Poland: Region could lose billions of euros to stay "LGBT-free"
Reuters reported August 19 on the Polish regional council of Malopolska voting to remain a declared "LGBT-free zone," despite warnings from the European Union that such continued discrimination would result in a loss of over 2.5 billion euros in funding. The council's head says the declaration, which comes among a number of others like it in other regions, has been misunderstood and should be rewritten rather than repealed completely. Reuters added that religious conservatives in Poland often say they have nothing against LGBT people, despite believing that "LGBT ideology" is a threat to Christian values. Meanwhile Robert Biedron, Poland's most prominent openly Gay politician, says that the conservative Law and Justice Party has put hatred above the good of its people once again.

Afghanistan: Gay man in Taliban-occupied city fears the worst
On August 19, the BBC broadcast the voice of a Gay man living in Afghanistan during the Taliban's takeover. Abdul, whose name has been changed for his safety, had already been closeted to his friends and family. Afghanistan has laws that could put him in jail for homosexuality. But the Taliban, he says, will kill LGBTQ people "on the spot." Although the war had taken friends and family from Abdul in the past, he had been studying, spending time with his boyfriend, and having lunch with friends before the Taliban arrived in the city. Lately he has been spending most of his time inside, looking for opportunities to escape the country.