Equality Parade (Warsaw)

Parada Równości (Polish language for "equality parade") is a LGBT community pride parade occurring in Warsaw, Poland since 2001, usually around May or June.

The event has been described as "the first Europewide gay pride parade held in a former Communist bloc country".^[1]

Goals

The organisers of the parade want to promote social equality in general,^[2] and draw attention the problems faced by LGBT community in Poland.^[3]

History

The first LGBT pride parades in Polish capital of Warsaw was organized in 2001, through the efforts of Polish gay rights activist Szymon Niemiec.^[2] Second and third edition of the parade took place in 2002 and 2003.^[2] The 2002 event event was estimated to have gathered at least 1,500 attendees,^[4], and the 2003 one, about 3,000.^[5]

In 2004 and 2005 officials in Warsaw denied permission for the parades to take place, citing various reasons including the likelihood of counter-demonstrations, or interference with religious or national holidays, or the lack of a permit.^[6] The parade were vocally opposed by then-Mayor of Warsaw Lech Kaczyński (later, President of Poland), who said that allowing an official gay pride event in Warsaw would promote a "homosexual lifestyle".^[7] In protest, a different event, Wiec Wolności (Freedom Veche), was organized in Warsaw in 2004.^[2] It is estimated to have been attendees by about 600-1000 people.^[8] In response to the 2005 ban, about 2,500 people marched on 11 June that year, an act of civil disobedience that led to several brief arrests.^[3]

The 2006 parade was held without interference from the Warsaw city officials, and is estimated to have gathered about 20,000 attendees.^[9] The ban has been declared illegal by the Bączkowski v Poland ruling of European Court of Human Rights the in May 2007, which ruled it to be discriminatory.^[10] That month, the 2007 edition of the parade gathered about 4,000 attendees.^[11]

The 2008 edition gathered "several thousands" again,^[12] and the 2009, "over 2,000".^[13] In 2010 the event was not held, as Warsaw hosted the international EuroPride event, drawing about 8.000 crowd.^[14]^[15] The commercial aspect of the EuroPride has caused some controversies among the Polish LGBT activists.^[2]

The parades have been organized regularly since, in 2011 (with about 4-6,000 attendees^[16]), 2012 (5,000 attendees^[17]) and 2013 (8,000 attendees^[18]), with the 2014 edition planned for May this year.^[19]

Equality Parade (Warsaw)

Goals

History

References

See also