According to a press release sent to the Budapest Business Journal, the LGBTQ organization claims that the proposed changes are designed to restrict peaceful demonstrations and target marginalized communities.
According to Index.hu, the bill, titled “Amendment to the 2018 Assembly Law in Connection with the Protection of Children”, was submitted to Parliament on Monday. The amendment would prohibit public gatherings that violate the country’s child protection laws, effectively granting authorities broad discretion to ban demonstrations, including the annual Budapest Pride march. The legislation also introduces penalties for those who participate in prohibited gatherings, with fines enforceable as tax debts. Moreover, it allows authorities to use facial recognition technology to identify and sanction participants.
The introduction of the bill follows Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s remarks in his State of the Nation address earlier this year, where he suggested that Pride organizers should abandon their plans for this year’s event. Budapest Pride argues that the government’s move is not about protecting children but about silencing critics.
“Hungarians are a freedom-loving nation. We know that if the government tries to ban protests with critical voices, they will face resistance from the whole of society. That is why we need a scapegoat, a distraction, another wave of hatred. They lie to their voters about a child protection measure, but there is no child protection in this bill,” the organization said in a statement.
Budapest Pride also drew historical parallels, noting that the bill was introduced just days after the anniversary of the 1848 Hungarian revolution, which championed freedom and equality. “It is a new level of fascism when only those who support those in power are allowed to march in the streets,” the statement said, emphasizing that standing up for LGBTQ rights is part of a broader fight for democratic freedoms in Hungary.
The organization warned that the law could have far-reaching consequences beyond LGBTQ demonstrations. “If attempts are made to ban protests for LGBTQ rights, there is no guarantee that peaceful demonstrations by other groups critical of the government will not be similarly prohibited under the false pretense of child protection,” the statement continued.
Budapest Pride has called on the government to ensure that all citizens, including LGBTQ individuals, can exercise their right to protest freely. “If they cannot guarantee this, it is an admission of their own incompetence,” the statement concluded.
