Hungary enacts prohibitive legislation against LGBTQ+ gatherings, triggering demonstrations nationwide.
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A fresh anti-LGBTQ+ law, that forbids Pride events and enables facial recognition technology to spot attendees at these events, sailed through Hungarian parliament on Tuesday. This set off a massive demonstration on the streets of Budapest, with several thousand protesters voicing anti-government sentiments.
The legislation, spearheaded by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's nationalist-populist administration, is an extension of a crackdown on Hungary's LGBTQ+ community. The measure mirrors similar restrictions faced by sexual minorities in Russia. It passed with a 136-27 vote, backed by Orbán's Fidesz party and their coalition partner the Christian Democrats.
The bill alters Hungary's assembly law, making it a punishable offense to participate in or attend events that violate the country's contentious "child protection" legislation. This legislation disallows the portrayal or advocacy of homosexuality to minors under 18. Attending such events can result in fines of up to 200,000 Hungarian forints, with the funds earmarked for "child protection." Authorities may utilize facial recognition tools to recognize individuals attending prohibited events.
In response to the bill, Budapest Pride organizers expressed concern over the government's "scapegoating" tactics aimed at silencing critics of Orbán's administration. Despite Orbán's ongoing efforts to stigmatize LGBTQ+ people, Pride event supporters have seen an influx of messages and comments indicating increased involvement in this year's event.
This latest legislation is part of a series of repressive laws championed by Orbán's government that have faced criticism from human rights organizations and European politicians. For instance, Hungary's 2021 child protection law, which EU's executive commission argued discriminates against people on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity, has already drawn attention from the EU's highest court.
The country's "child protection" law also bans the mention of LGBTQ+ issues in school education programs and forbids the public display of anything perceived as "gender deviation." Booksellers have faced penalties for failing to keep books with LGBTQ+ themes under wrapped packaging. Critics argue Orbán's campaign is aimed at reducing the visibility of the LGBTQ+ community by wrongfully linking homosexuality to pedophilia.
The Hungarian government maintains that its policies are designed to protect children from "sexual propaganda." However, opponents suggest that Orbán uses these measures to divert public attention from pressing issues like Hungary's ongoing cost of living crisis and the erosion of its education and healthcare sectors.
- Despite the Hungarian government's repressive laws, including the new legislation targeting Pride events and the portrayal of homosexuality to minors, the supporters of the Pride events have been celebrating an influx of messages and comments indicating increased involvement in this year's event.
- The Hungarian legislation, which mirrors similar restrictions faced by sexual minorities in Europe, such as Russia, has been criticized by human rights organizations and European politicians, who view it as part of a series of repressive laws championed by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's government.
- The traffic in the plenary session of the European parliament heated up as a plenary debate on Hungary's ongoing repression of its LGBTQ+ community, including the new law forbidding Pride events, was scheduled to take place.
