Page "LGBT social movements" Paragraph 17

During that period, Poland never criminalized homosexuality.

18th century Poland was marked by an Enlightenment-driven tolerant attitude to sexuality, with public figures reported to engage in homosexual activities or transvestitism.

Such " scandalous " events drew public attention, but did not result in prosecution.

One example is Poland's last king, Stanislaw August Poniatowski, who was said to have slept with the British ambassador in his youth.

After the partitions of Poland Polish territories came under control of the Russian Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia ; the law of those countries ruled homosexual acts illegal.

Nevertheless, prominent figures were known to form homosexual relationships, including Narcyza Żmichowska ( 1819 – 1876 ), a writer and founder of the Polish feminist movement, who used her private experiences in her writing.