Homophobia is a Choice, In Poland Angry Protesters Are Trying to Teach The Nation That Fact
On one side of the street in Warsaw, people chanted 'Down with Deviation' as they rallied against 'LGBTIQ+ aggression', while others waved flags, sang and held up banners reading, 'We Are People' on the other.
Hundreds of gay rights supporters and opponents have faced off in angry rival rallies in Poland, with lines of police needed to keep the two sides apart.
"Down with Deviation!" chanted participants at the anti-LGBT rally near Warsaw University, as a series of speakers railed against "LGBT aggression”. One speaker, anti-abortion campaigner Kaja Godek, said she would propose a citizens' draft law to ban gay pride marches.
On the opposite side of the street, participants in a counter-demonstration waved LGBTIQ+ and anarchist flags, sang and held up banners reading: "We Are People" and "Orientation Is not a Choice, Homophobia Is a Choice".
A demonstrator holds an LGBTIQ+ flag during the protest.
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Gay rights have become a flashpoint issue in Poland in recent years under the governing Law and Justice (Pis) party, which campaigns against what it calls "LGBT ideology" likening it to a form of communism. Polish opposition troll far-right leader by coordinating to wear rainbow colours at his swearing in
Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets at several rallies this month over a gay rights activist being held for two months in pre-trial detention for allegedly vandalising a truck carrying homophobic slogans.
Three people have also been charged for desecrating monuments and hurting religious feelings after prominent Warsaw statues including one of Jesus Christ were draped in LGBT flags earlier this month.
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