I have the utmost respect for the religious tradition of the country I'm an ambassador to, but human rights are human rights, they're universal - U.S. Ambassador to Poland Georgette Mosbacher said in an interview for Wirtualna Polska portal. She added that using anti-LGBT rhetoric only alienates Poland, which translates into particular business decisions.
The United States Ambassador to Poland Georgette Mosbacher told Wirtualna Polska about the open letter in support of the LGBT communities in Poland, signed by 50 ambassadors including herself. Mosbacher stressed that she fully understood and respected the fact that Poland was a catholic country.
"It's very offensive"
"No one is questioning that. However, you need to know that when it comes to the LGBT question, you're on the wrong side on history. I'm talking about progress that's being made despite anything. Using such type of rhetoric in regard to sexual minorities only alienates Poland, which also translates into particular business decisions" - Mosbacher said.
The ambassador added that many investors would hesitate to spend their money in places where their employees would not be respected due to a lack of rights accepted by most of the Western world. She explained that similar things were happening in America as well, where Hollywood and the IT sector refused to cooperate with states passing laws at odds with values shared by the industry.
Asked to comment on Polish government argumentation that the LGBT people aren't discriminated against and share the same privileges as people living alone or in informal partnerships, Ambassador Mosbacher said that legislative issues were purely Poland's concern.
"I'm only talking about the consequences of having a reputation of a country hostile to LGBT communities. And that's the reputation that Poland has abroad" - said the ambassador. Asked how Poland could change its reputation, she said that certainly not by creating "LGBT-free zones" across the country. "It's very offensive" - she stressed.
"Symbols speak louder than words"
Georgette Mosbacher also said that "sometimes symbols speak louder than actions or words". "I know that it might not be entirely fair, but because of such 'symbols' Poland earned a reputation of a country that doesn't respect people of different sexual orientation" - she explained. "I have the utmost respect for the religious tradition of the country I'm an ambassador to, but human rights are human rights - they're universal regardless of the predominant religion" - said Ambassador Mosbacher.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP, Wirtualna Polska