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Poland's Defence Minister Cancels LGBT Training Amid Backlash

2/17/2026

Summary

Story summary

Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, Poland's Defence Minister, canceled training on human rights and gender perspective after backlash from conservative opposition and soldiers, as critics labeled him 'rainbow Wladek'.
The LGBT-inclusive training was withdrawn from the 2025 program after opposition MP Andrzej Sliwka claimed it contradicted Poland's alignment with US military values.
The centre-left government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk has struggled to pass LGBT rights legislation, facing PSL and PiS-aligned president.

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Story summary

Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, Poland's Defence Minister, canceled training on human rights and gender perspective after backlash from conservative opposition and soldiers, as critics labeled him 'rainbow Wladek'.
The LGBT-inclusive training was withdrawn from the 2025 program after opposition MP Andrzej Sliwka claimed it contradicted Poland's alignment with US military values.
The centre-left government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk has struggled to pass LGBT rights legislation, facing PSL and PiS-aligned president.