Gay Polish MP attacked at pride march

Poland’s first and only openly gay MP Robert Biedron was assaulted on Saturday at Warsaw’s ‘Equality Parade’, a march calling for equal treatment for all Polish citizens including those in the LGBTI community.

Biedron said the attacker approached him in a cafe, choking and punching one of his friends before spitting in Biedron’s face and kicking him in the stomach. According to Biedron the man was caught by police shortly after.

Gay pride events in Warsaw have frequently attracted public controversy, such as in 2005 when the march went ahead despite a ban by former Polish president Lech Kaczynski, then mayor of Warsaw.