In Budapest, Hungary, an order was issued on Tuesday by the police to deny a request for an LGBTQ+ event scheduled to take place in the heart of Budapest later this month. This decision comes in the wake of recent measures taken by the country’s right-wing populist government, intending to prohibit the well-attended Budapest Pride march.
This move follows legislation passed by the Hungarian parliament in March, coupled with a constitutional amendment in the subsequent month, empowering the government to restrict public events by LGBTQ+ communities. Critics and legal experts have denounced these developments as further steps towards an authoritarian regime.
The request to host the event on June 28 was rejected by Budapest’s police, who argued that it would be impossible to ensure minors under 18 would not be exposed to conduct deemed legally unacceptable during the proposed event. Additionally, the police warned that the event’s public nature could lead to “passive victims,” or those who find themselves inadvertently involved due to its march-like format.
In response, event organizers have sharply criticized the decision, labeling it as “a textbook example of tyranny.” The prohibition permits the government to impose fines on those organizing or participating in Pride events. Furthermore, it enables the use of facial recognition technology to identify individuals involved.
The contentious “child protection” legislation in Hungary makes it illegal to depict or promote homosexuality to anyone under the age of 18. While Hungarian authorities have provided mixed messages regarding whether these developments amount to a complete ban on Budapest Pride, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, in a February address to supporters, suggested that organizing such parades this year would be a “waste of money and time.”
The Budapest Police included photographic and video evidence from past Pride events, aiming to justify their stance that the march would likely contravene the new regulations barring public displays associated with homosexuality. This decision has reverberated across Europe, with at least 20 EU countries, including France, Germany, and Spain, urging Hungary to reconsider its stance. They argue the ban violates the core EU values of human dignity, freedom, equality, and respect for human rights.
Nonetheless, Budapest Pride organizers, celebrating their 30th anniversary amid drawing tens of thousands of participants each year, remain determined to proceed with the event as planned, despite looming legal challenges.