Orban Banishes LGBTQ Symbols on Government Buildings Before Budapest Pride Parade
Government entities in Hungary prohibit display of LGBTQ emblems on official buildings
Hey there! In a shocking twist of events, Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, has issued a ban on LGBTQ symbols on government buildings--only hours before the start of the Pride festival in Budapest. Orban's decree states that "symbols promoting different sexual and gender orientations or the political movements representing them" are prohibited from being displayed on government buildings or central bank facilities [1].
Orban's office defended the decision as "symbolic," claiming the display of these symbols is "not common" on such buildings. Fortunately, municipal buildings are exempt from the ban, allowing Budapest City Hall to continue flying the rainbow flag, at least annually, since liberal mayor Gergely Karacsony took office in 2019 [1].
This move is yet another chapter in Orban's multi-year campaign to tighten restrictions on LGBTQ rights under the guise of "child protection." LGBTQ is an acronym that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. This year, Orban's government successfully passed a law change aimed at banning the annual Pride parade, despite which the parade is scheduled to take place on June 28 as part of the week-long Budapest Pride festival [1].
Critics argue that Orban, a friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is targeting non-governmental organizations, suppressing civil rights, and consolidating his power since his return to power in 2010. For more on Orban's power play, his stance towards the LGBTQ community, and his alliance with Putin, check out these resources:
- Hungary's anti-LGBTQ law targeted at 'social theater'
- Hungary's leaders follow Putin as anti-LGBT sentiment grows
[1] ntv.de, AFP[2] Human Rights Watch[3] Amnesty International[4] ILGA-Europe[5] European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI)
The Commission has been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, considering the ongoing controversies in war-and-conflicts and political landscapes, as reflected in the general news.
Critics argue that Orban, a friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is targeting non-governmental organizations, suppressing civil rights, and consolidating his power since his return to power in 2010, amid the escalating tensions in war-and-conflicts and the shifting politics, as reported in the general news.
