Equality March in Kraków (), known as the Tolerance March before 2010, is an annual demonstration in

Kraków , officially the Royal Capital City of Kraków, is the List of cities and towns in Poland, second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city has a population of 804,237 ...

, Poland, in the form of a street march of people opposed to

homophobia Homophobia encompasses a range of negative attitudes and feelings toward homosexuality or people who identify or are perceived as being lesbian, Gay men, gay or bisexual. It has been defined as contempt, prejudice, aversion, hatred, or ant ...

and discrimination against sexual minorities in Poland. Until 2009, the March of Tolerance was organized by the Culture for Tolerance Foundation (''Fundacja Kultura dla Tolerancji'') together with other LGBT organizations, as part of the annual Kraków Gay and Lesbian Culture Festival "Culture for Tolerance" (''Kultura dla Tolerancji''). The first parade took place in May 2004. About 1200 people took part in it. Since 2009, an informal organizing committee for the May Queer Festival has been organized by the

LGBTQ LGBTQ people are individuals who are lesbian, Gay men, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning (sexuality and gender), questioning. Many variants of the initialism are used; LGBTQIA+ people incorporates intersex, Asexuality, asexual, ...

organizations in Kraków and private individuals. Since 2010 it has been held under the Equality March in Krakow name (''Marsz Równości w Krakowie''). The March of Tolerance arouses opposition from conservative circles, especially from the

far-right Far-right politics, often termed right-wing extremism, encompasses a range of ideologies that are marked by ultraconservatism, authoritarianism, ultranationalism, and nativism. This political spectrum situates itself on the far end of the ...

and

ultranationalist Ultranationalism, or extreme nationalism, is an extremist form of nationalism in which a country asserts or maintains hegemony, supremacy, or other forms of control over other nations (usually through violent coercion) to pursue its specific ...

groups. It was always accompanied by a counter-meeting organized by

All-Polish Youth The All-Polish Youth () refers to two inter-linked Polish far-right ultranationalist List of youth organizations, youth organizations, with a Political Catholicism, Catholic-nationalist philosophy. Its agenda declares that its aim is "''to raise ...

on the same day.

History

The first March of Tolerance took place on 7 May 2004. In addition to the march itself, a scientific conference organized in cooperation with the Institute of Sociology of the

Jagiellonian University The Jagiellonian University (, UJ) is a public research university in Kraków, Poland. Founded in 1364 by Casimir III the Great, King Casimir III the Great, it is the oldest university in Poland and one of the List of oldest universities in con ...

, a visit to the

Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum The Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum () is a museum on the site of the Nazi German Auschwitz concentration camp in Oświęcim, Poland. The site includes the main concentration camp at Auschwitz I and the remains of the concentration and e ...

and paying tribute to homosexuals-victims of Nazism, as well as screenings of LGBT films, took place during the festival. Some right-wing and ultra-conservative organizations tried to put pressure on the rector of the University as well as on the city authorities to prevent the planned events, especially the March of Tolerance. About 1,200 people took part in the event. In 2005, due to the death of Pope

John Paul II Pope John Paul II (born Karol Józef Wojtyła; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 16 October 1978 until Death and funeral of Pope John Paul II, his death in 2005. In his you ...

, the organizers decided to cancel the March of Tolerance. In 2006 the March of Tolerance took place on April 28. About 2000 people took part in the demonstration. At the same time, the

organized a counter-meeting of the ''March of Tradition and Culture''. Under the

Philharmonic An orchestra (; ) is a large instrumental ensemble typical of classical music, which combines instruments from different families. There are typically four main sections of instruments: * String instruments, such as the violin, viola, cello, a ...

, the March of Tolerance was attacked by several hundred hooligans. At

Wawel Castle The Wawel Royal Castle (; ''Zamek Królewski na Wawelu'') and the Wawel Hill on which it sits constitute the most historically and culturally significant site in Poland. A fortified residency on the Vistula River in Kraków, it was established o ...

they tried to block the march. The police detained 11 of the most aggressive hooligans, several dozen people were punished with fines. One participant of the March of Tolerance was injured by a stone hit on the head. The Third March of Tolerance took place on 21 April 2007. According to police estimates, about 2000 people took part in it. The participants of the counter-meeting tried to disrupt the course of the March of Tolerance many times, throwing eggs at the demonstrators and erecting homophobic shouts and banners and blocking the route of the march. They also tried to tear up the rainbow flags. A total of 13 of the most aggressive participants of the counter-meeting were detained. Among them were five minors, including two 16-year-olds, who were found with pyrotechnic materials. The Fourth March of Tolerance took place on 26 April 2008. When the March of Tolerance reached the

Market Square A market square (also known as a market place) is an urban square meant for trading, in which a market is held. It is an important feature of many towns and cities around the world. A market square is an open area where market stalls are tradit ...

, its participants released several hundred colorful balloons. Then eggs and bottles thrown by the counter-enthusiasts flew towards the march participants and the police. At the same time, groups of opponents chanted offensive slogans. According to police estimates, the March of Tolerance was attended by about 1,000 people (from 600 to 1,000 according to various sources), with about 400 opponents. Six people were detained (including one man for an active assault on an officer). None of the participants of the March of Tolerance was harmed. The march was condemned by the Krakow Metropolitan Curia of the Catholic Church. The fifth March of Tolerance, for the first time separated from the Culture for Tolerance Festival, took place on May 16, 2009, as part of the newly established Queer May Festival. The next manifestation took place on Saturday 15 May 2010 under a changed name. About 400 people took part in it. In 2011, the March took place on 21 May. Other LGBT marches have progressed more peacefully.

References

External links

* * {{LGBT in Poland LGBTQ rights in Poland LGBTQ history in Poland Recurring events established in 2004 2004 establishments in Poland Events in Kraków Equality marches in Poland

History

See also

References

External links