Plans to ban Pride events in Hungary criticised by 17 other countries

A group of 17 European Union countries have slammed Hungary’s new law that allows the government to ban public pride events.

France, Germany and Spain are just a few of the countries which have expressed concern about the law allowing for fines on people organising or taking part in Pride events, and the use of facial recognition software to identify them.

‘We are highly alarmed by these developments, which run contrary to the fundamental values of human dignity, freedom, equality and respect for human rights enshrined in the EU treaties,’ they said.

Jessica Rosencrantz, the EU affairs minister of Sweden, said: ‘I think it’s time that we consider the next steps, because this is getting pointless in continuing these hearings.’

But Hungary’s EU affairs minister, Janos Boka, said that the new law had been ‘misunderstood’.

‘There is no such thing in Hungary as a Pride ban. I hope that after these discussions, my colleagues around the table will walk out with a more nuanced view on the Hungarian legislation,’ he said.

The constitutional amendment passed in April says that children’s rights to moral, physical and spiritual development supersede any right other than the right to life, including that to peacefully assemble.

Hungary’s contentious ‘child protection’ legislation outlaws the ‘depiction or promotion’ of homosexuality to minors aged under 18.

This year’s Pride in Budapest is still set to go forward, even after the controversial law.

But there are worries, as the new legislation gives the police the power to use face recognition cameras to identify Pride-goers and fine them 200,000 Hungarian forints (about £420).

‘We won’t let woke ideology endanger our kids,’ Orbán said of the law.

Since clawing back to power in 2010, Orbán has presented Hungary as the black sheep in a progressive, liberal Europe, and himself as something of a protector of Christian and traditional family values.

It’s an approach that has seen Orbán be revered by many European conservatives, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

‘Our community has had to face several laws that restrict their rights, as well as live through constant anti-LGBTQ+ government propaganda,’  Luca Dudits, an executive board member of the Háttér Society, said.

‘Many have moved abroad to live their lives in peace, free from the hate-mongering Orbán uses.’

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