An LGBT campaigner has just won a mayoral election in northern Poland, and is what is thought to be the country’s first out gay mayor.

Robert Biedron gathered 57% of the ballot (15,308 votes), to become the mayor of Slupsk, which boasts 90,000 residents.

The 38 year old beat other candidates, including Zbigniew Konwinski, of the ruling who received 42.92% of the vote in a fierce campaign in which he endured being called, among other things, a “faggot”.

His victory came as a surprise to some, as he only received 20.34% of the vote in the first round, coming second.

It has been hailed as a victory for typically conservative Poland by LGBT rights campaigners.

Biedron is well known for having set up and run Poland’s Campaign Against Homophobia, and in 2011 became an MP for the Gdynia-Slupsk constituency.

He said he would move to Slupsk, but that he would not require use of the three limousines made available to the mayor, as he travels by bike.