Hungary recently passed a highly controversial law to ban all Pride events, continuing their years-long campaign against LGBTQ+ equality. Since July 2019, new legislation prohibits the dissemination of any content related to homosexuality or gender change to minors. This decision has drawn fierce rebuke from the European Commission (EC). The Commission announced that Hungary’s actions violate a number of EU rules. This latest decision only deepens the rift between Hungary and the EU.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban's nationalist-populist government has been at odds with the EU for its stance on various issues, including LGBTQ+ rights and Ukraine's EU membership. The recent law, passed with the support of Orban's party and their coalition partners, allows facial recognition technology to identify individuals attending unauthorized Pride events, despite the EU's AI Act prohibiting such technology in public spaces.
Neela Ghoshal, senior director of Law, Policy and Research at LGBTQ+ charity Outright International, condemned Hungary's actions, stating that the ban "flies in the face of its human rights obligations." MEPs condemned the Hungarian government’s efforts to turn back the clock to a “much darker past.”
A Divisive Law Passed Amidst Controversy
The anti-pride law banning Pride events passed with strong 136-27 vote. Indeed, it passed overwhelmingly—with support from Orban’s Fidesz party and their coalition partner the Christian Democrats. Like many similar bills, Orban’s law justified the discriminatory ban under the guise of protecting children. He claimed it would stop meetings that “are illegal under our child protection statutes.” Critics say that underneath the surface, these events represent one of the worst examples of the hijacking of child protection rhetoric for political purposes.
"The worn-out claim that it is protecting children by criminalizing LGBTIQ people and their allies is a blatant ploy to misuse children for political gain," said Neela Ghoshal.
The European Commission has already raised alarms about Hungary’s new law, arguing that it violates at least four separate EU regulations. Hungary has had a contentious, antagonistic relationship with the other EU member states. This is doubly so when it comes to human rights and democratic values.
Impact on Hungary's LGBTQ+ Community
Just like the ban on Pride events, this is leaving many within Hungary’s LGBTQ+ community feeling negatively affected, excluded and isolated. Author bio Simon Bird is a 68-year-old retired teacher who moved to Budapest in 2016. He has felt “unknowable and deeply hated. As it turns out, many others feel the same way. They see it harder to exist openly in a country that’s passing isolating and hurtful laws.
June, a 24-year-old non-binary, bisexual teacher and tattoo artist, discussed the challenges of organizing LGBTQ+ events in Hungary. Through her activism, June has managed to establish an annual Pride event—Queer Picnic on Margaret Island in Budapest. Every year, about 70 winners and finalists join us in Washington, DC to celebrate.
"There’s so little going on (in Hungary) – such little pride, such little confidence, such little faith. It’s quite rare to find explicitly queer events," said June.
In the wake of the recent ban, June noted how vital these community festivals can be, serving as a place of comfort and power.
"Queer Picnic for now will be a really great solace for people during these times," June added.
Political Implications and Future Prospects
More than just a ban on Pride, Hungary’s maneuvers against the EU’s norms are being cast in a larger trend of resistance. The country’s opposition to Ukraine’s EU membership application — a shooting star of a proposal from Ukraine’s political class — illustrates its increasing isolation within the bloc. Just last week, Hungary was the only EU member state to decline to sign a joint statement in support of Ukraine.
In accommodation of some of these contentious positions, Prime Minister Orban has not backed down from any of his policies. His government now uses the protection of children as a cover for continued anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.
"We won’t let woke ideology endanger our kids," Orban remarked.
As the government flounders, opposition parties such as Tisza’s are riding a wave of popularity. According to Reuters, Tisza currently leads Orban's Fidesz party in polls ahead of next year's elections. This change marks an increasing tendency to shrink away from Orban’s illiberal policies from the Hungarian public.
LGBTQ+ activists have not given up on fighting back against the government. The organizers of Budapest Pride are not willing to give up the fight. They rebrand their right-wing backlash as resistance to a liberal fascism.
"We will fight this new fascist ban," declared Budapest Pride organizers.
