Some 20,000 people demonstrated in the Polish capital Warsaw on Saturday in favour of more rights for gays and lesbians and other sexual minorities.
Under the slogan "The time for equality is now," they spoke out in favour of the introduction of a registered civil partnership for same-sex couples and called for opening marriage to all.
The demonstrators also called for better protection against hatred, hate speech and discrimination. Many participants in the so-called Equality Parade waved rainbow flags to promote diversity and tolerance.
The mayor of the Polish capital, Rafał Trzaskowski, also took part. "Warsaw is a smiling, tolerant and European city," the politician said, the Polish PAP news agency reported.
Trzaskowski said he hopes that all the demands that have been talked about for many years will finally be realized.
A new liberal government in power in Poland since December under Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced improvements for homosexuals.
But Poland's national conservative President Andrzej Duda could veto any reforms.
