Polish gay rights parade organizers sue city mayor over ban News
Polish gay rights parade organizers sue city mayor over ban

[JURIST] Organizers of a gay rights [JURIST news archive] parade in Poland [JURIST news archive] on Tuesday sued the mayor of Poznan for banning the event. The group has alleged that the ban violated their right to freedom of assembly and expression. Despite the ban, several hundred gay rights advocates held a rally in Poznan that ultimately drew large protests by right-wing political groups and a standoff with police in the largely Catholic country. At least 68 of the demonstrators were arrested during the rally. The parade organizers said they also planned to take legal action against protestors who displayed slogans calling for gays to be treated like Jews were by the Nazi regime. Poznan Mayor Ryszard Grobelny banned the parade due to security concerns, and his decision was upheld by the regional governor's office. A gay rights parade was also banned in Warsaw [JURIST report] in June. DPA has more.