"We receive calls from young people who tell us about their struggle, about their loneliness. Lack of sense of security is apparent. It is strictly connected with social and political climate" - Łukasz Wojtasik of the Empowering Children Foundation told TVN24. Activist Bart Staszewski stresses the importance of reacting when witnessing discrimination, especially aimed at children. The foundation has just launched "LGBT+me" campaign promoting allyship behaviour.
The Empowering Children Foundation has launched "LGBT+me" campaign aimed, as we read on the foundation's website, at promoting "allyship behaviour towards minorities". The website offers guidelines on how to support LGBT+ people. The foundation also runs a 24/7 helpline for children and teenagers at 116 111.
"Apparent lack of sense of security"
Łukasz Wojtasik of the Empowering Children Foundation told TVN24 on Monday that "we're surrounded by homophobia and it is being used to pursue political goals". "This is something that sneaks into adult society, but also reaches young people. This is the climate in which young LGBT+ people have to live" - he added.
He also said that "both research and everyday situations" only seem to confirm this. "Young people call our helpline and tell us about their struggle, about their loneliness. Everyday we receive dozens of calls from young LGBT+ people. That's why we promote the idea of allyship" - Mr Wojtasik said.
Phones, he added, "really started ringing during the last presidential campaign", when president Andrzej Duda was speaking about "protecting Polish families" and "fighting against LGBT ideology".
"Young people were calling us to express their concerns and fear of violence. Lack of sense of security is apparent. It is also strictly connected with social and political climate" - Łukasz Wojtasik stressed.
"A timely reaction can save a person"
Human rights activist Bart Staszewski told TVN24 on Monday that "there are various kinds of violence". "We're not always dealing with physical violence. When someone faces cruelty, hears awful things, we should react. Even stupid jokes can degrade a person so badly that they won't be willing to admit they're an LGBT person ever again" - he cautioned.
"When we don't receive everyday support from our parents, and then hear mean jokes at school, it certainly doesn't strengthen our self-esteem. Such persons leave school victimised" - the activist said.
"A timely reaction could help to save such person" - Bart Staszewski added.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, TVN24
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