{{Short description|2019 Polish film}} {{italic title}} '''''Inwazja''''' ("Invasion") is a half-hour film directed by Przemysław Wenerski<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/kraj/nowi-czlonkowie-komisji-etyki-tvp-wsrod-nich-ziemiec-oraz-wenerski/wsvsd6y |title=Ziemiec, Duda, Wenerski i Nowina-Konopka nowymi członkami Komisji Etyki TVP |date=15 July 2020}}</ref> and Marcin Tulicki, produced by Telewizja Polska which purports to reveal "the inside story, aims, methods, and money behind the LGBT invasion" of Poland.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hoare |first1=Liam |title=The Horrifying Campaign Against LGBTQ People in Poland—and How the U.S. Has Made It Worse |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/10/polish-presidential-campaign-anti-lgbtq-message.html |access-date=29 October 2020 |work=Slate Magazine |date=10 October 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="notes">{{cite news |last1=Bretan |first1=Juliette |title=Court orders Polish state broadcaster TVP to take down online anti-LGBT film |url=https://notesfrompoland.com/2020/06/08/court-orders-polish-state-broadcaster-tvp-to-take-down-online-anti-lgbt-film/ |access-date=28 October 2020 |work=Notes From Poland |date=8 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Davies |first1=Christian |title='Cruder than the Communists': Polish TV goes all out for rightwing vote |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/11/cruder-than-the-communists-polish-tv-goes-all-out-for-rightwing-vote |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=11 October 2019}}</ref> It was first broadcast on 10 October 2019 ahead of the 2019 Polish parliamentary election two days later, shortly after the prime-time news show ''Wiadomości''.<ref name=kobieta>{{cite news |title=Ile wydano na homofobiczną "Inwazję"? TVP ujawni koszty decyzją sądu |url=https://www.kobieta.pl/artykul/ile-wydano-na-homofobiczna-inwazje-tvp-ujawni-koszty-decyzja-sadu |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=www.kobieta.pl |language=pl-PL}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ambroziak |first1=Anton |title=Sąd: homofobiczna "Inwazja" TVP musi zniknąć z Youtube'a |url=https://oko.press/sad-homofobiczna-inwazja-tvp-musi-zniknac-z-youtubea/ |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=oko.press |date=8 June 2020| language=Polish}}</ref><ref name=twitter>{{cite news|last1=Karpieszuk |first1=Wojciech |title=Burza w internecie przed emisją "Inwazji LGBT" w TVP. "Szczujnia publiczna" |url=https://warszawa.wyborcza.pl/warszawa/7,54420,25295067,burza-w-internecie-przed-emisja-inwazji-lgbt-w-tvp-szczujnia.html |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=warszawa.wyborcza.pl |date=10 October 2019| language=Polish}}</ref>
==Content== [[File:Parada Równości 2018 10.jpg|thumb|Warsaw Equality Parade in 2018. One of the participants holds a sign saying "Miłość tworzy rodzinę" ("Love makes a family").]] According to Stanley Bill, the film "depicted LGBT rights activists as a foreign-backed threat to Polish children, religion, values, and the very biological continuation of the nation".<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bill |first1=Stanley |title=Counter-Elite Populism and Civil Society in Poland: PiS's Strategies of Elite Replacement |journal=East European Politics and Societies and Cultures |date=2020 |volume=36 |pages=118–140 |doi=10.1177/0888325420950800|doi-access=free }}</ref>
The film includes footage taken using a hidden camera by a TVP employee pretending to be a volunteer for Campaign Against Homophobia, a Polish LGBT organization.<ref name=rp/><ref>{{cite news |title=OKO.press demaskuje. Za prowokacją wymierzoną w Kampanię Przeciw Homofobii stoi TVP |url=https://oko.press/news-oko-press-za-prowokacja-wymierzona-w-kampanie-przeciw-homofobii-stoi-tvp/ |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=oko.press}}</ref><ref name=twitter/> It implies that participants in equality marches in Poland were paid for their attendance. However, the reality is that only a handful of employees receive money to pay transportation expenses and other costs, who are not the vast majority of participants.<ref name="Bez" /><ref name="oko" /><ref name=twitter/> The film claims that all equality marches in Poland are attended by the same protestors that travel to different towns.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Olender |first=Aneta |date=10 October 2019 |title=Obejrzałam film "Inwazja" w TVP. Czegoś takiego się nie spodziewałam |url=https://natemat.pl/287035,inwazja-w-tvp-film-dokumentalny-o-marszach-rownosci-i-lgbt |access-date=28 January 2025 |website=naTemat |language=pl}}</ref> The film footage of equality marches in Poland and pride parades elsewhere is selected to portray the participants in the worst possible light.<ref name="Bez" /><ref name="oko" /> The film also omits important information about the equality marches, such as the violent attacks against them.<ref name=RPO/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Karpieszuk |first=Wojciech |date=10 October 2019 |title=Burza w internecie przed emisją "Inwazji LGBT" w TVP. "Szczujnia publiczna" |url=https://warszawa.wyborcza.pl/warszawa/7,54420,25295067,burza-w-internecie-przed-emisja-inwazji-lgbt-w-tvp-szczujnia.html |access-date=29 January 2025 |website=Gazeta Wyborcza}}</ref>
