The regional assembly of Swietkorzyskie voted for the removal of the status on 22 September, becoming the first time an area in Poland has done so.
According to Euronews, the Polish government asked areas to revoke the declaration and no one at the meeting opposed stepping back from ‘LGBT-free’ status – though three councillors abstained.
Around 100 towns and regions have made the pledge to oppose “LGBT ideology” since 2019, which they say undermines Poland’s ‘traditional’ Christian values.
Inside the localities, the promotion of LGBT+ equality is banned and homophobia is becoming increasingly normalised, leaving members of the community feeling unsafe and scared for the future.