With war, Kyiv pride parade becomes a peace march in Warsaw

By VANESSA GERA
Associated Press

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Ukraine’s largest LGBTQ rights event has gone ahead this weekend. But not on its native streets and not as a celebration. The event instead joined Warsaw’s yearly Equality Parade, the largest gay pride event in central Europe. About 300 people traveled from Ukraine to the Polish capital, now home to a quarter million Ukrainians who fled the war. Blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flags fluttered among a sea of rainbow flags, and some participants chanted “Slava Ukraini” — glory to Ukraine. KyivPride’s trucks were given the honor of leading Saturday’s parade, which organizers used as a platform to keep international attention focused on their country’s struggle.