Hungary’s parliament passed a law banning LGBTQ+ pride events, including the Budapest Pride march, on Tuesday. The legislation was approved in a 136-27 vote, supported by Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s party Fidesz and their coalition partner, Christian Democrats.
The law targets annual Pride marches, stating that they could harm children and outweighs the right to assemble. Those attending prohibited events may face fines up to 200,000 Hungarian forints ($550, €500). Authorities can also use facial recognition tools to identify individuals.
Organizers of Budapest Pride slammed the bill as “political theater” and a way for the ruling party to exploit the LGBTQ community. They criticized Prime Minister Orban’s priority on banning human rights protests during a cost of living crisis in Hungary.
The law is part of a series of rollbacks of LGBTQ+ rights in Hungary, including a 2021 “child protection law” that bans gay content in education materials and TV shows for people under 18. The government claims the Pride march harms children, despite opposition from many who see it as a human right issue.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/hungarys-parliament-passes-law-banning-lgbtq-pride-events/a-71964198