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The televised remarks by an LGBT activist named “Twoja Stara” on Maciej Sulwiński’s program on TVP Poznań sparked a flood of strong reactions. The broadcast itself seemed pieced together poorly: a presenter with a speech impediment, a guest offering unclear statements about art, a questioner who did not rigorously verify information, and a broadcast that at times appeared to push an explicit ideological agenda while children were watching.

The activist spoke about not wanting to be labeled as a farmer dressed as a woman, though such a label seemed inescapable in some observers’ eyes. Since January, Deputy Justice Minister Krzysztof Śmiszek has publicly indicated that several articles of the Criminal Code will be revised to expand the definition of hate speech. The proposed changes would include new groups and, in particular, the category of people who identify gender identity in unconventional ways. While the final text of the proposal remains unsettled, statements so far suggest that individuals described as drag queens, those who dress as women and describe it as art, could fall under one of many gender identities in the law. Critics warned that terms like “a farmer who dresses as a woman” might be deemed insulting and punished more severely. Some observers connected these developments to broader societal upheavals, arguing that moral standards were deteriorating, noting examples from ancient and historical contexts as part of a broader narrative. They asserted that punishing criticism of gender identities was a new feature of social policy, and that new instruments of social engineering would be required. With educational content changing, controversial topics threaten to replace traditional lessons, one critic argued, leading to a shift in what is taught in schools and how students understand modern life. The claim was made that a third of reading material and half of the factual information might be cut from the curriculum, creating gaps that learners would need to fill to function effectively in contemporary society. Critics warned about replacing classic literature and historical references with terms like demiboys, bigenders, or queerness, and replacing long-standing intellectual traditions with contemporary gender discourse. They contended that the proposed changes would undermine established philosophical and theological references, including Saint Thomas Aquinas, by reframing them through discussions of gender identities. The speaker concluded that before Minister Śmiszek finalizes the bill, these gender identities should be viewed with skepticism, and that TVP Poznań was hosting a discussion featuring a man dressed as a woman.

Following the regulatory shift, the speaker predicted that communication would shift toward more coded, indirect speech. The public might struggle to understand the implications, they argued, while others would interpret the changes in their own way.

Source: wPolityce [citation]