Gay chorus sweeps Wroclaw

Protesters weren't able to drown out the music when the Boston Gay Men's Chorus performed a historic first concert by a gay group in Poland on Monday night.

Ticket sales for the concert at the city of Wroclaw's Philharmonic Hall were suspended for much of Monday after the conservative League of Polish Families threatened to purchase all remaining tickets to occupy the hall and force a cancellation, according to the chorus' executive director, Steven Smith.

Chorus members had a police escort from hotel to hall, and police vans equipped with riot gear were on hand, Smith wrote in an e-mail from Poland. Though they were greeted by about 20 protestors carrying sexually explicit, anti-gay signs, Smith said, ``I am not aware of any physical violence against the chorus or attendees.''

Despite the controversy, which was covered by newspapers and television throughout the country, Smith said the concert was a success.

``The ovations lasted nearly 10 minutes, and the chorus had to re-enter the stage twice for bows after the concert. Literally hundreds of people were in tears,'' Smith wrote.

T.J. Medrek