Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation has directed a $100,000 grant to GrowSPACE, a Warsaw-based organization providing essential mental health support for LGBTQ+ youth in Poland. The funds arrive as a direct counterpoint to a political climate that remains deeply challenging for the country's queer community.
The grant, awarded through a youth-led selection process, will bolster the work of an organization on the front lines of a youth mental health crisis. Recent data from Poland suggests that around a quarter of students under 25 experience symptoms of depression, with the risk being twice as high for their LGBTQ+ peers. GrowSPACE plans to use the funds to expand its psychological education programs for young people aged 14 to 21, tackling modern challenges like loneliness, digital hygiene, and peer violence.
"The funding is a great honor for us and a significant response to the growing needs of young Polish people," said Dominik Kuc of GrowSPACE. "We want to make it clear that seeking mental health help is nothing to be ashamed of."
A Lifeline in a Hostile Environment
This financial support comes at a critical moment. Just last week, Poland's President, Karol Nawrocki, vetoed a landmark bill that would have granted limited legal rights to unmarried couples, including same-sex partners. The legislation, which had passed both chambers of Parliament, would have been the first of its kind in Poland, allowing for rights related to co-ownership, medical information, and inheritance.
In his veto, Nawrocki argued the law would create "backdoor civil unions" and undermine the constitutional definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The move reinforces Poland's position as one of only five EU countries with no legal recognition for same-sex couples, a status reflected in its low ranking of 39th out of 49 countries on ILGA-Europe's 2026 Rainbow Map.
The grant from the Born This Way Foundation also helps fill a void left by shifting international politics. GrowSPACE was previously impacted by the 2025 dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which eliminated a significant portion of global aid budgets. The foundation's contribution highlights the growing importance of private philanthropy in sustaining vital community services when state support is absent or hostile.
Founded in 2020, GrowSPACE has become a key advocate for queer youth through initiatives like its "LGBTQ+ Friendly Schools Ranking" and "Rainbow Friday" events, both aimed at creating more inclusive educational spaces across the country.
