WHO ARE WE?
mlodzi1.jpgI agreed to write a short blurb about our group because I thought it’d
be an easy, painless task to describe us, our activities and our
motivations. Then I sat at the desk and… my mind drew a blank! I
found myself utterly unable to answer these seemingly simple questions
in a few words. Everything I wrote felt fake and far from what I
wanted to pass on. I was afraid I couldn’t manage to describe what
brought us to meet regularly, what gave us the incentive to work, and
why we get along so well. It’s surprisingly hard to word what made us
want to organize parties, workshops, exhibitions, demonstrations,
debates and trips, and what makes us so frequently undertake other
initiatives.

I was also afraid I wouldn’t be able to describe how much of the youth
group’s drive and power comes from ourselves – the volunteers, vastly
diverse in age, gender, identity and religion, who nevertheless mesh
to create an amazing crew.

In short – I was scared. Then I decided to ask the others for help. I
hope their explanations will be less vague and that you’ll see more
clearly who we are, what we do and why we do it… (oiko)

We’re a group of younger, older, gorgeous, ugly, boys, girls – each
with the fires of activism in our souls. We aim to improve the
situation of LGBT people in Poland and to promote extremely chaste
parties, having fun, and adorable grins. (jas)

I’m in the KPH youth group…

(Michał, 17): Because I have experienced intolerance, because I don’t
condone it, because I’m fed up and believe we have the power to change
something…

(Ania, 22): Because the meetings are on Wednesday evenings, and the TV
stopped airing my favorite show at that hour… ;)

(Aleksandra, 16): Because I believe social activism can fix the world.
I want the situation in Poland to improve, so that we won’t have to be
ashamed of our country.

(Michał, 17): Because I’m creative and I want to change the world.

(Emila, 17): Because I want to fight intolerance hand in hand with
interesting people.

(Kasia, 20): Because I want everyone to have a right to live in peace,
regardless of their sexual identity.

(Ola, 20): Because I want LGBT folk to be considered equal citizens of
our country.

(Adrian, 21): Because I like working for NGOs. I think all young queer
people could learn courage and openness by working for the LGBT
community.

(Darek, 24): Because I want to improve the situation of LGBT folk in
Poland before I listen to right-wing politicians and leave the country
where people like me are not welcome.

(Marysia, 16): Because I don’t like the current situation of gays,
lesbians and bisexuals in our country.

(Robert, 17): Because I love spending time with the youth group, and
the fight for equal rights of homosexuals and bisexuals is really
essential. Stereotypes annoy me. I think people who pigeonhole us
should come to a meeting and see how diverse we are.

(Leszek, 22): Because one day I wrote an email and went to the first
meeting, where I met some wonderful people. It’s been three years
since that day and I keep meeting young people bursting with energy
and interesting ideas.

(Kuba, 20): Because I’m a young out gay male who gets pissed off when
he’s called a deviant or a pedophile. Because I love the KPH crew and
I’d like to do SOMETHING good – for myself and for other gay men and
women.

(Anna, 20): Because I’m fed up with discrimination and disdain towards
homosexuals, because I want to be safe, because someone has to do
something. Because it pisses me that my ex-flatmate says I shouldn’t
kiss my girlfriend on the balcony where the neighbors can see us.

(Marta, 21): Because gays and lesbians are just awesome normal people.
Because we have a right to live like everyone else, without additional
problems. Because tolerance has to morph into acceptance. Because my
children will simply have two loving mothers, not some funky pink
ostrich and a dodo bird.