 2005 Mr. Wierzejski become a parliamentarian and he had immunity. Of course our parliament wasn't interested into giving us a chance to sue this homophobe.
But times are changing, and now Mr. Wierzejski is not parliamentarian anymore. He loose his immunity, and yesterday I received a letter from procurator, that his investigation against Mr. Wierzejski is open again. This mean, that this person probably will be punished for his crime.
It is really good news for me, and for all homosexual persons in Poland. Maybe next homophobes will start thinking before they broke a law.

Polska Wersja po kliknięciu na linka:

Blogger of the year 2007

I am proud to announce that redaction of Polish news portal Wiadomosci24.pl put my blog into contest for title of "Blogger of the year 2007".
That's great surprise and nice new year's gift.

Surprise...

I am really surprised when I found this film on Youtube.
It is one of first films about me, and in fact only one with first Polish Equality Parade.
Watch this (in Polish only)