Szymon Niemiec
Szymon Niemiec is a Polish photographer, gay rights activist, journalist and politician. He is the founder of the first Polish Gay Pride parade, Parada Równości held in 2001.' From 2000 to 2006, Niemiec held the post of Cultural Ambassador of Poland to the International Lesbian and Gay Culture Network. From 2001 to 2005, he was President of the International Lesbian and Gay Culture Association in Poland.
Niemiec has been a member of the Union of the Left party since 2002, and on 6 May 2005 he was elected vice president of the party. Since 2008 he is also a pastor of Free Reformed Church of Poland, a progressive Christian denomination. Since 2010 he serve as Elder in Full Connection and Dean of Missionary Conference for Europe in Christian United Church of Poland. At 25 August 2012 Niemiec was consecrated for a Bishop of the Church by Archbishop Terry Flynn.
In May 2007 he published his first book: Rainbow Humming Bird on the Butt.
From 2008, Niemiec become a member of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association, and president of the board of "Friends of Szymon" foundation.
