Hungary’s parliament passed a controversial law banning Pride marches and other LGBTQ+ events in public spaces, citing the need to protect children.
The decision, which has drawn international attention, triggered immediate protests both within the parliamentary chamber and on the streets of Budapest, highlighting deep societal divisions over the issue.
The legislation, framed under Hungary’s “Child Protection” law, was approved with a vote of 136 to 27, according to reports from Reuters.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government has long championed conservative social policies, and this move reinforces its stance against public displays of LGBTQ+ identity.
Orbán’s chief of staff, Gergely Gulyás, emphasized the government’s position, stating, “The country does not have to tolerate Pride marching through downtown Budapest,” as reported by BBC News.
The law prohibits such events in areas where children might be present, effectively limiting them to private venues.
The parliamentary session itself became a scene of dramatic resistance. Opposition lawmakers from Momentum, a left-leaning party, set off red, white, and green smoke bombs—the colors of the Hungarian flag—inside the chamber to protest the vote, an act captured widely in news footage and reported by AP News.
Following the vote, Momentum and other opposition groups organized demonstrations outside the parliament, though early reports suggest turnout was modest.
Al Jazeera noted that police were prepared to deploy facial recognition technology to identify and fine participants, signaling a robust enforcement approach.
Public reaction has been polarized. Supporters of the law argue it safeguards traditional values and protects minors from exposure to what they deem inappropriate content.
Critics, however, see it as a further erosion of civil liberties under Orbán’s increasingly authoritarian rule.
CNN reported that human rights organizations condemned the legislation, calling it a violation of freedom of expression and assembly, and pointing to a pattern of anti-LGBTQ+ policies in Hungary, including a 2021 law banning the “promotion” of homosexuality to minors.
The protests in Budapest, while not expected to reach the scale of previous demonstrations, underscore ongoing tensions.
Reuters highlighted that activists vowed to challenge the law through legal means and public campaigns, though the government’s firm grip on state institutions may limit their success.
Meanwhile, international observers are watching closely, with some European Union leaders likely to raise concerns over Hungary’s compliance with EU democratic standards, according to BBC News.
