Double exclusion. How is it to be a queer migrant from Eastern Europe in Poland today?
LGBTQ+ rights in Belarus and Ukraine have remained static for years. The fear of coming out persists, both in one’s home country and now within the diaspora abroad. Many queer migrants hide their sexuality, citing political or economic reasons for moving. Although Poland still has a long way to go, its relative openness, access to EU anti-discrimination frameworks and integration into European institutional life create better conditions for social progress and visibility.
February 22, 2026 -
Sviataslaŭ Kruk
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Issue 1-2 2026MagazineStories and ideas
Polish,/Ukrainian LGBTQI parade in Warsaw in 2022. Photo: Iryna Imago / Shutterstock

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