Wroclaw Pride Festival Poland 2010
29/09/2010
Submitted by
Stephan Geitenbeek COC The Hague Region Netherlands
Te same obowiazki, te same prawa = Same responsibilities, same rights
One of the slogans used during the Wroclaw Pride festival 2010
KPH Poland, the biggest LGBT group in Poland, is increasing the pressure on the Polish Government. They demand the dismissal of the homophobic Minister of Equality Radziszewska and want civil partnership for lesbians and gays.
The highlight of the Wroclaw Pride festival last weekend was a march through the city centre. The march was colourful, inspiring, cheerful but with a very serious message. The very cooperative police force outnumbered the small groups of counter protesters with about 10 to 1. The counter protesters were unable to make any impact on the group of about 600 LGBTs. A Latin inspired drum band accompanied and inspired the crowd.
The number of counter protesters decreased dramatically in comparison to the 200 of last years pride festival. Another remarkable fact was that this year none of the Polish LGBTs were hiding their faces during the march. The Polish media showed up in high numbers and was remarkably positive about the march. One newspaper opened its article with "They deserve their rights".
Another highlight of the festival was a debate with gay activists from COC The Hague region (Netherlands), KPH Poland and a representative of the gay movement in the Czech Republic. The debate was opened with a video-message from Sophie in 't Veld, parliamentarian of the alliance of liberals and democrats in the European Parliament. She gave her full support to the festival and to the Polish LGBT movement in their fight for equal rights. She also stated that within the European parliament the fight for equal rights through Europe will go on as vigorously as ever.
Presentations were given about the struggle in the Netherlands and the Czech Republic towards either marriage or partnership. Strategies were discussed on how to speed up the process in Poland.
Equal rights in Poland may take a short time or can drag on for a few more years but the LGBT movement in Wroclaw is sure about one thing: they are going to get their rights!!
One of the slogans used during the Wroclaw Pride festival 2010
KPH Poland, the biggest LGBT group in Poland, is increasing the pressure on the Polish Government. They demand the dismissal of the homophobic Minister of Equality Radziszewska and want civil partnership for lesbians and gays.
The highlight of the Wroclaw Pride festival last weekend was a march through the city centre. The march was colourful, inspiring, cheerful but with a very serious message. The very cooperative police force outnumbered the small groups of counter protesters with about 10 to 1. The counter protesters were unable to make any impact on the group of about 600 LGBTs. A Latin inspired drum band accompanied and inspired the crowd.
The number of counter protesters decreased dramatically in comparison to the 200 of last years pride festival. Another remarkable fact was that this year none of the Polish LGBTs were hiding their faces during the march. The Polish media showed up in high numbers and was remarkably positive about the march. One newspaper opened its article with "They deserve their rights".
Another highlight of the festival was a debate with gay activists from COC The Hague region (Netherlands), KPH Poland and a representative of the gay movement in the Czech Republic. The debate was opened with a video-message from Sophie in 't Veld, parliamentarian of the alliance of liberals and democrats in the European Parliament. She gave her full support to the festival and to the Polish LGBT movement in their fight for equal rights. She also stated that within the European parliament the fight for equal rights through Europe will go on as vigorously as ever.
Presentations were given about the struggle in the Netherlands and the Czech Republic towards either marriage or partnership. Strategies were discussed on how to speed up the process in Poland.
Equal rights in Poland may take a short time or can drag on for a few more years but the LGBT movement in Wroclaw is sure about one thing: they are going to get their rights!!
