The European Pride Organisers Association (EPOA) is a network of European Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Organisations, organising marches and different cultural and social events. EPOA was founded in London and incorporated in 2002 in Berlin as a non-profit association “EuroPride”. The purpose of EPOA is to promote LGBT Prides on a pan-European level and to empower and support local and national pride organizations in their efforts of planning and promoting pride celebrations.
EPOA grants the license of "EuroPride" to a different city each year. In 2010 a city hosting the pride was Warsaw. The whole festival was held between 09-18 July 2010 whereas the pride itself took place specifically on 17 July 2010 and was the first EuroPride in Eastern Europe. It was dedicated to the motto: “Liberty, Equality, Tolerance”
The pride lasted from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. It began in the centre of Warsaw and subsequently the participants marched through the main streets of the city. According to the initial calculations of the Police about eight thousand people took part in parade. Additionally, the march was accompanied with the decorated platforms that went through the route of the march.
By organizing such a parade, the participants demanded, amongst others, introducing civil unions for LGBT persons as well as passing a complex antidiscrimination act in Poland. Demonstrators were giving shouts with peaceful intentions and they were carrying banners with slogans directed against homophobia (“I love my wife”, I support family values – I demand legalization of homosexual relationships.”). There were also participants who had t-shirts with slogans related to fighting the offences regarding sexual orientation (“Yes, I’m exactly who you think I am.”). Only a few persons had covered faces. Participants of different age appeared at the march. Children assisted by parents were also present.
There were five counterdemonstrations against the parade that were held simultaneously with the EuroPride. The most vehement protests took place in the centre of Warsaw, were a group of about forty people were throwing eggs and stones at the parade participants. The Police immediately and effectively separated counterdemonstrators from the march participants. They were also holding banners with slogans such as “God, Honour and Motherland” or “We will defend Poland from syphilization”. Furthermore, such shouts as “Fagots to gas!” as well as vulgar and insulting gestures directed at parade participants appeared. In case of such acts which were not connected with the direct threat to use violence, the Police did not take any actions.
The parade was guarded by about 2500 police officers. Observers from the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights did not notice any abusive actions of the policemen and they claim their work was very professional.
