STOCKHOLM, September 24, 2007  –  Europride 2010 has been awarded to Warsaw.  The bold – and unanimous – decision was taken at the European Pride Organisers Association at their weekend meeting in Stockholm.

Two year ago, Warsaw Gay Pride, known locally as The Equality Parade, was banned by city authorities, led by the homophobic Mayor Lech Kaczynski who later that year became President of Poland.

But organisers ignored the ban and around 2,500 marched in the parade and were greeted by some 300 counter demonstrators from Polish far right groups who threw eggs, stones and bottles at the gays in the parade.

The ban was the subject of a successful application to the European Court of Human Rights which found against Poland.  Earlier this month, the Polish government appealed the decision which is now being considered by the court as to whether the appeal will be allowed.

Subsequent “Prides” in Warsaw have been more peaceful affairs.

■  Europride 2008 is been staged in Stockholm, with Zurich being the host city in 2009.

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