Today (Tuesday 13) Brighton lesbian, Clare Dimyon who is “Polish-by-marriage”, will go up to London in order to place the wreath at the Polish Embassy and sign the Book of Condolences.

Clare has attended Warsaw Parada Równości (Parade of Equality) in both 2008 and 2009 and has many Polish friends and relatives.

Clare said:
“It is hard to describe how this air crash compounds tragedy upon tragedy. It is Katyń upon Katyń. It is worth remembering that of the 22,000 men who were brutally and systematically murdered on the orders of Stalin, at a conservative estimate 5% or 1,100 were gay or bisexual.

"I feel shattered by the news so it must be far worse for Polish people, especially those directly affected. My thoughts are with all Polish people, especially my LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) sisters and brothers, as they grieve this terrible loss but especially the bereaved.  

"In particular, the family of Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka, a former Deputy Prime Minister, who was outspoken advocate for LGBT people. Other allies of LGBT people in Poland were among the 100 or so Polish dignitaries who died in the crash:  Jerzy Szmajdzinski, Jolanta Szymanek-Deresz, Janusz Kochanowski. I want to make sure we remember their contribution."

The card with the wreath reads in Polish:
"In remembering Polish martyrs, we remember that at least 5% were lesbian, gay bisexual or transsexual. At this time, let there be no politics, no right, no left, no gay, no heterosexual...only Poland."