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# Poland holds two Pride marches
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/poland-holds-two-pride-marches/
- Published: 2021-08-27T08:09:20.000Z
- Updated: 2021-08-26T17:43:48.000Z
- Description: Despite governmental hostility towards the LGBTQ+ community, Poland saw two Pride marches last weekend in Czestochowa and Gdansk.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: News, Politics, Pride, equality, Eu, European Charter of Fundamental Rights, LGBTQ, LGBTQ+ free zones Poland, Poland

Despite governmental hostility towards the LGBTQ+ community, Poland saw two Pride marches last weekend, with organisers taking to the streets of Czestochowa and Gdansk to protest the rise in ‘LGBTQ+ free zones’ in the country. Speaking to [*Associated Press*](https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-europe-religion-poland-5fe0233e2072a10b7623ed3abf0ef9d8?ref=scenemag.co.uk), LGBTQ+ activist, Monika Radecka, said there was a strong turnout at the Czestochowa march, which could indicate increasing support for the queer community.

However, Radecka pointed out that there is still *“a large group”* in Poland that does not support LGBTQ+ rights. Both Pride marches saw a large police presence and counterprotesters who were heard shouting anti-LGBTQ+ statements such as *“no homosexual love”,* at marchers. Although there was tension between the two groups, no reports of violence were cited.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/poland-pride-police-600-400.jpg)

Photo: Associated Press

The Pride marches came shortly after the council of [Malopolska](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/polish-region-votes-to-remain-lgbtq-free/) voted to remain an LGBTQ+ free zone despite threats from the EU to cut €2.5bn worth of funding. Earlier this year, European Union added a [new clause](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/eu-could-withdraw-polish-funding/) to its funding rules earlier this year which states that EU countries must show respect for the European Charter of Fundamental Rights. However, many of Poland’s LGBTQ+ free zones have kept their regulations in place.