Polish Government Plenipotentiary for Equal Treatment's comments on homosexuality

27.9.2010

Question for written answer P-7979/2010
to the Commission
Rule 117
Michael Cashman (S&D)

While taking part in a televised public debate on 21 September 2010, Polish Government Plenipotentiary for Equal Treatment Elżbieta Radziszewska affirmed that directive 2000/78/EC[1] contained provisions for faith-based schools to discriminate against teachers on grounds of their sexual orientation, and expressed the opinion that they would be right to do so.

Ms Radziszewska further accused her opponent in the debate, lawyer Krzysztof Śmiszek, of bias because he ‘is known to be a member of the homosexual community; is an activist of the Campaign Against Homophobia, it’s an open secret who his partner is’. Mrs Radziszewska thereby criticised Mr Śmiszek ad hominem and revealed his sexual orientation on air, failing to demonstrate the professional restraint her position requires, and implying that Mr Śmiszek’s arguments were flawed because of his homosexuality.

What is the Commission’s interpretation of the provisions contained in Directive 2000/78/EC and relevant case law with regard to faith-based schools employing teachers in the light of their sex and sexual orientation?

Is the Commission of the opinion that the Polish Government Plenipotentiary for Equal Treatment, whose job it is to protect citizens’ fundamental rights in Poland, has inter alia a responsibility to promote non-discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people?

• [1] OJ L 303, 2.12.2000, p. 16.

OJ C 243 E, 20/08/2011