Budapest had a record turnout for its 26th annual Pride March. This event was the first of its kind to boldly challenge a police ban issued earlier this year, a ban rooted in new legislation banning LGBTQ+ events across the country. The march overflowed with thousands of enthusiastic supporters. It happened against the backdrop of escalating confrontations between LGBTQ+ advocates and the Hungarian government, which has been attacking sexual minorities’ rights like never before.
In March, Hungarian parliament approved a new law. Our state passed legislation allowing facial recognition technology to be used to identify attendees at public protests and other gatherings. This is something campaigners have been sounding the alarm about. They contend that it illegally encroaches on individual freedoms and that it is a component of a larger effort to suppress the LGBTQ+ community in Hungary. The way temporary cameras were used to monitor the entire march route, for example, only heightened apprehensions about invasive surveillance and privacy encroachments.
Krisztina Aranyi, one of many passionate marchers, summed up the sentiments of millions of marchers. She announced, “The right to assembly is a fundamental human right, and I just don’t believe that it should be illegal. This sentiment echoed throughout the event as marchers demonstrated their commitment to advocating for their rights despite the government’s attempts to suppress their voices.
In March, the ban on Pride events sparked lively protests across Budapest, with citizens voicing their opposition to the government’s restrictions. The organizers of the Capitol Pride festival promised to continue with their annual celebration, promising an even louder presence in the face of legislative challenges. A change.org petition asking police to refuse the ban received more than 120,000 signatures from nearly 5,000 supporters in 73 different countries. The petition called upon authorities to “reject this unjust law” and allow the march to proceed “unhindered and peacefully, free from discrimination, harassment, fear or violence.”
Prime Minister Viktor Orban had rolled out the red carpet for the legislation, claiming that it would prevent events that “undermine child protection laws.” Opponents say this rhetoric is a cover for discrimination against LGBTQ+ people. European Parliament member Van Sparrentak emphasized the importance of standing in solidarity with the marginalized community: “We support the LGBTIQ+ community in Hungary, to let them know that they are not alone (and) to be visible as a community.”
During the procession, various homemade banners conveyed powerful messages including “Transgender people are a blessing on this earth” and “Proud. United. Equal in every corner of the EU.” Many participants underscored that Pride is fundamentally a protest against oppression: “This is about much more, not just about homosexuality … This is the last moment to stand up for our rights,” noted Eszter Rein Bodi.
No less than 70 members of the European Parliament were expected to participate in the procession. Their involvement brought the global context to this local struggle for rights. The energy in the air was electric with hope as marchers called out chants demanding dignity and intersectional liberation for all LGBTQ+ individuals.
