The Situation of Polish LGBTQ People in 2025: A Balanced Critical Analysis
The use of social identity theory and critical legal studies is critical in understanding the situation. According to social identity theory, self-concept is determined partly by group memberships and that discrimination or marginalization is damaging to collective identity and self-esteem. In the Polish context, decades of conservative cultural norms and the Catholic Church have established very strict boundaries for what constitutes an acceptable identity. At the same time, critical legal studies discuss the role of law as a tool of power and ideology, which shows that many state policies and institutional arrangements are used as gateways to the inclusion or exclusion of society. According to Bogatyrev and Bogusz in their analysis of LGBTQ politics in Poland, the actions of institutions whether through the legislature or by implementation in practice are important determinants of the public perception and often support the social barriers that prevent the integration of queers. ...