Hungary’s parliament has passed a constitutional amendment allowing the government to ban public events by LGBTQ+ communities, marking a significant blow to the community’s rights. The amendment was proposed by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his ruling Fidesz-KDNP coalition, which has been criticized for its authoritarian tendencies.
The amendment declares that children’s rights supersede any other right, including the right to peacefully assemble, and codifies a law banning public events held by LGBTQ+ communities. This includes the popular Pride event in Budapest, which draws thousands annually. The law also allows authorities to use facial recognition tools to identify people who attend prohibited events, with fines of up to $546.
Critics argue that this measure is part of Orbán’s broader campaign to restrict civil rights and mobilize his right-wing base ahead of elections. They claim that the measures have little to do with protecting children and are instead used to distract from more serious problems facing the country.
The amendment also recognizes two sexes, male and female, but critics argue that it provides a constitutional basis for denying the gender identities of transgender people and ignoring the existence of intersex individuals. Government spokesperson Zoltán Kovács claimed that this is not an attack on individual self-expression, but rather a clarification based on biological reality.
The move has been condemned by human rights groups, including the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, which described it as “pure propaganda.” The organization’s lawyer, Dánel Döbrentey, said that the amendment is “a clear message” for transgender and intersex people: “It is definitely and purely and strictly about humiliating people and excluding them.”
The amendment is the 15th to Hungary’s constitution since Orbán took office in 2011. Critics argue that it represents a significant erosion of democracy and human rights in the country.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/hungary-pride-ban-amendment-orban-gay-rights-lgbtq-155ec12cbbde7cc6be0f96adb323de77