Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Thousands join Pride event in Hungary as LGBTQ people face growing hostility

Thousands join Pride event in Hungary as LGBTQ people face growing hostility

Some 30,000 people have joined the annual Pride celebrations in Budapest on Saturday, organizers say, with attendees marching in colorful outfits across the Hungarian capital in support of inclusion and freedom.

But this year, Pride is also a protest, as LGBTQ people and their allies rally against the country's increasingly hostile policy towards their communities -- punctuated by a new, homophobic law recently passed by Hungary's hardline government.

Andras Szolnoki, 55, an anthropologist from the eastern city of Debrecen, said he joined the march in rebuke to "Orbán's regime and for the rights of LGBTQI people who have been targeted by the government for the last four years."

For Szolnoki, only a "revolutionary approach" would change the status quo in Hungary, where last month, right-wing populist ministers passed a law essentially banning LGBTQ issues from being discussed in school.

"It's more than just a march," Szolnoki told CNN. "It's about Hungary joining the Europeans and showing equality."

Andras Szolnoki, 55, says a "revolutionary approach" is necessary to change things in Hungary.


The new law, supported by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, bans all educational materials and programs for children that are considered to promote homosexuality and gender reassignment.

Off the back of fierce international criticism, including a scolding assessment (and a push for its repeal) by the European Union, of which Hungary is a member, Orbán has proposed to hold a referendum that will ask the public if they support the "promotion" of content related to sexual orientation to children.

The Prime Minister is urging a "no" vote. But for the people gathered for Pride on Saturday, the answer is a resounding yes.

Critics of the law argue that holding the referendum -- a five-question vote -- is problematic in itself.

LGBTQ activist Akos Modolo, 26, told CNN that the issue with the referendum is that it presents very "leading questions" to the public, noting similarities to a 2016 referendum on the EU's refugee resettlement plan. Hungary rejected that proposal but failed to reach a voter turnout threshold, making the referendum not legally binding.

"Even if you support LGBT rights, you wouldn't automatically say yes to these questions," Modolo said. "The government is using this as a political tool," he said, explaining that the government's strategy is to "always look for an enemy to blame" in order to "appeal to the anger of the voters."

"It's important to have a discussion," Modolo added. "But this is not a discussion -- it's a hate campaign."

Akos Modolo, 26, says the referendum is inherently flawed.


Saturday's showing was one way that LGBTQ activists are pushing back against that discrimination.

Balint Rigo, 27, one of the Pride organizers, told CNN that "a lot has happened over the last few years, and it's time to show that we're not okay with it."

"Minorities have been systematically attacked, and we're here to say enough," Rigo said, adding that this year's event is expected to see far more attendees than previous years, which have drawn crowds of up to 20,000 people.

That's because "people aren't just coming out for LGBTQ groups," Rigo said, "they're coming out for minorities in general."

"There's power in numbers and we may not be able to change anything in the short term, but together we're a symbol of solidarity," he added.

LGBTQ activists kiss at a Pride event in Budapest on July 24.


A 2020 report from the Bratislava-based global think-tank Globsec found that the majority of Hungarians disagree with the demonization of the LGBTQ community, with 55% disagreeing with the statement that LGBTQ rights represent a decadent ideology, despite the anti-gay rhetoric whipped up by the current government.

Nearly half of Hungarians agree with guaranteeing rights for LGBTQ people, according to the report.

Yet some believe that years of state-sponsored homophobia is finally taking its toll.

In the southern city of Szeged, partners Reka Spohn and Monika Rapi say that they and their two daughters have always felt accepted in their community. But the government's latest move has changed all of that for them.

"They (the government) are acting like we are a hazard for children, that we are dangerous to children," Sphon said.

"If they say it enough times, people will start to believe it," she added.

She notes the visibility of anti-LGBTQ billboards across the country.

The government campaign, billed as a public consultation ahead of the referendum, asks leading questions, with emojis attached to them. In the capital, the propaganda is visible on almost on every street corner, with signs asking the questions: "Are you angry with Brussels?" and, "Are you worried that your child will face sexual propaganda?"

