Multitudes Gather in Budapest for Forbidden LGBTQ+ March
Revised Article:
Hungary's capitol, Budapest, witnessed an unprecedented tussle today as thousands of pride-goers stood firm against a police-enforced ban on the city's Pride Parade. Deak Square teemed with locals waving rainbow flags, spilling onto the city center, as per reports from news portal "telex.hu".
This year's Pride Parade is shaping up to be a heated standoff between right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the liberal-led Budapest. The authorities, under Orban's governmental control, deemed the event a breach of the revised assembly law, which bars protests that allegedly harm "child protection".
However, the city's liberal mayor, Gergely Karacsony, defiantly declared the Pride Parade as an official city event. As such, it remains untouched by the assembly law, and hence, immune to the ban. Nevertheless, it's predicted that police will attempt to bring charges against as many participants as possible, potentially employing facial recognition technology for identification. If charged, participants may face steep financial penalties.
Despite these threats, the parade is expected to draw a massive crowd of approximately 70,000. The legislature's European delegates, various diplomats, and EU Commissioner for Equality, Hadja Lahbib, are among those announcing their participation.
The controversy surrounding the event is rooted in Hungary's increasingly restrictive laws against public homosexuality and diverse gender identities for minors. This year's ban serves as an extension of those restrictions, with authorities citing the anti-LGBTI laws to justify their decision[1][2][3]. The police's controversial move to ban Pride while allowing far-right extremists to hold a hate march on the same route highlight the ongoing discrimination and hostility towards the LGBTI community in Hungary[1].
In essence, the 2021 Budapest Pride Parade stands as a symbolic battle for LGBTI rights in Hungary, with local and international advocates urging authorities to supportequal rights and freedoms[2][3].
- The ongoing politics in Budapest revolve around a contentious Pride Parade, as the liberal community clashes with right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban over the parade's legality.
- This year's general-news, including Hungary's Pride Parade, is a battleground for LGBTI rights, revealing the country's restrictive laws towards sexual minorities and diverse gender identities.
