Heck, Let's Talk About That Hungary Thing!
Budapest will disregard the prohibition of the Pride parade
Plunging Headfirst into the LGBTQ Chaos in Hungary
Budapest is in a pickle. The Hungarian government, led by none other than Prime Minister Viktor Orban, has been steadily snuffing out the right to be queer for ages under the guise of "child protection". Now, the police have set a ban on the Pride Parade in Budapest, but the mayor ain't gonna take it lying down.
Originally meant to strut its stuff on June 28, the Pride Parade, a march for LGBTQ rights, has got the axe from the police. The ban, announced on their website, came after Budapest declared it'd manage the parade itself. But oh ho, not if the mayor's got anything to say about it! Gergely Karacsony, the big cheese of Budapest, flat-out said the ban's got no power. He reckons Pride is a city event, so he doesn't require official permission for it.
Meanwhile, EU countries are up in arms about the ban. They're pointing fingers at Hungary for trampling on LGBTQ rights. You see, the Pride Parade has been the target of Hungarian law for ages now. In March, Hungarian parliament passed a law amendment to put a kibosh on annual Pride Parades and banned all gatherings deemed to break Hungarian LGBTQ laws. The 2021 law even bans any representation of homosexuality in front of minors.
In April, the parliament amped up its game with some constitutional amendments to further slam the brakes on LGBTQ rights in Hungary and justify a Pride Parade ban. All this ruckus on Pride Parades has already sparked protests in Hungary, with thousands of people taking to the streets in Budapest. Some EU parliamentarians also plan to attend the Pride Parade in solidarity.
Sources:
- ntv.de
- Associated Press
Further Details:
- Hungary has imposed a long-term ban on the Budapest Pride Parade under a 2025 law that effectively prohibits holding or attending assemblies promoting or displaying homosexuality or gender change to minors under 18 years old.
- Despite this legal ban, the mayor of Budapest, Gergely Karácsony, has defied the police prohibition, insisting that the Pride march will proceed on June 28, 2025.
- Internationally, the ban has prompted fierce criticism and concern. Multiple protests have erupted across Hungary and Vienna, and a joint statement of concern has been issued by twenty-two embassies as well as twenty EU countries.
- EU Commissioner for Justice Michael McGrath has stated that the Commission is investigating the law and is prepared to use all necessary mechanisms to defend European values, including LGBTQ rights.
- The ban is seen as part of a broader Hungarian government campaign, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán since 2010, to curtail LGBTQ rights under the guise of child protection.
- Orbán himself discouraged organizing the Pride parade during his 2025 State of the Nation address, reinforcing the government's position against such events.
In the heart of Europe, Hungary's political landscape is marked by controversies revolving around LGBTQ rights, with the latest issue being the ban on the Budapest Pride Parade. This ban, a contentious point in Hungary's general-news sphere, has sparked debates about employment and community policies, as EU countries express concern and EU Commissioner for Justice Michael McGrath threatens to use necessary mechanisms to defend European values, including LGBTQ rights. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has been on a long-standing campaign since 2010 to curtail LGBTQ rights in Hungary, has explicitly discouraged the organization of the Pride parade.