The new law says that school sex education classes be taught only by groups registered by the government, with teachers prohibited from teaching books with LGBTQ characters or themes.

It also prohibits the representation of LGBTQ people on television during daylight or early evening hours.

While Orbán says that the law is not about violating LGBTQ rights, but about preserving parents' rights to choose how to educate their children, Spohn says that the message is clear.

"They act like we don't exist," she said.

The couple are prepared to flee the country if things get worse -- an idea that is being considered by many across Hungary's LGBTQ communities.

But others still feel the battle is worth fighting for at home.

In November, Hubert Hlatky-Schlichter and his father, who is gay, launched a campaign to raise awareness about rainbow families -- defined as a family with one parent who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex or queer.

"This is just the beginning, because we are everywhere," Hlatky-Schlichter said.

"Our existence is not propaganda. The very existence of rainbow families is not propaganda," said Balazs Redli, a father. Redli, a journalist who's worried about the future his son will face, says there's space for everyone in Hungary.

"We just want to live in this country like everyone one else does."

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Global Cruise Industry Posts Dramatic Comeback with 34.6 Million Passengers in 2024
U.S. Demands Brussels Scrutinize Digital Rules to Prevent Bias Against American Tech
Private Equity’s Fundraising Surge Triggers Concern of European Market Shake-Out
Tokyo’s Jimbōchō Named World’s Coolest Neighbourhood for 2025
European Officials Fear Trump May Shift Blame for Ukraine War onto EU
The Personality Rights Challenge in India’s AI Era
Italy Considers Freezing Retirement Age at 67 to Avert Scheduled Hike
Italian City to Impose Tax on Visiting Dogs Starting in 2026
Study Finds No Safe Level of Alcohol for Dementia Risk
Trump Says Ukraine Can Fully Restore Borders with NATO Backing
Europe Signals Stronger Support for Taiwan at Major Taipei Defence Show
Germany Weighs Excluding France from Key European Fighter Jet Programme
Cyberattack Disrupts Check-in and Boarding Systems at Major European Airports
Björn Borg Breaks Silence: Memoir Reveals Addiction, Shame and Cancer Battle
When Extremism Hijacks Idealism: How the Baader-Meinhof Gang Emerged and Fell
JWST Data Brings TRAPPIST-1e Closer to Earth-Like Habitability
Trump Orders $100,000 Fee on H-1B Visas and Launches ‘Gold Card’ Immigration Pathway
France’s Looming Budget Crisis and Political Fracture Raise Fears of Becoming Europe’s “Sick Man”
Three Russian MiG-31 Jets Breach Estonian Airspace in ‘Unprecedentedly Brazen’ NATO Incident
European manufacturers against ban on polluting cars: "The industry may collapse"
Turkish car manufacturer Togg Enters German Market with 5-Star Electric Sedan and SUV to Challenge European EV Brands
Christian Brueckner Released from German Prison after Serving Unrelated Sentence
World’s Longest Direct Flight China Eastern to Launch 29-Hour Shanghai–Buenos Aires Direct Flight via Auckland in December
New OpenAI Study Finds Majority of ChatGPT Use Is Personal, Not Professional
The conservative right spreads westward: a huge achievement for 'Alternative for Germany' in local elections
Pope Leo Warns of Societal Crisis Over Mega-CEO Pay, Citing Tesla’s Proposed Trillion-Dollar Package
Poland Green-Lights NATO Deployment in Response to Major Russian Drone Incursion
U.S. and China Agree on Framework to Shift TikTok to American Ownership
Le Pen Tightens the Pressure on Macron as France Edges Toward Political Breakdown
Czech Republic signs €1.34 billion contract for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with delivery from 2028
Penske Media Sues Google Over “AI Overviews,” Claiming It Uses Journalism Without Consent and Destroys Traffic
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
Nayib Bukele Points Out Belgian Hypocrisy as Brussels Considers Sending Army into the Streets
France, at an Impasse, Heads Toward Another Government Collapse
The Country That Got Too Rich? Public Spending Dominates Norway Election
EU Proposes Phasing Out Russian Oil and Gas by End of 2027 to End Energy Dependence
×