The purported "LGBT invasion" is described as different things, including: pedophilia, social engineering, a dangerous ideology, a controlled propaganda movement, desecration of the sacred, an attack on the Catholic Church, indoctrination of young people, nudity, vulgarity, changing customs. The independent media, local governments that support LGBT people, and mayors such as Rafał Trzaskowski and Jacek Jaśkowiak are portrayed as complicit in the "invasion".<ref name=oko>{{cite news |title=TVP o Inwazji LGBT: "Potop", "gorsza niż najbardziej zagorzali komuniści", "czeka nas legalizacja pedofilii" |url=https://oko.press/tvp-o-inwazji-lgbt-potop-gorsza-niz-najbardziej-zagorzali-komunisci-czeka-nas-legalizacja-pedofilii/ |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=oko.press| language=Polish}}</ref> According to OKO.press, the film claims that the ultimate goal of the LGBT movement is to legalize pedophilia.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ambroziak |first=Anton |date=21 June 2022 |title=TVP przegrywa. Jest wyrok sądu ws. filmu "Inwazja LGBT" |url=https://oko.press/tvp-przegrywa-jest-wyrok-sadu-ws-filmu-inwazja-lgbt |access-date=28 June 2022 |website=OKO.press |language=pl}}</ref>
The film interviews different people for their reactions to the LGBT movement, including {{ill|Aleksander Nalaskowski|pl}}, {{ill|Paweł Lisicki|pl}}, and Bronisław Wildstein.<ref name="oko" /> Commentators compare the "LGBT invasion" to the Swedish Deluge and, unfavorably, to Stalinist rule in Poland.<ref name="oko" /> They also claim that the ultimate goal of the LGBT movement is legalization of pedophilia in Poland<ref name="oko" /> and that the LGBT movement is attacking the Catholic Church and its followers.<ref name=":0" /> Dawid Mysior, one of the commentators, says that Catholics "have the right to respond with aggression" to the LGBT movement.<ref name=":0" />
==Reception== According to naTemat.pl, ''Inwazja'' is "generally considered homophobic".<ref>{{cite news |title=Sądowa porażka TVP. Stacja musi ujawnić koszty produkcji homofobicznego reportażu |url=https://natemat.pl/321185,kph-wygrywa-w-sadzie-z-tvp-stacja-musi-ujawnic-ile-kosztowala-inwazja# |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=naTemat.pl |language=PL-pl}}</ref> The film was especially controversial because it was produced by a public broadcaster which is funded by tax revenue.<ref name=kobieta/> Hundreds of internet users reacted to the film by posting pictures of themselves with the hashtag #inwazjaLGBT.<ref name="twitter" /><ref>{{cite news |title=#InwazjaLGBT na Twitterze: Reakcja na dokument TVP |url=https://www.rp.pl/LGBT/191019983-InwazjaLGBT-na-Twitterze-Reakcja-na-dokument-TVP.html |access-date=28 October 2020 |work=www.rp.pl |language=pl}}</ref>
Polish ombudsman Adam Bodnar stated that "The material not only reinforces stereotypes and intensifies social hatred towards LGBT people, but also manipulates facts." He added: "The aim of the authors of the material was to offend and exclude LGBT people by presenting them as different – an enemy and a source of dangers." He stated that the film did not meet journalistic standards as it did not follow the principles of pluralism, impartiality, and balance in reporting. In particular, he objected to the linkage of homosexuality and pedophilia. Bodnar appealed to the National Broadcasting Council to take action against the film.<ref name=RPO>{{cite news |title=RPO interweniuje ws. filmu "Inwazja". "TVP manipuluje faktami i potęguje nienawiść wobec osób LGBT" |url=https://oko.press/rpo-interweniuje-ws-filmu-inwazja-tvp-manipuluje-faktami-i-poteguje-nienawisc-wobec-osob-lgbt/ |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=oko.press | language=Polish}}</ref><ref>[https://www.rpo.gov.pl/sites/default/files/Wyst%C4%85pienie%20do%20Przewodnicz%C4%85cego%20KRRiT%20ws.%20programu%20TVP%20%27Inwazja%27%2C%2018%20listopada%202019%20r..pdf Wystąpienie do Przewodniczącego KRRiT ws. programu TVP 'Inwazja', 18 listopada 2019 (in Polish)]</ref>
