Hungary’s ruling party, Fidesz, has submitted a bill to parliament that would ban the annual Pride march in Budapest. Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been a vocal critic of LGBTQ+ communities and has pledged to crack down on foreign funding of independent media and NGOs.
The bill claims it will protect children from potential harm caused by the event, but organizers argue that freedom of assembly is a constitutional right. Despite the proposal, Pride organizers say they plan to hold the march, citing a greater need for the event than ever before.
Orban’s government has been criticized for its anti-LGBTQ+ policies, including banning “promotion of homosexuality” among minors in 2021. The European Union had referred Hungary to its Court of Justice over this law in 2022.
The Pride march has been held in Budapest for three decades and has been a key event for the LGBTQ+ community. However, with elections due early next year, Orban’s government is stepping up its attacks on minorities and critics.
Organizers say they will not be silenced and plan to proceed with the march despite the proposal. The liberal mayor of Budapest, Gergely Karacsony, has also announced that the Pride march will take place this year and may even be bigger than ever.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/hungarys-ruling-party-submits-bill-ban-pride-march-2025-03-17