Hungary Moves to Ban Pride

Proposed Legislation Seeks to Outlaw the Pride March

The Hungarian government, under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, is intensifying its crackdown on LGBT+ rights. On Monday, March 17, the ruling Fidesz party introduced a bill aimed at banning the Budapest Pride march. This move follows Orbán’s recent statement that such events would “no longer be tolerated in their current public form.”

To bypass existing laws protecting freedom of assembly, Fidesz has proposed an amendment prohibiting any gathering that violates Hungary’s 2021 law, which bans the “promotion” of homosexuality and transgender identities to minors. According to documents obtained by AFP, the bill claims to safeguard children’s “right to proper physical, mental, and moral development.”

Harsher Penalties and Heightened Surveillance

Under this proposed law, Pride organizers and participants could face a fine of 500 euros, with the funds being “redirected to child protection programs,” as stated by Fidesz. Additionally, Hungarian authorities could employ facial recognition technology to track and identify those who defy the ban.

The exact date of the vote remains unclear, but the law could pass by mid-April, alongside a series of constitutional revisions. These revisions emphasize “the primacy of children’s rights over any other right, except the right to life” and define gender as strictly male or female—aligning with anti-trans policies previously endorsed by former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Resistance from the Opposition

Hungary’s opposition has strongly condemned the move, calling it a step toward authoritarianism. “What else is this if not another step toward a Russian-style regime, toward dictatorship?” wrote Laszlo Sebian-Petrovszki, an opposition lawmaker from the Democratic Coalition (DK).

Despite threats, Budapest Pride organizers have vowed to go ahead with the event on June 28. In response, over 150 European lawmakers have signed an open letter urging the EU to take swift action. “The European Union must act now to stop this escalation. How far will we let these spreaders of hate go?” the statement reads.

If enacted, this law would make Hungary the first EU country to ban a Pride march, further isolating it on the international stage.