Cultural celebrities' demands on the EU: Put pressure on Poland

Dear Dr. von der Leyen, we want to express our anger over the oppression of the LGBTQ community in Poland ”. This is how the letter begins, addressed to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

After several Polish cities set up so-called "LGBTQ-free zones", the EU withdrew support for six Polish municipalities this summer. The Polish government has since stepped in and supported the municipalities, which has provoked strong reactions around the world.

The situation of LGBTQ people in Poland has received much attention in recent years, and during this summer's presidential election campaign, President Andrzej Duda cracked down on the LGBTQ community.

A large number of cultural figures are now calling on the EU to make a clearer mark on Poland. The initiator of the call is Nobel Laureate Olga Tokarczuk. The open letter states that the EU should defend the equal value of all people and respect for minorities, who are believed to be under attack in Poland. About 70 cultural personalities from Europe and the USA are the signatories, including authors Margaret Atwood and Paul Auster, director Pedro Almodóvar, actress Isabelle Huppert and Swedish Stellan Skarsgård.