For years, the Equality March in Lodz has been a space for meeting, courage, and solidarity. This year we say clearly: the right to be yourself without fear is not a demand of one group - it is the foundation of a safe and just society. In a world where disinformation and exclusionary language increasingly replace honest debate, we need not silence but light. That is why we take to the streets not only to celebrate diversity, but also to expose lies and show the truth. When the dignity of some is questioned, the dignity of all is at risk.

This year\'s Equality March is an invitation to everyone - regardless of orientation, identity, views, or experience. We are not speaking only about "LGBT+ rights." We are speaking about the right to live without fear, with respect, with honest information and equal treatment. These are issues that affect workers, families, young people, and seniors. Human rights are not a privilege or an ideology - they are the shared foundation of democracy.

In public space we too often hear narratives rooted in fear: about a "threat," an "ideology," or "protecting children from alleged danger." These slogans do not protect anyone - they build political capital on division. The Equality March is a response to that strategy. It is a mirror reflecting manipulation and a spotlight that illuminates facts. We stand for education, reliable knowledge, and responsible language. A society grounded in truth is stronger than one fed by fear.

Lodz is not a random location for this demonstration. It is a city of work, solidarity, and the struggle for dignity. A city of textile workers, laborers, and social activists - people who for generations proved that collective action matters. Lodz\'s legacy is a history of demanding justice and better living conditions. Today we place the Equality March in that same tradition - a tradition of courage and responsibility for the community.

That is why we say: this is a shared cause. LGBT+ rights do not exist separately from workers\' rights, free media, or independent courts - they are part of the same value system. When the rights of one group are undermined, the whole foundation of democracy is weakened. Human rights are not a cake that leaves less for others. They are a structure that either protects everyone, or stops working.

This year\'s March is special - it is the 15th Equality March in Lodz and another edition of the Equality Marathon, which has become one of the most important social events in the city. Fifteen years of presence in public space is proof of the perseverance of the community, allies, and organizers. It is a story of courage in times of opposition, of building dialogue where walls were raised, and of consistently reminding that equality is not a passing fashion, but a lasting value. We walk the streets of Lodz because we believe a society based on solidarity is stronger than one based on division. We march to invite, not exclude. To shed light, not cast shadows. To remind that each of us has the right to live in truth and without fear.

Time for community. Time for courage. Time for equality.