Poland's three associations with affirmed legal status have a lot to learn about equality and fairness - in their home courts. Here's a historical background snapshot.
Lambda Warsaw was founded in 1997. Its primary focuses centers upon Health and related issues facing the gay community.
ILGCN Polska was started in 2000 by
Szymon Niemiec. The mission of the group is to promote culture entwined with a message of understanding and tolerance. In 2001
ILGCN Polska formed the
Equality Parade (Parada Rownosci)assistance from other organizations was rejected, notably by "
KPH" president
Robert Biedron.
After the parade was formed Biedron publicly denounced it stating that the event would draw negative attention upon Poland’s gays. Biedron's gay media allies authored scathing editorials against its twenty-one years old founder
Szymon Niemiec.
Campaign Against Homophobia (KPH - Kampania Przeciw Homofobii) was established in 2001 by Robert Biedron. This association’s primary focus was legislation, lobbying Poland’s politicos concerning LGBT community anti-discrimination matters. Prior to 2000 Biedron was not a gay activist – not that we are aware of. Perhaps he assumed that with Poland entering the European Union in 2004 he'd profit by forming his own organization.
Equality Foundation(Fundacja Rownosci) was established in 2005. The mission of the foundation was to raise funds and coordinate the "
Equality Parade."
Robert Biedron proposed the establishment of the foundation to Szymon Niemiec the twenty-five years old president of
ILGCN Polska and Equality Parade's architect. Niemiec trusted the goodwill of Biedron and agreed. During those per-accord meetings Biedron introduced Niemiec to
Tomasz Baczkowski and he convinced Niemiec the proposed foundation was an excellent way to unite the community. Biedron also suggested that Baczkowski be appointed by the
Assembly of Founders (Executive board) as president of the foundation’s board of directors. The "board of directors" serves at the discretion of the Assembly of Founders. It should be noted that
no formal agreement was signed releasing the
Equality Parade brand to the provisional foundation.
(a) Assembly of founders (Executive board) each founding association has two representatives on the executive council board – the president and vice president of the co-founding associations:
- ILGCN Polska
- Campaign Against Homophobia
- Lambda WarsawShorty after the foundation was legally dully registered Szymon Niemiec was hospitalized for three months ad incapacitated for an additional eight months. During which time Tomasz Baczkowski and Robert Biedron ceased inviting ILGCN Polska's officers and Szymon Niemiec to executive sessions of council. Since the year 2005 ILGCN Polska has not participated in deliberations of the foundation. This is universally illegal under laws governing nongovernmental non-profits soliciting funding. In layman’s terms, without the participation of any one of the co-founders the body legally cannot operate nor exist.
Poland vs. Equality Foundation read more here.