On Saturday the 17th more than 300 LGBT activists, politicians, and supporters marched through Poznan with rainbow flags and banners in a peaceful demonstration for gay rights. The annual Equality March met with little counter-protests this year, hopefully a sign of things to come, along with the recent change of the Polish government towards a more tolerant leadership.
In the past, the march has met with much resistance both from the community and from the city authorities, but this year things went relatively smoothly. In 2005 Poznan police detained dozens of the marchers, while this year more than 400 policemen, many in riot gear, were on site to protect the marchers from any would-be attackers. |