His policies reflect that rhetoric: Duda pledged to ban adoption by same-sex couples and classes on gay rights in state schools. In the past, Duda has made remarks that “LGBT are not people they are an ideology” and noted that this ideology was “even more destructive” than communism. The colorful message was directed at Duda, who is known for his anti-LGBTQ+ policies and has a close allyship with Poland’s right-wing Law and Justice party.
A bird’s-eye photo from above showed the stark contrast during the ceremony: One half of the room was composed of Duda in a black suit and his wife in a white dress, while the opposition mimicked a rainbow. The opposition party, composed of left-wing parliamentarians, wore dresses, shirts, and pants suits in the colors of the rainbow, along with coordinating masks, to show solidarity with Poland’s LGBTQ+ community. This past Thursday, President Andrzej Duda of Poland was sworn in to office for a second term.
