Polish President’s visit scuppers gay rights march
The decision of the President of Poland to attend an anniversary event in Krakow has frustrated plans for a gay rights event on October 31st.
President Kaczynski is an outspoken homophobe, and banned Warsaw Pride in 2004 when he was Mayor of the city.
He also banned the event in 2005 while allowing a homophobic counter-demonstration, the “Parade of Normality.”
Until he decided to go to Krakow, the city authorities were happy to host the March of Rainbow Tolerance on the same day as the 90th anniversary indepence celebrations.
The route was agreed.
The gay marchers were to visit the grave of King Wladysław III at Wavel ‘Royal Hill’, close by the city centre.
October 31st is his birthday. He is regarded as the first gay king of Poland.
“The city has sent us official notification that we don’t have permission to march and perform on the streets because of President’s visit,” march spokesperson Lukasz Palucki told ukgaynews.
“The President will be there where we planned to have our event. We are not allowed to be at Wawel – the grave of King Wladysław III – on this day.
“It is hard to say if President Kaczynski is going to Kraków to as a way of banning our march – or just to be part of Krakow’s event.”
On a state visit to Ireland at the beginning of last year President Kaczynski said that the promotion of homosexuality would lead to the eventual destruction of the human race.
Wladyslaw was King of Poland from 1434 and of Hungary from 1440 until his death in battle four years later.
Contemporary chronicler Jan Dlugosz said there were numerous accounts that the unmarried king was a homosexual.
