It a tremendous show of courage, Polish Gay Pride marchers refused to be deterred by a hostile city government in Lublin and a violent crowd of counter protesters to hold their first parade. Notably, a court rejected the claim of the mayor that he was cancelling the parade because of security concerns. That is the excuse used by universities like DePaul to cancel conservative speakers, but the court found that it was just an excuse to bar the controversial parade.
The roughly 400 marchers refused to be intimidated by violent conservative groups and marchers through a hail of bottles and eggs being thrown at them. Notably, the conservative groups were attacking nonviolent marchers holding signs like “Jesus taught love.” The gay marchers showed the meaning of strength and commitment — traits that have long characterized the Poles in historic struggles.
In addition to overcoming a hostile government, the protesters faced a heightened level of anger after Polish Archbishop Marek Jedraszewski denounced the LGBT movement: “The red plague no longer runs on our land. But a new plague has emerged, neo-Marxist, that wants to seize our souls, hearts and spirits. A plague that is not red but rainbow.”