Invisible in Warzaw

The photographer Sylwia Strebska has documented places where LGBT people in Warzaw meet. The exhibition is made especially for Stockholm Pride and was opened on Tuesday.

Based on real-life stories

Last year in December, Sylwia Strebska sent letters to LGBT organizations in Warzaw and asked the members to tell about their meeting places. The images are a result of the answers she received. The photographs show empty bars, cafés and clubs, and also public and well known locations in Warzaw. The images are exhibited with some of the letters.

Empty places

The fact that the images are depopulated is a comment on the fact that few "ordinary people" dare to be open about their sexual orientation. Furthermore, only a few public persons are open about their orientation, and hence also the only persons who appear in media.

Only displayed in Stockholm

The exhibition is exclusive for Stockholm Pride. There has been interest from other countries as well, but it will probably not be displayed in Warzaw. Sylwia Strebska thinks that it is too controversial to show well known public places that are meeting places for LGBT people. When asked, she says that she does not think EuroPride in Warzaw in 2010 will bring about any changes for the visibility of LGBT people in the public space.

- There are many who dislike Pride. They think that the festival is not relevant for their lives, but rather a sensational spectacle.

- Those who are open about their sexual orientation in Poland are the economically independent, and a Pride celebration will not change that.

This year's surplus from Stockholm Pride's Solidarity Fund is earmarked to  Europride 2010 in Warzaw.

The exhibition is displayed at Zenit in Pride House for the duration of the festival.

Sylwia Strebska will host a seminar on the situation of LGBT people in Poland on Thursday at 14:00, and tell us more about her photo exhibition, 'Invisible'.