Poland’s ruling nationalist party announced a new law Thursday banning LGBTIQ people from adopting children even if they are not in a same-sex relationship.

Polish law already prohibits same-sex couples from adopting. This proposal would require local authorities to investigate single people interested in adoption to ensure they are not cohabitating with a same sex-partner. In his 2020 re-election campaign, Polish president Andrzej Duda compared same-sex adoption to “experimentation” and “enslavement” of children.

Poland has been ranked as the worst country in the European Union for LGBTIQ people. The nation’s dominant Law and Justice party have made homophobia a pillar of their politics. They claim that gay rights threaten the county’s Roman Catholic culture and values. Duda’s left-leaning opponent in the 2020 presidential race said that he agreed with barring LGBTIQ people from adopting children.

The announcement of this proposal comes just hours before the European Parliament gathered to vote on a resolution declaring all EU nations an “LGBTIQ freedom zone.” This measure is a direct response to anti-gay towns in Poland and Hungary. Since 2019, nearly 100 towns in Poland have declared themselves “LGBTIQ-free zones.” The EU has threatened to withhold funding from these areas, but the Polish government has ensured local leaders will be supplemented with grants.

Members of the European Parliament for the EU said:

“LGBTIQ-free zones” are part of a broader context in which the LGBTIQ community in Poland is subject to increased discrimination and attacks, notably growing hate speech from public authorities, elected officials (including the current President), and pro-government media. They also deplore the arrests of LGBTIQ rights activists, and the attacks and bans on Pride marches.

The government has not announced when this proposal will become law.