The Human Rights Campaign Foundation condemns Polish President Andrzej Duda’s upcoming visit to the White House ahead of Sunday’s election in Poland.

“President Andrzej Duda’s visit to the White House on the eve of Poland’s upcoming presidential election is a clear and unambiguous attempt to leverage Trump’s anti-LGBTQ rhetoric in the Polish elections,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “Rather than offering up effective solutions to the challenges facing Poland, especially during the global COVID-19 crisis, Duda is attempting to shore up his base by running on a virulently anti-LGBTQ platform. It is a vile, manipulative and dangerous election tactic that threatens the lives, freedom and dignity of LGBTQ people in Poland. By supporting Duda in advancing an anti-LGBTQ platform, President Trump, once again, shows that he is no friend to the LGBTQ community – in the U.S. or abroad. And we will hold him accountable this November.”

In addition to his recent dehumanizing and absurd declaration that LGBTQ rights are an “ideology” more harmful than communism, Duda and his ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party have pledged to ban marriage equality, prevent same-sex couples from adopting children, and ban education on LGBTQ issues.  They have also been silent while so-called “LGBT-free zones” have been declared in cities and regions all across Poland.

HRC has sounded the alarm about increasing anti-LGBTQ sentiments and actions in Poland over the past year in the run-up to last October’s parliamentary election and the upcoming June 28 presidential election. Through HRC’s Global Partnerships program, we have worked with KPH and other partners in Poland to help develop strategies to advance equality in the country.