Warsaw, June 15, 2024 – The Equality Parade marched through the center of Warsaw under the patronage of the city’s mayor, Rafał Trzaskowski. This was the second of three parades planned for June, resulting from an internal split among the organizers. Like in previous years, the event aimed to promote equality and tolerance, although this year it took place on a somewhat smaller scale.
Politicians and Celebrities at the Parade
Among the parade participants were numerous politicians and well-known public figures. Opening the parade, Rafał Trzaskowski said, „Warsaw is a smiling, tolerant, and European city. I hope that all the demands we have been voicing for many years will be realized.” The mayor of the capital was one of the main patrons of the event, supporting the initiative with his authority and involvement.
Also present on the organizers’ platform were Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski, who opened the event together with Mayor Trzaskowski, and Minister for Equality Katarzyna Kotula. In her speech, Kotula emphasized, „There is no rule of law and democracy without human rights, without LGBT rights. June is a symbolic time to fight for your rights and it should be a month of pride. I hope that in June I can be proud of the coalition government on October 15.”
The U.S. Ambassador to Poland, Mark Brzezinski, also participated in the parade, expressing his support for the LGBT+ community: „America supports equality. Poland is part of the global civilization. This rainbow is a great example of that. Today I want to say to Poland: congratulations and thank you.”
Among the participants was Luna, Poland’s representative at the Eurovision Song Contest, who added glamour and support to the event with her presence.
Participants and Attendance
According to police estimates, around 20,000 people participated in the parade. The number of participants was significantly lower than in previous years, a result of the split among organizers and the decision to hold three separate parades in June. Last year, around 150,000 people attended the Equality Parade in Warsaw, with about 100 companies and organizations participating; this year, only 31 were involved.
Krzysztof Kujawa, a Warsaw resident for 10 years, shared his thoughts: „I try to attend the parades every year. It’s an opportunity to show our community. The lower attendance is due to the fact that one could choose one of the three parades. I’m sad that we didn’t come to an agreement this year. We are a unity and should be together today.”
Main Demands and Messages
The 2024 Equality Parade had 12 main demands, including: strengthening legal protection against hate speech, marriage and civil partnership as a right for every citizen, and transgender rights as human rights. Rafał Dembe, president of the Equality Volunteer Foundation, highlighted the difficult situation of the LGBTQ+ community in Poland, which ranked last for the fifth time in the ILGA-Europe ranking illustrating the level of equality for LGBTQ people in Europe. „Regardless of the changing narrative, our rights do not change,” Dembe stressed.
Counterdemonstration
During the parade, a modest counterdemonstration stood by the Central Station. A few people used a megaphone to pray for „masons and corruptors” and held banners with slogans against sex education in schools.
Summary
The Equality Parade in Warsaw, though smaller this year, was still an important event promoting equality and tolerance. The march started from the Palace of Culture and Science, with participants walking through the main streets of Warsaw, ending at Bank Square and returning to the Palace of Culture and Science. An afterparty was planned in the evening at La Pos club on Mazowiecka Street.
The Equality Parade is not only a demonstration but also an opportunity to celebrate together and express solidarity with LGBTQ+ individuals. Despite internal disputes and lower attendance, the message of equality and human rights was strong and clear.
