Lambda Warszawa Association (Lambda Warsaw Association) is the oldest operating Polish LGBTorganisation. It was founded in October 1997 by activists of Rainbow Centre (Ośrodek “Rainbow”), which existed from 1995 to 1997. As a public interestorganisation, its aim is to create a positive gay and lesbian identity, and build social tolerance toward sexual minorities.
In 2004, the association acquired the status of a public interest organisation (OPP), and has been a part of the Mazowia Federation since then.
Fields of activity
Psychological help and support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transsexual people: setting up a helpline (Monday to Friday, 6 – 9 pm: 022 628 5222); office duty of psychiatrists, therapists, and lawyers; Gadu-Gadu Messenger duty; Internet chat duty; support and meeting groups (both for gay, lesbian, and transsexual people, and their relatives).
HIV/AIDS and addictions prevention: Safer Relationships programme (Program “Bezpieczne związki”), street- and partyworkers’ actions in LGBT clubs; office duty at Lambda Warszawa HQ; Internet chat duty; addictions prevention projects; internet portal www.bezpytan.pl.
Cultural and social actions addressed to LGBT people: The Film Club; library and reading room; organising discussions and meetings about LGBT literature; active students’ group
Anti-discrimination actions: Report on Sexual Discrimination in Poland (“Raport o dyskryminacji ze względu na orientację seksualną w Polsce”); social actions: Global Village (as part of All Different – All Equal Council of Europe Campaign, March 2007); Living Library project; anti-discrimination trainings. Along with Campaign Against Homophobia (KPH) and other LGBT organisations from across the Europe (Germany, France, and Spain), Lambda Warszawa annually gives Tolerance Award (Nagroda Tolerancji) for sexual orientation-based anti-exclusion policy. Polish Tolerance Award laureates are Kazimierz Kutz (2006), Piotr Pacewicz (2007), Marzanna Pogorzelska (2008), and Zbigniew Holda (2009). Thanks to Lambda Warszawa presidents, Yga Kostrzewa and Krzysztof Kliszczynski, along with activists from other Polish LGBT organisations, the European Court of Human Rights pronounced illegal the ban put by the president of Warsaw, Lech Kaczynski, on the Equality Parade in 2005.
Lambda Warszawa is the first and only LGBT organisation in Poland that provides microgrants to other organisations that help homosexual persons: as part of Stonewall Fund,[1] Lambda Warszawa Microgrant Fund, the first fund competition was launched on May 28, 2009.
Projects
Helpline and Legal and Psychological Help Programme: started in Rainbow Centre in 1995, running since then
Safer Relationships programme: HIV/AIDS prevention since 2000
Report on Sexual Discrimination in Poland: 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2005–2006
Sunday with Lambda project (projekt „Niedziela z Lambdą”) from 2002 until 2004: monthly movie and discussion meetings in Bastylia, a pancake shop in Warsaw
I Choose Tolerance project (projekt “Wybieram tolerancję”): an action connected to self-government elections in 2006 (inquiring future officials about their attitude toward LGBT people)
Season for Rubber project (projekt “Sezon na gumy”): all-Poland informational action about the usage of condoms (http://www.sezonnagumy.pl, 2007)
Co-creation of Polish National Campaign Committee (NCC): committee coordinating Polish campaign All Different-All Equal by Council of Europe (2007-2008)
Global Village project: anti-homophobia action (March 2007)
Academy of Anti-Discrimination project: trainings for self-government officials and non-governmental activists as part of European Year of Equal Chances for All (ERRSW)(March 2008)
Stonewall Fund: Lambda Warszawa Microgrant Fund (since May 2008)
Counteract discrimination - it is not difficult! project (projekt "Przeciwdziałaj dyskryminacji – to nie jest trudne!"): project against discrimination based on gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion or age. przeciwdzialajdyskryminacji.pl (2009)
Authorities
Yga Kostrzewa
Authorities of the association are elected by its members during general election meetings. Term in office of the management lasts two years, and, as chairpersons, there have been:
