Orbán prohibits rainbow flag in front of Budapest Pride - Protest announced!

Orbán prohibits rainbow flag in front of Budapest Pride - Protest announced!

Budapest, Ungarn - Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has issued a new decree that prohibits the display of symbols of sexual minorities on government buildings. This ban was published shortly before the 30th "Budapest Pride" festival, the highlight of which is the Pride parade, planned for June 28. According to Orbán's office, the attachment of such symbols on government buildings is "not common". The decree refers to symbols that relate to different sexual and gender orientations, and applies to all government and central bank buildings, while municipal institutions are excluded from this regulation, such as the Budapest town hall, which has been the rainbow flag since 2019.

The Pride parade should take place despite legal uncertainties and threatening sanctions. Critics accuse Orbán of massively restricting the rights of LGBTQ people under the pretext of child protection. This year, changes in the law were also adopted that aims at a ban on the annual Pride parade. According to an independent legal advisor from the European Court of Justice (ECJ), these measures contradict EU law, which could result in a possible conviction of Hungary. Orbán described the recommendation of the EU legal advisor as "shameful" and argues that freedom to spread sexual propaganda is more important to the EU than the protection of children.

background of the legal disputes

The context of this policy is the anti-LGBTQ law of Hungary, which is adopted in 2021, which prohibits demonstrating or promoting homosexuality from minors. This law also limits the representation of same-sex partnerships and transidentities in the media and requires that content are identified as "prohibited for less than 18 year olds". This procedure comes across the criticism of the European Commission, which has initiated a violation of the contract against Hungary. 16 EU member countries, including Germany, support this lawsuit.

The General Prosecutor of the ECJ has found that the Hungarian law violates the basic values of the EU. In the regulations, it sees significant discrimination due to the sexual orientation and gender. The Hungarian government justifies its measures with supposed protection of minors, but this is considered inadequate by the general lawyer. In addition, Hungary is accused of devaluing queer lifestyle and presenting as a threat to society.

preparation for the Pride parade

Despite the threats of the government and the police to ban the Pride parade, the organizers have announced that the event will take place as planned. They want to actively stand up for the rights of LGBTQ people and cannot be prevented from the regulatory hurdles. The Budapest town hall, under Mayor Gergely Karacony, has signaled that you continue to be behind the LGBTQ community. The current political situation and the intensified laws show that many activists in Hungary have to adapt to a long fight.

Overall, the current situation in Hungary shows that the rights of LGBTQ people are still under great pressure. Orbán and its government use the pretext of child protection to pursue an agenda that is a clear break of EU law in the eyes of many. The Pride parade, which is supposed to be a message of hope and change, is also a symbol of resistance to a discriminatory policy.

The time of the judgment of the ECJ about the lawsuit against Hungary is currently unknown, but the political and social debate will certainly continue to gain intensity.