Polish politician Robert Biedroń has come a long way since marching in Poland's first Equality Parade in 2001. In fact, the openly gay mayor of Slupsk is now one of the top three prospects for the 2020 Polish presidential election, with wanting to vote him into office.
He comes up against conservative incumbent, President Duda, who received 33.5 percent in the same survey, and the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, who received 33 percent.
Entering politics as an LGBTIQ+ activist, Biedroń found his place in the centre-left party Your Movement, which was founded founded by former MP Janusz Palikot in 2010. The party's platform includes ending religious education in state schools, ending state subsidies of churches, legalising abortion on demand, and lowering the voting age to 16.
Biedroń has been open about his sexuality and long-term relationship with partner Krzysztof Śmiszek.
“I am just a boy from Krosno, who is often swimming against the tide, a leader who can lead a dialogue and unite people. The son, brother, colleague, and finally Krzysztof’s partner,” Biedroń .
“I am a man who respects nature, looks sympathetically at the destiny of animals," he continues. "I am a politician who loves Poland, who is focused on the sustainable development of a modern honest state that provides equal opportunities for all, supporting education and culture, ensuring security and development. But, first of all, I will always be myself, Robert Biedroń."
While there's a long way to go in the 2020 Polish Presidential race, Biedroń simply being in the running is significant for members of the local LGBIQ+ community, given only believe society should accept homosexuality.
Biedroń was the first openly gay person to be elected to parliament.
