After an eight-year ban, LGBTQ+ couples returned to Polish national TV on January 6. Among them was famous gay couple Jakub and Dawid. Jakub was fired from Telewizja Polska seven years ago because he was gay. Now waving a rainbow flag on air, he had a pleasure to announce: “Homophobia is over on Polish TV”.
The last eight years have been difficult for the LGBTQ+ community in Poland. The conservative government enacted a number of regulations discriminating against sexual minorities – among them infamous LGBTQ-free zones. LGBTQ+ topics were also banned in national media. There were attempts to erase the rainbow flag even during the broadcast of Eurovision. Jacob lost his job after getting married to his husband seven years ago.
In December, after winning the elections, the democratic coalition took power and announced changes for the LGBTQ+ community. Prime Minister Donald Tusk decided to issue the Act on Civil Partnerships within the first 100 days after coming to power. National Television has also changed. The visit of LGBTQ+ couples with rainbow flags was symbolic as a new chapter for national television. Jacob is also expecting to become the host of a morning show on Polish TV.
