Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE starting June 12 2026

'Homophobia is a choice': Angry protests flare in Poland over LGBTIQ+ rights

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.

LGBTIQ+ activists hold banners during a counter protest against an anti-LGBTIQ+ far right rally in Warsaw.
LGBTIQ+ activists hold banners during a counter protest against an anti-LGBTIQ+ far right rally in Warsaw. Source: Getty

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".

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

A demonstrator holds an LGBTIQ+ flag during the protest.
A demonstrator holds an LGBTIQ+ flag during the protest. Source: Getty

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.

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.


2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AFP, SBS



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world