A drive around this beautiful friendly country reveals fertile farms, soaring cathedrals and castles, a tormented past and a boisterous and fairly prosperous present.
Scattered pockets of gay culture and life, in the big cities, are energetic but still muted and surrounded by much homophobia.
Recent political leaders have opposed gay festivals and parades but the gay community marched on despite the oppositon andoccasional violence.
Read the story about Gay Poland