POLAND: U.S. gay couple seeking apology from Polish President

Record ID: 277522

  • Title: POLAND: U.S. gay couple seeking apology from Polish President
  • Date: 1st April 2008
  • Summary: (EU) WARSAW, POLAND (MARCH 31, 2008) (REUTERS) VARIOUS POLISH PARLIAMENT GAY COUPLE, BRENDAN FAY AND THOMAS MOULTON WALKING DOWN CORRIDOR IN PARLIAMENT JOURNALISTS AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRENDAN FAY SAYING: "The misuse of the images of such a day of joy, that they were used in a way to promote fear and intolerance gave us cause for anger and frustrati
  • Embargoed: 16th April 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Poland
  • Country: Poland
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA1WGSQN3JF2H41C0ROA11ZLWCW
  • Story Text: An American gay couple whose wedding pictures were used by Polish President Lech Kaczynski to illustrate the threat of same-sex marriage are considering taking legal action against him.
    An American gay couple whose wedding pictures were used by Polish President Lech Kaczynski to illustrate the threat of same-sex marriage accused him on Monday (March 31) of promoting fear and intolerance.
    Brendan Fay and his husband Thomas Moulton, campaigners in New York for equal rights for homosexuals, arrived in Warsaw after their travel expenses were paid for by Polish Broadcaster TVN.
    They are hoping to meet Kaczynski to discuss the matter, but the president's ruled out any meeting.
    At a news conference held in the Polish Parliament Fay said, "The misuse of the images of such a day of joy, that they were used in a way to promote fear and intolerance gave us cause for anger and frustration."
    Kaczynski used the couple's wedding pictures this month in an address to the nation opposing adoption of the European Union reform treaty, which he said could pave the way for gay marriage in the overwhelmingly Catholic nation of 38 million.
    Fay and Moulton have written a letter addressed to Lech Kaczynski that they will make available to the press.
    Asked about the contents of the letter Fay said, "Our letter was very simple, we asked for a meeting and that perhaps he'd like to meet the couple whose images he used. That we could sit down and begin this important dialogue, and he would have the opportunity to meet us even for a few minutes."
    The homosexual couple said their images had been used illegally, but that they had not made up their minds about whether or not to take legal action, Moulton said: "The question was also a part of it, is about the court case. At this point we haven't made a decision on that. We're still thinking about it, talking about it. The purpose from this is that we wish that we see a movement forward and for us actions speak louder than words, as you can see from the use of our video clip. So we would like to see something positive in the movement hopefully at the government level."
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