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11.07.2009Gay Krakow

 Being Gay in Krakow ain't for Queers 

Gay days in Krakow, a notion that can become a reality, but currently it is still a place that must be fought for. Officially there isn't a gay-friendly policy held by the city (some of Krakow’s officials once wanted to launch a gay friendly promotion campaign, as homosexuals are thouhgt to be prosperous and well-behaved tourists, but the idea was blocked by the right-winged municipals). There are however a couple of places in Krakow gay people can go to, without being looked down on, (mostly in Kazimierz district), as the private sector has taken care of gay tourists. On Gazowa St. you’ll fing Cocon, the biggest gay disco in Poland, Krakow’s gay clubs are Ciemnia and BlueXL, not to mention gay friendly cafes, pubs and pensions (not a wide selection of accommodation,so book in advance!).

Being gay in Krakow is generally speaking difficult due to social ostracism, as Polish society associates gays with nothing but wacky Gay Pride parades, and that sort of events are out of question in traditional, Roman Catholic country. Recent surveys ordered by the government show that a statistical gay Pole is similar in lifestyle to a statistic straight person, namely being relatively conservative and traditional in opinions, living in stable relationships or declaring a dream of a great love and not identifying with loud gay rights movements. Vast majority of gays in Krakow and in Poland feel discriminated and those performing social confidence service, i.e. lawyers, doctors admitt that they would never make a coming out, as this would ruin their career. It’s heartening however, that a big change occurred in Poles’ private attitude towards homosexuality in recent years, yet this issue is still pruderly omitted in a public debate.
 
Being gay isn’t of course punishable in Poland, what’s more Polish constitution prohibits discrimination for any reason, yet what really haunts the average Poles’ heads is a different story. Homosexuality used to be on a disease list before 1991, but presently is legal, as well as prostitution, and according to the law the age of consent for sex (both gay or straight) is 15. There’s no need to register a gay relationship, yet gay adoptions are prohibited.
 
In Krakow gay people may be disfavoured at times, as verbal offences happen every day, especially if you show each other’s affection in public (physical offences are rare, yet not excluded). In such cases the police won’t be of much help too, because they may ignore the reporting person due to low social harmfullnes of the offence. According to a Campaign Against Homophobia 2007 report about 20% of homosexuals surveyed had experienced some type of violence. The most common is psychological violence – from calling names and mocking to blackmail and mobbing, however cases of physical attacks happen as well. The reason for homosexuality being perceived only as perverted and troublemaking is perhaps the prejudiced attitude of the Catholic Church, a power far more influential than ruling people’s hearts and minds, and as some indicate, the lack of sexual revolution, similar to that in the US and UK in the 60’s and 70’s.
 
In recent years Polish gay rights movement has grown strong. The Culture for Tolerance Foundation organizes an annual Tolerance Festival – the biggest queer festival in eastern Europe, with the March of Tolerance being the most visible Krakow’s gay event.
 
To sum up, gay Krakow has two faces: the niche, friendly one propelled by the cosmopolitan and student spirit, and the official, conservative and homophobic. Being gay in Krakow isn’t risky, yet avoiding public caresses on the street is advisable, as well as watching your wallet in clubs (some straights go there only to pickpocket). Avoid Planty park (the one around city walls) as a place for choosing rentboys.
 
Below is a list of places in Krakow gays can feel at home:
Cocon disco: Gazowa 21, Kitsch club: Wielopole 15/4, Blue XL club: Dietla 85 (sex club for men only), Plastic club: Berka Joselewicza 21c, Ciemnia club: Krowoderska 31 (night club for men only), Pozytywka café: Bozego Ciala 10, Friends Guest House: Bozego Ciala 10, 2nd Floor guest house (city center location), Kontrast hotel: Forteczna 22
Polish gay websites: gayfakt.pl, gay.pl, www.lesbijka.net, www.innastrona.pl, www.homiki.pl

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