POLAND: Pro Boxer Backs LGBT Rights

Poland's struggling LGBT rights movement got a boost this week when a "wildly popular" boxer publicly expressed his support. Via New York Times:

Dariusz Michalczewski, a world-famous pugilist who goes by the nickname Tiger, recently made headlines by announcing his support for one of the country’s most prominent gay rights groups, Shoulder to Shoulder on Equality — L.G.B.T. and Friends, by appearing in a photograph with a sign reading, “I am an ally of L.G.B.T. people, because I want to live in a country where my gay friends are not discriminated against.” Tiger, 46, is a former light heavyweight world champion who defended his title for almost 10 years. For a decade he dominated the prestigious World Boxing Organization, whose current champions include Vitali V. Klitschko and Manny Pacquiao. Now the boxer has decided to compete in the super heavyweight division — that is, the fight for minority rights in Poland. Mr. Michalczewski is both a surprising advocate for gay rights and the perfect choice for the role: He is white, heterosexual, Catholic, rich, professionally successful and widely popular, and thus more likely to persuade conservatives than a liberal intellectual or politician.

RELATED: Interestingly, homosexuality was never criminalized in Poland and its legality was codified in law way back in 1932. Gays are allowed to serve openly in the military, gay men are allowed to donate blood, and in 2003 LGBT Poles were protected from employment discrimination. However same-sex marriage is banned in the national constitution and anti-gay sentiment remains widespread. Last year former president (and Nobel Prize winner) Lech Walesa declared that gay members of the parliament should be forced to sit behind a wall.