A Celebration of Courage and Equality – Crowns Of Equality 2025 Awarded

On September 25, Warsaw once again became the stage where the most important voices in the fight for equality were heard. During a festive gala crowning the seventh edition of the plebiscite, the Equality Crowns were awarded – distinctions that each year go to individuals, initiatives, and institutions bravely working for the LGBT+ community. This event, recognized as one of the most prestigious in Poland, is at the same time a celebration of courage, solidarity, and visibility.

In an online vote, it was the public who decided the recipients of the statuettes. The 2025 Equality Crowns were awarded in eight categories: activism, institutions, law, politics, media, internet, culture, and business. The honored individuals and initiatives proved that with consistency and determination, it is possible to truly change the world and write the history of equality in Poland.

Crowns of Equality 2025 Laureates

Activism: Kuba Gawron, co-author of the Atlas of Hate, for his determination in fighting “LGBT-free zones” and winning against Ordo Iuris.

Social changes and trends often come from us, from the activist community. We have great, though not obvious and not fully realized, power. Let’s not forget about it.

Institutions: Department for Equal Treatment, for preparing draft bills on civil partnerships and defending the Istanbul Convention.

It’s partly about cooperation, partly about community, partly also about looking for allies, about difficulties. I think that if we weren’t in the place we are now, we would regret not having tried.

Law: Paweł Marcisz and Marcin Górski, lawyers behind the case Szypuła and Others v. Poland before the ECtHR, confirming the need to recognize same-sex unions.

Paweł Marcisz: I accept this Equality Crown with joy spoiled by sadness, with a tear in one eye and hope in the other, because this legal progress is very slow, insufficient, and we are still far from the full equality we want to achieve.

Marcin Górski: I will say why these judgments must be enforced and why the law, which everyone present here is waiting for, must appear. Because it’s 2025.

Politics: Joanna Senyszyn, MEP, for consistent support of the LGBT+ community and pro-feminist actions.

There will be no true equality until we live in a secular state. That is the condition.

Media: Leonard Osiadło (OKO.press), for reliable journalism and ensuring the visibility of a queer perspective.

Poland, Polish women and men deserve marriage equality and a gender recognition law. NOW!

Internet: Mariusz Kozak, Sebastian Szarata, and Mariola Kozak, known from the program Gogglebox. Watching TV, for breaking stereotypes and showing the authentic life of LGBT+ families.

Sebastian Szarata: This award is proof that one can go from shame to pride. I want to tell everyone who is still afraid: your story can end in freedom.

Culture: Intergenerational Dancing by Paulina Braun, for queer visibility and intergenerational integration.

Silver Generation Power! Let’s remember older people, let’s remember that we too will be older one day. Let’s build intergenerational bridges. Let’s dance out this equality.

Business: Where is Willy, a brand created by Ksawery, for innovative products supporting trans people and promoting gender euphoria.

The fact that I am standing here and that Where is Willy has been recognized in this category is proof that we truly exist, that we function. We are able to provide ourselves with products, to fight dysphoria, but we are very grateful for the support.