Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bacasper]

It's about time!

Gays march in deeply Catholic Poland

by Mary Sibierski

WARSAW (AFP) � Thousands of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and supporters of equal rights for sexual minorities marched through the streets of Warsaw on Saturday, urging Poland's government to give homosexual partnerships legal status.

But they admitted legislation was not on the cards in the strongly Catholic country, where homosexuality is still a social taboo and relatively few people choose to be openly gay.

"We demand a civil partnership law," read a massive banner at the head of the colourful Europride parade which wound through the Polish capital in sweltering heat, close to 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).

"We're hoping to open up a debate on the topic of affording legal status to the partnerships of gay and lesbian couples but we're not optimistic such legislation will be passed anytime soon," Jacek Adler, editor in chief of the www.gaylife.pl Polish gay lifestyle website, told AFP.

Opinion surveys show that 80 percent of Poles oppose gay marriage and 93 percent believe gay and lesbian couples should not have the right to adopt children. Two out of three Poles oppose gay demonstrations.

Saturday's event is the first time the annual Europride parade is being held in an ex-communist state. Last year's march, in Zurich, Switzerland, attracted some 50,000 people.

Marchers, some from as far away as Vancouver, Canada, jived along the route to hits by gay icon Kyle Minogue among others.

But it was more low-key affair than those in western Europe which also feature scantily clad revellers and drag queens.

"I don't think Poland is as homophobic as some people think it is, but for whatever reasons, people are still uncomfortable with the issue of homosexuality," Ken Coolen, director of Vancouver's gay pride parade told AFP.

"It's the midst of a change here in Poland, where more people are coming out," he said.

"We want to be in solidarity with Polish gay and lesbians and we want also to show the police in Poland that there is no problem to be openly gay in the police," Stockholm policeman Goran Stanton, who also serves as head of the Association of Gay Police of Sweden, told AFP.

cont'd at link

[NovaKart]

Good for them. There was a pride parade in Istanbul a few weeks ago. Gays face a lot of opposition in Eastern Europe. In Serbia demonstrations are difficult because of attacks from, well what can I call them, thugs? These people marching really have guts. It's hard enough to be open in western countries.

[Adventurer]

[NovaKart]

That's certainly true but there are a few dedicated, courageous people who are trying to change that. My personal opinion which could be flawed is that this is less likely to change in Russia because Russia is becoming less open in a number of ways (I don't mean just about homosexuality). The Balkans is becoming more open.

[Quack Addict]

A parade to celebrate your personal preference for sex...why? What is the point?

[NovaKart]

Try living as a gay person in a homophobic society and you'll quickly find out.

[Quack Addict]

[NovaKart]

That's sweet, I'm sure homos try to think of you as normal too.

[Fox]

[bigverne]

[Fox]

[djsmnc]

[Fox]

[NovaKart]

Those people don't represent all gays.