Hungary’s Pride ban is being challenged by Budapest’s mayor, the EU and world this weekend…
As many countries prepare to end Pride Month with marches this weekend, all eyes will be on Budapest Pride. The Hungarian capital’s Pride march is happening despite a recent law making it a crime to hold gatherings promoting or displaying the LGBTQ+ community.
The country’s right-wing government has been rolling out a number of restrictive LGBTQ+ laws in the last five years. Its recent amendment to the Child Protection Act is sending a ripple effect throughout the country, European Union and world.
Now, the city’s mayor may have found a loophole to allow the event to proceed, attracting leaders and LGBTQ+ people internationally to attend. Here is everything you need to know about what is happening in Hungary.
What is going on with LGBTQ+ rights in Hungary?
Passing on a vote of 140-21, the Hungarian government’s amendment to its 2021 child protection law prohibits LGBTQ+ public gatherings, including Pride parades. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán justified the law calling these events harmful to children and citing the government’s responsibility to protect minors.
A statement from the party’s communication chief, Tamas Mnczer, reads “The protection of children trumps all other laws…Pride has nothing to do with freedom of expression or freedom of assembly… Pride is a festival, the festival of a certain sexual community, which is not suitable to be seen by children.”
Under the law, authorities can use facial recognition tools to identify individuals organizing and attending these forbidden events. Individuals can be fined up to $780 CDN if persecuted.
Is Budapest Pride still happening?
Last week, Hungary’s police banned what would mark the 30th Budapest Pride. Though the event is not allowed to take place, Budapest’s mayor and organizers are protesting the discriminatory law. Mayor Gergely Karacsony has said city hall will organize the Budapest Pride March, noting there are no laws banning “municipal events” from taking place. The loophole means the event requires no permits from authorities. Karacsony has even been threatened with imprisonment over his decision, which he calls an “honour.”
Dozens of political figures and organizations have confirmed participation. Amnesty International delegates from 17 European countries will be in attendance. “The full-frontal attack on Hungary’s LGBTI people and the right to peaceful assembly has been met with a steely response by so many people across the country,” Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International said in a statement. “I am proud to march alongside them through the streets of Budapest. As the outpouring of solidarity from across the globe has shown, the world is watching.”
The organization will be joined by 70 members of the European Parliament and those from the Dutch parliament, which passed a motion encouraging its members to participate to “affirm European values.”
Hungary has warned EU ambassadors not to come to the event. “The legal situation is clear: the Pride parade is a legally banned assembly,” the Justice Minister said. Even with threats of potential arrests, the march is expected to see a record number of people.
What is the EU saying about Hungary’s ban on Pride?
In a video posted to X, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, released a message directed at LGBTQ+ people saying “I will always be your ally.”
“I want to express my full support and solidarity to Budapest Pride and the LGBTIQ+ community,” von der Leyen expressed in the video. “In Europe, marching for your rights is a fundamental freedom. You have the right to love who you want to love and be exactly who you are.”
She reiterates the core values of the EU and the need for all Member States to respect them. She urges Hungary to allow the Pride celebration to occur without “any criminal or administrative sanctions against organizers.”
Prime Minister Orbán responded by telling her the European Commission should “refrain from interfering in the law enforcement affairs of Member States, where it has no role to play.” He went on to tell her to focus on pressing challenges facing the European Union such as the energy crisis and an eroding competitiveness.
Technology and civil rights groups have also been making their voice heard. In a recent open letter, they asked the European Commission to prevent Hungary’s use facial recognition software to identify and prosecute march attendees. The letter calls it a “glaring violation” of EU law.
Last month, 27 EU Member States issued a declaration noting the country was violating the group’s core values.
What is Hungary’s history with LGBTQ+ Rights?
As we reported on earlier this year, Hungary’s LGBTQ+ rights history has been a rollercoaster. Homosexuality was decriminalized in the 1960s, before many western nations. Protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation in public and at work came following Hungary’s acceptance into the European Union. In 2009, same-sex individuals could register their partnerships.
In the 2010s, Prime Minister Orbán regained power leading to many anti-LGBTQ+ laws. Amendments to the constitution now strictly define marriage between the opposite sex and LGBTQ+ content was subject to a media ban. In the 2020s, laws preventing trans people from legally changing their gender and adoption for same-sex couples were passed.
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