In Budapest, Hungary, several thousand individuals congregated to protest against a newly enacted law that essentially prohibits LGBTQ+ Pride events and limits the Hungarian citizens’ right to public assembly. The demonstration marked the second occurrence in a week following the swift passage of the law by Hungary’s governing Fidesz party, which holds a two-thirds majority in parliament. Critics view this legislation as the latest move by the government to suppress the rights of the country’s LGBTQ+ populace.
Protesters gathered on Kossuth Lajos Street, one of Budapest’s busiest thoroughfares, lighting colorful smoke bombs while chanting slogans like “democracy” and “assembly is a fundamental right.” Their presence effectively halted traffic along the street.
Among the demonstrators was Paula Antalfy, a 26-year-old who expressed that the government’s recent actions to prohibit public events seemed to be a step towards eroding democratic values. “I feel like love should be free, and who you love is not a decision in any way,” Antalfy stated. She conveyed her disbelief at the restrictions that prevent such gatherings in their own city.
The new Hungarian law resembles similar measures enacted in Russia, targeting sexual minorities by modifying assembly regulations. It enforces penalties for organizing or attending events contrary to the contentious child protection legislation, which limits the depiction or promotion of homosexuality to minors under 18. Individuals attending prohibited events, such as the widely attended Budapest Pride, now face potential identification through facial recognition technology and fines of up to 200,000 Hungarian forints ($546).
In recent years, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his right-wing populist government have increasingly targeted the LGBTQ+ community. This includes prohibiting same-sex adoption and enacting a 2021 child protection law that bans any LGBTQ+ content accessible to minors in media, advertising, and literature. Orbán’s party intends to solidify the ban on public LGBTQ+ events through a constitutional amendment expected in April, framing such measures as protections against “sexual propaganda.” Critics, however, see these actions as part of a broader strategy to stigmatize sexual minorities and galvanize a conservative voter base.
The recent legislation has drawn international condemnation, with a spokesperson from the United Nations’ human rights commission highlighting the law’s infringement on the freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and privacy rights of LGBTIQ+ individuals. Particular concern was raised about the use of facial recognition technology for identifying and penalizing attendees of banned events.
Despite these challenges, organizers of Budapest Pride, alongside the city’s mayor, have pledged to proceed with this year’s Pride events, celebrating their 30th anniversary. In a defiant response to the law, Pride organizers declared, “This is not child protection, this is fascism.”
Benedek Lakos, a 27-year-old member of Budapest’s LGBTQ+ community, participated in the protest, noting that the new law represented a tipping point for him. Having previously refrained from vocal opposition, he described this latest action by the government as “the last straw” and stressed the urgency of visible resistance to prevent further oppressive measures.