English

WHAT IS SPR?

SPR, or in English: The Diversity Workshop, is a non-governmental non-profit organization founded in 2009 in Toruń, Poland.

We think that gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, transsexual and queer people are part of the diverse society. That every person, regardless of their psychosexual orientation, gender, race, ethnicity, disability, religious denomination or lack thereof, needs to be treated equally. We promote social inclusiveness and civil society through the means ofdemocratic process.We seek to integrate the local LGBT community, activate its potential, increase their awareness of the rights they have, and provide help, whenever it is needed.

We believe in NGO transparency, collectivism, participation and clear rules of decision-making process within the organisation.

SHORT INTRODUCTION TO OUR HISTORY AND WORK

Beginnings of SPR date back to January 2006, when a branch of Campaign Against Homophobia (CAH), a Warsaw-based LGBTQ association, was established in Toruń. People from Toruń have quickly surpassed the initial expectations of CAH and the branch became so active, that it virtually put Toruń on the LGBTQ map of Poland. With growing ambition and desire to fight homophobia not only on a local level, in December 2008 CAH Toruń was transformed into an independent and fully-fledged association called The Diversity Workshop (SPR). After four years of activity SPR’s accomplishments include: QueerFest festivals in Toruń (October 2006, October 2007 and December 2008), outdoor actions, e.g. Anti-Homophobic Clinics in Toruń (May 2006, May 2007), in Grudziądz (October 2008) and Włocławek (October 2008) and Day Of Silence demos (April 2006-2008, May 2009), a poster campaign („You are not alone”, Toruń, December 2007), public debates with scientists, politicians and journalists (e.g. on language of politicians and journalists in reference to LGBTQ persons in May 2008 or „Free, different, equal” on situation of LGBTQ persons from a legal, sociological and cultural perspective in May 2006) and Living Library events (Toruń, October 2009, two more are scheduled for February and April 2010). SPR also co-organises the annual Manifa in Toruń, a demo for women’s rights.

Since its establishment as an independent LGBTQ association SPR has been active not only locally, but also on the national level. SPR has issued statements regarding almost every homophobic incident involving a politician (e.g. deputy mayor of Olsztyn, who criticised a small LGBTQ festival being held in a municipal theatre) or public person (e.g. Paul Cameron, American anti-gay campaigner holding a „lecture” on a public university) and petitioned – together with other LGBTQ organizations – that the Government Plenipotentiary for Equal Status be dismissed for lack of competence and will to deal with LGBTQ issues. Recently SPR hit the mainstream news demanding apologies for some flagrantly homophobic statements of a right-wing member of the Sejm (lower house of Polish parliament). SPR also cooperates with other Polish LGBTQ organizations, like Lambda Bydgoszcz (from Bydgoszcz, Toruń’s closest neighbour), Lambda Warszawa (Warsaw) and Transfuzja Foundation (Warsaw) in the formula of „LGBTQ round tables”.

In result, members of SPR prepared a bill adding hate crimes based on sex, gender, sexual orientation, age and disability to the Polish penal code, which was accepted by all Polish LGBTQ organizations (currently the bill is undergoing consultations with other Polish human rights organizations). In addition, thanks to the twin-city link between Toruń and Leiden (Netherlands), SPR has close ties with its Dutch counterpart – COC Leiden.

Updates:

In December 2009 we have sent an appeal to the Polish prime minister, Mr Donald Tusk, to dismiss the Equality Minister Mrs. Elżbieta Radziszewska. We analyse her work, concluding that she is not fulfiling her duties, incompetent, and outright homophobic herself. We have not received any reply. English version of the letter is available here for download (DOC).