Warsaw 2010

Warsaw 2010 : The first EuroPride in Eastern Europe

The delegates from the European Pride Committees selected Warsaw as the host of EuroPride 2010. This makes it the first Eastern European EuroPride and sends a strong signal to a part of the continent where equal rights and acceptance of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders (GLBT) are still minimal. In previous years, the then Mayor of Warsaw and now President of Poland Lech Kaczynski tried to outlaw Pride in Warsaw and ordered police to break up the march. It was only with the help of foreign visitors and international media that the Polish Equality Foundation, which runs Warsaw Pride, was able to succeed in putting on a Pride event each year despite the government pressure. Lech Kaczynski has meanwhile been found guilty by the European Court of Human Rights for violating basic human rights such as the freedom of assembly with his actions against Warsaw Pride.

EPOA wants to send a strong signal not just to Poland but all Eastern European countries where local Pride organisers are facing serious problems in organising pride events. ”Other cities such as Moscow and Riga have to learn that it is unacceptable in Europe to prohibit gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders from appearing in public. The discrimination, the bigotry and the right-wing and religious extremism against GLBT people in all of Eastern Europe has to stop ! EuroPride Warsaw 2010 will be a symbol for all these countries” says Robert Kastl, President of EPOA. After years of opposition, the city of Warsaw has granted all the permits for Pride for the first time this year, and hopefully the city and the public will embrace and support EuroPride in the Polish capital in 2010 even more.

The parade in pictures

Report by EuroNews.