Defiance as Hungary Bans Pride Marches to “Protect Children”

In a devastating blow to LGBTI+ rights in Europe, Hungary has passed a repressive law banning Pride marches across the country under the pretext of “protecting” young people.

Led by Hungary’s right-wing populist government, the legislation also permits the use of facial recognition technology by authorities to track and fine participants.

Government Pushes Through Controversial Law

According to activists, the bill was submitted to the Hungarian Parliament on 17 March and rushed through without debate or consultation before being passed on 18 March. President Tamás Sulyok swiftly signed it into law, and it is set to take effect on 15 April.

The law amends the Act on the Right of Assembly, making it a crime to organise and an offence to participate in events that violate Hungary’s Russian-style “propaganda law.” That 2021 legislation prohibits the public “depiction or promotion” of homosexuality to individuals under 18.

Outrage and Protests Erupt

The passage of the Pride ban sparked protests in Hungary on Tuesday, with thousands gathering outside Parliament to chant anti-government slogans.

ILGA-Europe condemned the law as “an assault on fundamental freedoms of expression, assembly, and protest, and an attempt to silence the LGBTI community in Hungary.”

ILGA-Europe’s Executive Director, Chaber, stated: “It is an effort to erase LGBTI people from public life and restrict their ability to peacefully protest.”

Dávid Vig, Director of Amnesty International Hungary, called the law a blatant violation of Hungary’s legal obligations to uphold freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

“On the eve of the 30th anniversary of Budapest Pride in June, this harmful ban turns the clock back three decades, further undermining the hard-won rights of LGBTI people in Hungary,” said Vig.

He slammed the justification for the law – that Pride events would be ‘harmful to children’ – as “based on harmful stereotypes and deeply entrenched discrimination, homophobia, and transphobia.”

Budapest Pride Vows to Defy Ban

Despite the crackdown, organisers of Budapest Pride, Hungary’s largest annual LGBTI+ event, remain defiant. In a social media post, they declared: “This is not child protection—this is fascism!” and vowed, “The Budapest Pride March will take place on 28 June! We won’t let them take away our rights.”

They accused the government of using the law to silence dissent, stating:

“The government is trying to limit peaceful protests and suppress critical voices by scapegoating a minority. That’s why we will fight as a movement—so that every Hungarian can protest freely!”