Gays march in Poland to demand equal rights

Thousands of gays and lesbians from around Europe marched Saturday through Poland's capital to demand equal rights and more tolerance toward homosexuals in this heavily Roman Catholic nation.

The parade, part of the EuroPride gay rights festival, is meant to give a boost to the fledgling gay rights movement in Poland. Gay rights were strongly repressed during the communist era, and gays and lesbians have struggled since communism fell 20 years ago for acceptance in a society still strongly influenced by the church. (AP)