Thousands take part in Warsaw Equality Parade

Austrian MEP Ulrike Lunacek, who attended the parade, said: “Poles showed the world what the struggle for freedom and solidarity looks like. […] We are here to say to your government that love and freedom is for all.”

Poland is one of a handful of countries where same-sex unions are not recognised.

The parade, the 16th time the event was organised, presented 12 equality demands. These included an obligation for the state to “protect its citizens from discrimination and exclusion”, “strengthening legal protection from hate speech and hate crimes” and protecting the “right of all citizens to civil union and marriage”.

This year, a record number of diplomatic missions signed a letter of support for the demands of the parade. The letter was handed to the Government Commissioner for Civil Society and Equal Treatment.

Photo: PAP/Jacek Turczyk

“The support given to us by the embassies every year pleases us. This is living proof and a clear sign that the fight for human rights has a global dimension. Especially that the letter was signed by the representatives of the countries from four different continents,” said a spokesperson for the parade.

Latvia, Lithuania and Poland were recently ranked the three worst countries in terms of gay rights in the European Union, according to the Rainbow Europe think-tank.

The parade on Saturday, which was marred in recent years by the presence of right-wing activists, was closely watched by police. (rg)