Szymon Niemiec is a priest and an LGBTQ+ activist who founded Poland's first Gay Pride parade in 2001 - known locally as an 'equality parade'. Growing up in the Polish capital Warsaw, Szymon knew he was gay and at the same time knew he felt a close connection to the Church. But combining his religious belief, his sexuality and his activism was never easy in a predominantly Catholic country, and today it continues to make him a target. 

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar 
Producer: May Cameron

(Photo: Szymon Niemiec. Credit: Janek Skarzynski/AFP/Getty Images)

Szymon Niemiec is a priest and an LGBTQ+ activist who founded Poland's first Gay Pride parade in 2001 - known locally as an 'equality parade'. Growing up in the Polish capital Warsaw, Szymon knew he was gay and at the same time knew he felt a close connection to the Church. But combining his religious belief, his sexuality and his activism was never easy in a predominantly Catholic country, and today it continues to make him a target. Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com Presenter: Mobeen Azhar Producer: May Cameron (Photo: Szymon Niemiec. Credit: Janek Skarzynski/AFP/Getty Images)

The priest leading the fight for LGBT rights in Poland

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Lives Less Ordinary is a podcast from the BBC World Service that brings you the most incredible true stories from around the world. Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected. Each episode a guest shares their most dramatic, moving, personal story. Listen for unbelievable twists, mysteries uncovered, and inspiring journeys - spanning the entire human experience. Our guests come from every corner of the globe: from Burundi to Beverly Hills, New Zealand to North Korea, Rajasthan to Rio. And their stories can be about anything: tales of survival, humour, resilience and intrigue. From the mind-blowing account of the Japanese man trapped in his own reality TV show, to the Swedish women rescued from lions by a tin of spam. It’s life’s wild side, in stereo. Lives Less Ordinary is brought to you by the team behind Outlook, the home of true life storytelling on BBC World Service radio for nearly 60 years. Got a story to tell? Send an email to liveslessordinary@bbc.co.uk or message us via WhatsApp: 0044 330 678 2784 You can read our privacy notice here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5YD3hBqmw26B8WMHt6GkQxG/lives-less-ordinary-privacy-notice

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