This Saturday, 23rd May, the 22nd edition of Kraków’s equality march (Marsz Równości) takes place, starting at 2pm in front of the National Museum.
The equality parade route has just been published.
– Square in front of the National Museum (Muzeum Narodowego), Al. 3 Maja 1
– Al. Mickiewicza
– Karmelicka
– Szewska
– Rynek Główny (via North West & North East of the square)
– Grodzka
– św. Idziego
– Stradomska
– Krakowska
– Legionów Piłsudskiego
– Kalwaryjska
– Rynek Podgórski
To mark the occasion, I have updated a previous article with a list of LGBT+ resources and gay friendly places in Kraków.
LGBT+ clubs, pubs, places in Kraków
Club Cabaret
Club Papuga
Lindo Bar
ZOO Club
Diva Club closed
Ciemnia Drink Bar
Twierdza closed
Slay Space (formerly Barka)
Blue XL
Spartakus Sauna
LGBT+ organisations in Kraków & Poland
There are many NGO’s, organisations and social media groups, there is even an LGBT+ Choir: Krakofonia.
Gay Friendly in Poland
Kraków LGBT+ (in English)
Kraków LGBT
Krakow Pride
Imprezy LGBT Kraków
Out in Kraków Gay Events
Spotted: Tęczowy Kraków
DOM EQ (Virtual LGBT Information Centre
LGBT Polska
Queerowy Maj (Equality Parade organisers
Queer.pl
Znaki Równości/DOM EQ
Tęczowy Kraków (Rainbow Kraków)
My photos from Equality Parade 2024
House of Equality (DOM EQ)
On 15th June 2019, the House of Equality in Krakow opened, at ul. Czyżówka 43 (now closed) , to inform and integrate Kraków’s LGBT+ community. DOM EQ is a cultural and information centre, where the LGBT+ community and supporters gather, organise events and share experiences. The centre is all about diversity and inclusion (LGBT+ will be the main focus, but other strands of diversity will also be included). DOM EQ has a new location in Zablocie.
You can find out more about DOM EQ at:
LGBTQ+ Community Centre DOM EQ (English)
DOM EQ Community FB Group
Equality Parade 2026
The 21st edition of the annual Equality Parade will take place this Saturday, 23rd May, starting at 2 pm in front of the National Museum, al. 3 Maja, Kraków. Last year, a record 12,000 people took part in the parade.
This year’s edition takes place under the slogan ‘We won’t abandon the earth’ (“Nie rzucim ziemi)”, emphasising the need to build a city open to diversity and free from exclusion.
Saturday 23rd May 2024
2pm
In front of the National Museum (MNK), Al. 3 Maja.
Facebook Event
Organiser Facebook Page – QueerowyMaj
City of Kraków Equality Initiatives
We are fortunate to live in a City which is comparatively open to its LGBT+ community, and which actively supports LBGT+ residents and visitors. The city has created a number of initiatives, including:-
Equality May („Maj równości”)
“Equality May” is an initiative whose aim is to create an equality cultural program involving as many municipal cultural institutions as possible. In this way, we would like to look for new, common fields of dialogue and to emphasise the city’s commitment to combating discrimination on many levels.
All events deal with anti-discrimination and equality issues, issues of exclusion, women’s rights, people with disabilities, and the rights of the LGBT + community. They focus on counteracting hate speech and promoting the idea of accessibility.
Equality May Programme of Events
We Say NO to Discrimination
As part of Equality May, and the National campaign “LGBT + me”, („LGBT+ja”), which focuses on the difficulties faced by LGBT + teenagers. Soon, stickers saying “We say NO to discrimination” will appear across the city.
You can read more about the ‘We say NO to discrimination, (Dyskryminacji mówimy NIE!) campaign here.
Poland ranked the worst country in EU for Homophobia
Whilst the City of Kraków, along with other towns, cities and regions elsewhere across Poland, are making commendable efforts to recognise equality and fairness for all, including LGBT+, we all know that, sadly, there are still too many instances where this is not the case.
A recent report shows that Poland ranks as the most homophobic country in the EU, for the 5th year running, according to the annual “Rainbow Map” produced by NGO ILGA-Europe.
Poland Summary from report (pdf)
Poland Summary – Rainbow Map
Kraków Expats Directory supports a diverse, open, tolerant and friendly society. We want our Kraków international community to be a safe, inclusive place, open to all, regardless of their nationality, religion, beliefs, politics or sexual orientation.
These principles are, or should be, universal, and should apply everywhere to everyone, however they are especially important today in Poland.
If you are aware of any LGBT+ friendly places, resources or information which may be of interest to our community please get in touch and we’ll add them to this article. Please feel free to share this.
A Scot in Kraków. The founder and editor of Kraków Expats Directory, and our sister sites Kraków TV and Kraków Stories Podcast.
David fell in love with Kraków 25 years ago, making it his home in 2011.
In 2020 he was awarded the title of Kraków’s Ambassador of Multiculturalism, by the President of Kraków, and is also a member of the GlobalScot network, representing Scottish culture and business abroad.
We’re always looking for interesting stories, events, characters or groups to feature. Likewise, if you’d like to join us, as a contributor, please get in touch.
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