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Despite the constant development of the humanitarian sector, LGBTQI+ displacement remains fraught with the risk of invisibility, tokenism and misdirection of assistance. Therefore designing a humanitarian response sensitive to the LGBTQI+ needs always requires well informed coordination among governmental, non-governmental and international actors to navigate the risks that these diverse actors may pose to each other - and seize the opportunities that such cross-sectoral collaboration might provide.
Poland presents a fascinating case of an EU Member country with a recent and well-proven decrease in protection of LGBTQI+ rights (2015-2021), faced with two humanitarian crises at its Eastern borders with Belarus and Ukraine. Our report explores in what way this ongoing response inspired the local and international aid providers to address the challenges that LGBTQI+ refugees and migrants face in Poland through the lens of localisation and intersectionality. Therefore it aims to inform the humanitarian community and state representatives how this experience could shape a cross-sectoral and intersectional response that is inclusive, respectful and sustainable to local LGBTQI+ and refugee communities (as well as the intersecting ones: LGBTQI+ refugees’ communities).
This research is based on the analysis of 19 in-depth interviews with experts and humanitarians providing assistance to LGBTQI+ and/or refugees in Poland after 2021. Additionally it is supported with the lived experience of providing such assistance at all stages of reception and integration (Queer Without Borders). The findings show that local networks are forming and growing, sharing resources, best practices, lessons learned and even failures. Polish civil society organisations tend to focus on using their own access and expertise in the local LGBTQI+ context rather than depending on national bodies or international guidelines. This is mainly because they have little trust in how public authorities treat minorities—especially the LGBTQI+ community—or due to growing disappointment with how international organisations address LGBTQI+ displacement.