Margot (activist)

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Margot
File:Stop Bzdurom (cropped).jpg
Margot in 2019
Born
Michał Szutowicz

1997/1998 (age 21–23)
NationalityPolish
Other namesMargot or Margo
OccupationActivist
OrganizationStop Bzdurom
Partner(s)Łania Madej, Lu[1]

Małgorzata Szutowicz (born 1997/1998), widely recognized as Margot or Margo, is a Polish non-binary LGBTQIA activist and co-founder of the Stop Bzdurom collective.[2] The organization is dedicated to saving queer kids from the consequences of disinformation about LGBT community.[3] Margot is mostly known for being arrested and accused by the police for slashing the tires of a truck used by Fundacja Pro [pl], covering the truck with paint, physically confronting an activist, and joining other activists in decorating statues across Warsaw, including one of Jesus, with rainbow flags and pink masks.[4]

Activities

According to Wprost investigation, in July 2018 Margot was involved in spray-painting of the building of Sejm (Polish lower house of the parliament) and in November 2019 protested against awarding Roman Polański during the film festival which was taking place in the National Film School in Łódź.[5]

Stop Bzdurom [pl] (which in Polish means "Stop Nonsense" or "Stop Bullshit", as adopted by the organization's English language website),[6][7][8] which she runs, is "a radical, queer collective". It was named in reference to a proposed "Stop Pedophilia" bill that they viewed as being in large part against the LGBT community.[9][10]

On 27 June 2020,[11] a truck belonging to an anti-abortion and pro-life foundation, Fundacja Pro [pl], emblazoned with homophobic and anti-abortion slogans, equipped with loudspeakers, was confronted by a group of left wing activists, who slashed the tyres, damaged a mirror, stole the number plate and physically assaulted the driver.[12][13] Margot was arrested for battery on 7 August 2020 and placed in police custody for a period of two months.[14] Following the arrest, various groups of people protested her incarceration, claiming it was politically motivated. As a result, 48 more people were arrested in an event referred to as Polish Stonewall.[4] She had been held in a detention facility in Płock, central Poland[15] and was released on 28 August.[16]

In August 2020, dozens of writers, filmmakers and actors from various countries around the world signed an open letter decrying the oppression Margot and other activists had suffered.[17] Margot's activism has met with criticism from the vice-president of The Left's parliamentary club, Monika Pawłowska,[18] as well as commentators generally viewed as liberals or leftists, including philosopher Jan Hartman and editor-in-chief of Newsweek Polska, Tomasz Lis.[19][20]

On Friday, 4 September 2020, Margot was released from imprisonment after a successful legal appeal. Following her release she posted a photograph holding up her middle finger and holding a scrabble sign saying "Poland, you preek [intentional misspelling], stop arresting my Margot".[21] Margot, whose hunger strike in prison was suppressed by authorities, stated she is willing to resume her hunger strike and die if that would counter Polish homophobia.[22]

Personal life

In an interview with the Polish edition of Vogue, Margot revealed that she is currently writing her Bachelor of Arts (BA) thesis on Christian anarchism.[23]

Margot lives with her life partner Łania Madej.[24] While detained, Margot went on a hunger strike and requested a New Testament, later stating that Christianity is too serious of a matter to be left in Polish Catholics' hands. Margot also stated that she is a Christian.[23]

Right-wing misgendering

Politicians from PiS and right-wing journalists in Poland have misgendered Margot referring to her with a masculine name. According to expert Kamil Gulik this misgendering is a form of violence against LGBT that causes suicidal thoughts.[25]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Margot: Nie będę grzeczna, nie chcę być symbolem". 2 September 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2020. A teraz mam dwie takie osoby – Łanię i Lu, mojego partnera.
  2. ^ "What's Next for Poland's LGBTQ Activists After Violent Protests". Time. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Stop Bzdurom - edukacja seksualna walczy z seksualizacją i pedofilią". Stop Bzdurom (in Polish). Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Zatrzymanie Margo. Trwa łapanka obrońców aktywistki LGBT". oko.press. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  5. ^ Dobski, Marcin (13 August 2020). "Czego nie mówi się o Margot? Udział w akcji pomazania ściany Sejmu, protest przeciwko Polańskiemu". Wprost Premium (in Polish). Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Poland: Stop Bzdurom, Queer struggle and the events of yesterday in Warsaw". Freedom News. 8 August 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  7. ^ "We get messages saying: "What are you doing, they're going to hate us because of you"". oko.press. 9 August 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  8. ^ "LGBTQ activists arrested over hanging rainbow flags on statues in Warsaw. They might be facing charges for offending religious feelings". gazetapl. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  9. ^ "Polish activists fight against anti-LGBT movement". The World from PRX. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  10. ^ "What's Next for Poland's LGBTQ Activists After Violent Protests". Time. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  11. ^ Human Rights Watch
  12. ^ "Aktywiści LGBT utrudniają policji działania ws. zatrzymania "Margot"". www.tvp.info (in Polish). Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  13. ^ Metcalfe, Percy (12 August 2020). ""No apologies, no shame": the rise of Poland's guerrilla LGBT activists". Notes From Poland. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  14. ^ "Za co aresztowano Michała Sz. ps. "Margot"". onet.pl. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  15. ^ "What's Next for Poland's LGBTQ Activists After Violent Protests". Time. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  16. ^ "Sąd zwolnił Margot z aresztu". Onet.pl (in Polish).
  17. ^ "Stars sign open letter supporting Polish LGBT rights". BBC News. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  18. ^ "'Wulgarny sposób. Margot nie może być symbolem LGBT+'. Wojna na lewicy". TYSOL.PL. 31 August 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  19. ^ "Margot, nie spieprz tego!". Loose blues (in Polish). Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  20. ^ Czajka-Kominiarczuk, Katarzyna (31 August 2020). "Spór o środkowy palec Margot. Sypią się gromy i dobre rady". www.polityka.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  21. ^ https://balkaninsight.com/2020/09/04/democracy-digest-a-jfk-moment-in-taiwan-and-an-acquittal-in-slovakia
  22. ^ https://www.reuters.com/article/us-poland-lgbt-rights/lgbt-activist-behind-polish-stonewall-not-afraid-to-die-idUSKBN25U2IN
  23. ^ a b Polska, Vogue (1 September 2020). "Tylko u nas: Margot w pierwszym wywiadzie po wyjściu z aresztu". Vogue Polska (in Polish). Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  24. ^ Krawczyk, David. "Przed aresztowaniem poprosiła o Biblię. Kim jest słynna Margot?". wyborcza.pl. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  25. ^ https://poznan.wyborcza.pl/poznan/7,36001,26197165,psycholog-o-sprawie-margot-nazywanie-jej-mezczyzna-to-przemoc.html
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