EU Parliament Declares Itself "LGBTIQ Freedom Zone" In Response to Poland's Right Wing Agenda

Photos by Toni Reed on Unsplash.

Poland Criminalizes Gay Adoption

Poland is ruled by the right-wing nationalists of the Law and Justice Party who have moved to end ann abortion in the country. Abolishing gay rights is also on Polish government’s agenda, with local authorities in Poland labeling themselves as being “LGBT ideology-free zones”.

Now Poland plans to close a loophole that allowed same-sex couples to adopt, prompting the European Parliament’s new declaration in support of LGBTIQ rights.

Poland does not recognize same-sex relationships legally. The country already does not permit same-sex couples to adopt children. However, single people can adopt children and Poland’s right-wing insists that this “loophole” must be closed.

Under the new law, authorities will be required to perform background checks on anyone applying to adopt a child as a single parent, explains the BBC. Criminal penalties apply to anyone seeking to adopt a child who is involved in a same-sex relationship.

EU Parliament ‘LGBTIQ Freedom Zone” Resolution Passes With Huge Margin

The new resolution issued by the European Parliament declares that "LGBTIQ persons everywhere in the EU should enjoy the freedom to live and publicly show their sexual orientation and gender identity without fear of intolerance, discrimination or persecution".

It adds that "authorities at all levels of governance across the EU should protect and promote equality and the fundamental rights of all, including LGBTIQ persons''.

The vote for the resolution was 492 ‘yes’, 141 ‘no ‘with 46 abstaining.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had declared her support for the new resolution before debate began on Thursday.

"Being yourself is not an ideology. It's your identity," she tweeted on Wednesday. "No one can ever take it away. The EU is your home. The EU is a #LGBTIQFreedomZone."

Last year, von der Leyen said that Poland's "LGBT-free zones" had "no place in our union", and vowed to push all EU member states to recognise adoptions by same-sex couples.

Will Hulu 2022 Docuseries On 'The Rise and Fall of Victoria's Secret' Focus on Savage x Fenty?

With Rihanna’s major infusion of capital into Savage X Fenty, via L Catterton, a private equity firm connected to LVMH, many lingerie business enthusiasts and Wall Street believe that Rihanna has a serious opportunity to significantly reduce Victoria’s Secret further. Above: a Victoria’s Secret fashion show. Below: Savage X Fenty Fall 2020 fashion show.

In Six Years Victoria’s Secret Is A Shadow of Its Former Self

One simple set of statistics confirms the shocking demise of Victoria’s Secret as a global lingerie giant. In December 2020, Victoria’s Secret had just 19 percent market share in the U.S. women’s intimates apparel space, compared with 32 percent in 2015, according to The NPD Group’s consumer tracking service. WWD reminds us that the situation was worse in the spring of 2020, when the VS market share had fallen to 16 percent — half of its US market position in 2015.

Hulu Charts VS Rise and Fall

The lingerie brand that dominated the global market — and my alma mater for a decade — surely gasped learning this week that Hulu has a three-part docuseries in production. Focused on the rise and fall of Victorias Secret — the very brand they re trying to resusitate — the production will be directed by Matt Tyrnauer, former ‘Vanity Fair’ writer and director of the 2008 film ‘Valentino: The Last Emperor’.

VS in Rehab

The road to rehabilitation for Victoria’s Secret continues, as the brand plunges again into the swimwear business at slsect stores in America. VS swimwear returned online after a three-year hiatus from the category. WWD estimates that the decision cost the dwindling lingerie giant “roughly $525 million in annual sales.”

Launched post-Valentine’s Day Monday, the new swimwear campaign stars Imaan Hamman, Jill Kortleve, Paloma Elsesser and Taylor Hill. Alex White styles the St. Barts shoot, in film footage and images shot by Tyler Kohlhoff [IM]. / Makeup by Jen Myles; hair by Jawara

See the entire campaign Victoria's Secret Swim Spring 2021 Curvy Women | VS Finally Listens to RiRi

The ‘Destination Swim’ seaside campaign is receiving very positive reviews. Featuring two curvy beauties Paloma Elsesser and Jill Kortleve, the campaign is hailed for its body inclusivity.

Yahoo News is running a front page story detailing lots of positive consumer response like:

"I’m really happy to see you incorporating some curvy girls in your campaigns," one commenter responded to a shot of Elsesser modeling a coral bikini for the campaign, which also stars Imaan Hamaan and Taylor Hill. "Keep it up."

"I like this change," read one comment, while another follower added, "It's so good to see VS promoting all body types."

"Thank you for now having models of all body types!" a commenter wrote. "Living for this."

"It’s about tiiiiime!" gushed a fan. "Yeees curvy queen!"

"The first image here is making so many women comfortable in their skin," another commenter said of Elsesser's shoot. "Keep it up."

The swimwear will be sold in select Victoria’s Secret stores, and the 2021 Swim ‘Magalog

Even with a plum feature like the Yahoo News post, Victoria’s Secret is never far from its past. The article rehashes all the negative — but true and well-deserved criticism of Victoria’s Secret — stories about VS.

AOC wont drudge up these facts, as we all know them. Just as Biden is trying to wean us from Trump, AOC is looking forward for Victoria’s Secret, not backwards.

Besides, we are watching the crushing Victoria’s Secret obstacle coming down the road in the form of Savage X Fenty.

I’ve quipped multiple times that if VS isn’t careful, Ms. Robyn Rihanna Fenty, born in Saint Michael and raised in Birdgetown, Barbados — yes that Black island girl — is going to crush them. Still, I couldn’t imagine the possibility in terms of scale until writing this post a few days ago.

When LVMH and Rihanna announced in early February that they were putting Fenty — the designer clothing label — on pause, it was clear that Rihanna’s relationship with Bernard Arnault remained very solid.

AOC’s interest is the $115 million fundraising round for Savage X Fenty by L Catterton, a private equity firm connected to LVMH. We reported in December that the partnership both put swimwear brand Seafolly into administration in Australia in June 2020 and then bought it back again at an attractive price near year’s end. This new round of fundraising by L Catterton in Savage X Fenty resulted in Savage’s valuation exceeding $1 billion, wrote Fast Company.

Forbes also projects that Savage X Fenty is poised to overtake Victoria’s Secret by 2025 — which I find mind-boggling, frankly. Not that Rihanna can’t do it, but that she could do it in such short order.

So let’s just all agree that the swim campaign is great, but Victorias Secret has a treacherous road ahead. We don’t need some posse of ogling white dudes (especially Republican white dudes) telling us how to manage our sexuality. Riri leads the way, in our opinion. ~ Anne

AOC Archives

AOC Archives: Imaan Hammam, Jill Kortlieve, Palomma Elsesser, Taylor Hill,