Amid uproar from LGBTQ+ advocates and civil rights defenders, Hungary's Parliament passed a law on Tuesday prohibiting Pride marches, labeling them as detrimental to children. Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government faces mounting protests as critics accuse it of stifling civil liberties.
Hungary Enacts Law Prohibiting LGBTQ+ Pride Marches Amidst National and International Backlash
Hungary Enacts Law Prohibiting LGBTQ+ Pride Marches Amidst National and International Backlash
The Hungarian Parliament has approved a controversial law banning Pride marches, citing child protection concerns, which has ignited protests and drawn criticism from human rights organizations.
Hungary has officially enacted a law that bans Pride marches, drawing ire both domestically and internationally. The legislation was pushed through Parliament in a swift process by the ruling right-wing Fidesz party led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who justified the ban with claims of protecting children from harmful ideologies. He stated, “We won’t let woke ideology endanger our kids,” as he endorsed the controversial law.
Historically, Budapest Pride marches have taken place for over three decades, but this new law adds to a series of legislative actions by Orban's administration aimed at curtailing the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. This includes prior measures from 2020 that eliminated legal recognition for transgender individuals, and a 2021 law restricting the representation of homosexuality in content directed at minors.
The recently enacted law prohibits assemblies that contravene prior legislation, subjecting offenders—both organizers and participants—to potential fines up to 500 euros ($545). Law enforcement may also employ facial recognition technology to identify those involved in such assemblies. In Parliament, opposition members protested by lighting flares during the vote and demonstrated publicly, with crowds blocking Budapest’s Margaret Bridge, voicing that assembly rights are fundamental.
EU Commissioner for Equality, Hadja Lahbib, criticized Hungary's actions, asserting that freedoms associated with identity and peaceful assembly should be universally upheld. Commenting on the government's rationale, numerous advocates have condemned the claim of child protection, labeling the law as emblematic of fascism.
Despite these tumultuous developments, Budapest Pride organizers have declared their intention to move forward with their scheduled Pride march set for June 28. The ongoing political dynamics in Hungary reveal a populace that may be shifting, with emerging political contenders like the newly formed centre-right party Tisza, who advocate for more amicable relations with the EU, achieving notable traction ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections.