Slava Melnyk, director of Campaign Against Homophobia, described the film as "homophobic and socially harmful libel".<ref name="notes"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Karpieszuk |first1=Wojciech |title=KPH pozywa TVP. Sąd nakazuje telewizji usunięcie z serwisu YouTube filmu "Inwazja LGBT" |url=https://warszawa.wyborcza.pl/warszawa/7,54420,26011852,kph-pozywa-tvp-sad-nakazuje-telewizji-usuniecie-z-serwisu-youtube.html |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=warszawa.wyborcza.pl |date=8 June 2020}}</ref> According to {{ill|Bezprawnik|pl}}, "it suffices to watch a few minutes of this film to realize that it was created only to further a homophobic campaign and use the situation of LGBT people for the current political struggle".<ref name=Bez>{{cite news |title=Inwazja TVP. Sąd nakazał usunąć homofobiczny dokument z sieci. |url=https://bezprawnik.pl/inwazja-tvp/ |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=Bezprawnik |date=8 June 2020 |language=pl-PL}}</ref> According to {{ill|Anton Ambroziak|pl}} the film is a "collection of distortions and manipulations".<ref name="oko" /> He also called it a "homophobic pseudo-documentary" and a "propaganda film".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ambroziak |first=Anton |date=22 February 2024 |title=TVP musi przeprosić za propagandowy film "Inwazja LGBT" |url=https://oko.press/tvp-musi-przeprosic-za-propagandowy-film-inwazja-lgbt |access-date=28 January 2025 |website=OKO.press |language=pl}}</ref> Sociologist {{ill|Ireneusz Krzemiński|pl}} said he was "shocked by the perfidy of this film".<ref>{{cite news |title="Inwazja" w TVP trzy dni przed wyborami. Profesor Krzemiński: Jestem wstrząśnięty perfidią tego filmu |url=https://www.newsweek.pl/polska/spoleczenstwo/dokument-tvp-inwazja-nagonka-na-osoby-lgbt/9tf8sxx |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=Newsweek.pl |language=pl}}</ref>
==Court ruling== Campaign Against Homophobia objected to the content of the film and asked TVP not to broadcast it, apologize, and either pay PLN 10,000 to the Lambda Warszawa hotline or else broadcast a spot supporting LGBT youth. Following a lawsuit brought by Campaign Against Homophobia for violation of its personal rights, in 2020, a court ruled that TVP had to remove the film from YouTube and not broadcast it for a year, although parts of the film are still available on the broadcaster's website.<ref name="Bez" /><ref name=kobieta/><ref>{{cite news |title=Sąd: TVP ma udostępnić informację o kosztach produkcji "Inwazji" |url=https://www.press.pl/tresc/63382,sad_-tvp-ma-udostepnic-informacje-o-kosztach-produkcji-_inwazji_ |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=Press.pl |language=pl}}</ref> In a separate ruling, a court required TVP to disclose the production costs of the film after it refused a freedom of information request.<ref>{{cite news |title=KPH wygrywa w sądzie z TVP. Uznano skargę dot. homofobicznej "Inwazji" |url=https://noizz.pl/lgbt/kph-wygrywa-w-sadzie-z-tvp-uznano-skarge-dot-homofobicznej-inwazji/bp19qqg |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=Noizz |date=24 September 2020 |language=pl}}</ref><ref name=rp>{{cite news |title=TVP przegrywa z Kampanią Przeciwko Homofobii ws. filmu "Inwazja" |url=https://www.rp.pl/Prawo-dla-Ciebie/309259902-TVP-przegrywa-z-Kampania-Przeciwko-Homofobii-ws-filmu-Inwazja.html |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=www.rp.pl |language=pl}}</ref> Campaign Against Homophobia also raised money for lawsuits on behalf of some of the volunteers who were filmed without their consent, who say that the film violates their personal rights.<ref>{{cite news |title=TVP musi usunąć film "Inwazja" z sieci. Jest decyzja sądu |url=https://www.tokfm.pl/Tokfm/7,103085,26012162,tvp-musi-usunac-film-inwazja-z-sieci-jest-decyzja-sadu.html |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=TOK FM |language=pl}}</ref><ref name="notes"/>
One of the judges involved in the lawsuit, Joanna Kruczkowska, raised concerns about the film's claims that the "invasion date" of the LGBT movement was four days before the election, because it may have influenced the results of the election. She also mentioned the film's use of ominous music to frighten the viewers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pallus |first=Patryk |date=24 January 2023 |title=TVP nie chce przepraszać za dokument o osobach LGBT+. Złożono apelację |url=https://www.wirtualnemedia.pl/artykul/inwazja-film-tvp-apelacja-wyrok-kampania-przeciw-homofobia |access-date=28 January 2025 |website=wirtualnemedia.pl |language=pl}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}} {{LGBT in Poland}}
Category:2019 LGBTQ-related films Category:2019 in Poland Category:Telewizja Polska original programming Category:Discrimination against LGBTQ people in Poland Category:Television controversies in Poland Category:LGBTQ-related controversies in television Category:Polish LGBTQ-related films