Budapest's mayor disregards police prohibition of Pride parade contrary to their orders.

Spicy Take on Hungary's Pride Ban

It's Hungary's game, and their rules are anything but friendly for the LGBT community. Since PM Viktor Orban rose to power in 2010, Hungary's been flaunting homegrown legislation that's been throwing shade on the sexual and gender minorities, all in the name of "child protection."

These days, the Budapest Pride March has become a plaything for Hungary's cops, with the online police dignitaries vetoing the event's location and time, citing recent regulations that nix promoting same-sex relationships to G-18s (the cool title for kids under 18). If you think you can dodge the ban by lodging an appeal with Hungary's supreme court within three days, think again, buddy!

Budapest's liberal Mayor, the outspoken Gergely Karacsony, has promised to put the production of the Pride March in motion despite the ban. Karacsony claims thepolicy decision holds no water because the parade doesn't need official authorization, because it's an event organized by city council. If you're still having doubts, the city hall assured you, it's a done deal – period.

One high-ranking government figure has fired back against the Mayor's plan, accusing him of trying to "cheat" the system. Gergely Gulyas, Orban's right-hand man, stated all events of this type have to be announced, and the police have the authority to ban them. "No serious legal expert would try to dispute that," Gulyas added.

In mid-March, Hungarian parliament passed a bill aimed at squashing any gathering that goes against the anti-LGBTQ law adopted in 2021. The 2021 law prohibits the "display or promotion of homosexuality" to under-18s.

In their decision published Thursday, police said the Pride March "by its very nature cannot be held without the representation" of people belonging to the LGBTQ community and that under-18s could be present along the route. If it can't be proven that the display is not taking place in the presence of persons under 18, the assembly would be in breech of the ban, police claimed.

The government says the annual event could be held at an enclosed location like a stadium, keeping it out of the kids' sight. But that ain't gotta be the case, right? The conflict over the Pride March has already lit up the streets of Hungary, with thousands of people blocking bridges in the capital, demanding the ban be repealed.

Several members of the European Parliament have announced that they will hit the streets in support of Budapest Pride, as well as the European equalities commissioner Hadja Lahbib and ministers from several European Union countries. Attendees risk a fine of up to 500 euros ($570), with the Hungarian authorities claiming the funds will be channeled into "child protection" projects.

Police have been keen on using facial recognition technology to identify attendees who go against the law. So, better watch your angles or you might find yourself in hot water, unawares!

Despite Gergely Karacsony's promises to proceed with the Budapest Pride March, despite the ban, a high-ranking government official claimed he is trying to "cheat" the system, asserting that all events of this type need to be announced and can be banned by the police.
The conflict over the Budapest Pride March has escalated, with thousands of people blocking bridges in Hungary's capital, demanding the ban be repealed, and several members of the European Parliament, the European equalities commissioner, and ministers from several European Union countries announcing their intentions to attend, risking fines of up to 500 euros ($570), with the Hungarian authorities claiming the funds will be channeled into "child protection" projects.

Budapest's mayor disregards police prohibition of Pride parade contrary to their orders.