Hungary has introduced new laws banning LGBT+ meetings and marches where children may be present. The move could have an impact on iconic tourist attractions like Budapest Pride. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated: “Hungary has passed a law that can be used as a legal basis to prohibit future assembly and marching that portray or promote LGBT+ identities among minors.”
The implementation of this law may result in participants in these “unauthorized events” identified by the authorities using facial recognition technology. If you realize you are involved in such an event, the fines loom as a possibility, and the penalty reaches up to 200,000 Hungarians forints, reaching around £420.
This is a particular concern given the timing of the annual Budapest Pride march in June.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs states, “If you plan to attend Budapest Pride, you should follow local media and the British Embassy social media for updates.”
It should be noted that same-sex relationships remain legal in Hungary, but the Budapest capital maintains its reputation as being “generally tolerant and open.”
This recent legislative change passed the Hungarian Parliament despite international concerns. It prompted responses from equality officials in the European Union, including EU Equality Commissioner Hadja Lahbib.
Michael Ofraherty, of the Council of Europe's Human Rights Commission, expressed his deep concern and called on the president to reject the law. The law sparked a series of protests, including a grey pride march that attracted a lot of attention online.
Thousands of demonstrators in black and white costumes were taken onto the streets with satirical signs. Despite the ban, Budapest pride is reportedly still going on.
City mayor Gergely Karacsony suggested that this year's celebration could “be bigger than ever,” as Reuters reported. He further stated, “Budapest is a city of freedom and will be proud.”
