Hundreds of municipalities and regions in Poland have adopted declarations that they should be free from LGBTQ ideology, which in practice can mean various things but often includes a ban on schools informing about non-heteronormative sexuality.

But in recent days, there have been two different rulings annulling two of these "free zones" - the one in Istebna in southwestern Poland and in Klwów in central Poland.

Contrary to the Constitution

There are two separate local administrative courts that have found that the declarations adopted by these cities are contrary to both administrative law and the Polish constitution, which prohibits discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity.

The regions and cities that have introduced declarations of this kind believe that they do not discriminate against individuals but target what they call the "LGBTQ ideology". However, the Gliwicach Administrative Court stated in its oral reasoning that:

- The term "LGBTQ-free zone" de facto also refers to people and the explanation that LGBTQ is an ideology and not people is to turn a blind eye to reality.

May be prejudicial

The court in Radom, for its part, rejected the argument that the LGBTQ-free zones should be linked to a Polish tradition.

- There is also a tradition of tolerance in the Polish tradition and the maturity of a local government is measured by how we treat minorities, it was said in an oral motivation, reports the news site Onet.

Karolina Gierdal is a lawyer at the organization Campaign against Homophobia and she believes that the verdict is extremely important. Both as a precedent in similar cases that are pending against five other places, but for LGBTQ people in general.

- LGBTQ people in Poland are under such pressure, but now you hear from the court that they are people who should be treated with respect.