Warsaw violated European law when it banned the 2005 gay pride parade, the European Court of Human Rights ruled unanimously May 3.
The man who was mayor then, Lech Kaczynski, is now Poland's president.
The Euro court said the city breached the European Convention on Human Rights' guarantee of freedom of association and assembly, its prohibition on discrimination, and its guarantee of a right to an effective remedy.
The city was sued by the pride organizers, the Foundation for Equality.
In prohibiting the march, Kaczynski said he opposed "propagating gay orientation" and holding the event the same day Warsaw unveiled a monument to an anti-Nazi hero. The city further claimed that the Foundation for Equality failed to submit a proper "traffic organization plan" and that the parade could lead to violence by homophobes.
Gays marched anyway, about 2,500 of them. Around 300 anti-gay protesters hurled eggs and shouted slurs at the marchers. Ten people were arrested and three were injured, including a policeman.
In a press summary of its ruling, the Euro court said it "attached particular importance to pluralism, tolerance and broadmindedness" and that "the harmonious interaction of people and groups with varied identities was essential for achieving social cohesion."
"The positive obligation of a State to secure genuine and effective respect for freedom of association and assembly was of particular importance to those with unpopular views or belonging to minorities, because they were more vulnerable to victimization," the summary said.
The European branch of the International Lesbian and Gay Association commented: "There is a significant case-law already established by the Court in regards to freedom of assembly and now we know that the same principles are equally applicable to LGBT citizens. We hope that this decision … will put a final stop to the outrageous violations of the right to peaceful demonstration by LGBT people which we witnessed during the last few years in some European cities."
Euro court rules against Warsaw pride ban
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