Hungarian lawmakers described Amnesty International as a “full frontal attack” on LGBTQ+ people, banning pride events and allowing authorities to use facial recognition software to identify attendees and potentially fines.
Law – The latest prime minister, Victor Orban, and his right-wing populist party, targeting LGBTQ+ rights, was pushed up to Parliament on Tuesday. It was considered the first of its kind in the EU’s recent history, and after it was submitted to Parliament a day ago, the national ban handed over 136 votes to 27 votes.
It amends the laws of the state regarding parliament to make it a crime to preserve or attend events that violate the Hungarian controversy “child protection” law that prohibits minors under the age of 18 from “depicting or promotion” of homosexuality.
The law was condemned by Amnesty International, who described it as the latest in a series of discriminatory measures Hungarian authorities have taken against LGBTQ+ people.
“False justification for passing this law — events and gatherings are “harmful to children” — is based on harmful stereotypes and deeply entrenched discrimination, homophobia and transphobia,” the statement said in the statement.
“The law is a complete attack on the LGBTI community and a blatant violation of Hungary’s obligation to prohibit discrimination and ensure freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” he added that the ban will return to 30 years by undermining Hungary’s 30-year diligent rights.
EU Equality Commissioner Hadja Lahbib suggested that the new law violated the values of the 27 blocs, saying, “Everyone should be able to live freely, who they are. The right to gather peacefully is a fundamental right defended throughout the European Union.
After lawmakers first introduced the bill on Monday, organizers of Budapest Pride said the law aims to turn LGBTQ+ minorities into “scapegoats” to silence critics of the Orban government.
“This is not child protection, it is fascism,” the organizers wrote. Budapest Pride celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, with thousands of people coming together to make the community’s struggle for freedom, security and equal rights visible, despite the constantly trying to dehumanize them.
“The government is trying to limit peaceful protests with critical voices by targeting minorities,” he added. “Therefore, as a movement, we fight for the freedom that all Hungarians demonstrate.”
Organizers said they are planning to march in Budapest despite provisions in the law that anyone attending a prohibited event could face a fine of forints (£425) for up to 200,000 Hungarians.
When the vote was held, opposition lawmakers lit smoke bombs and filled the parliamentary room with thick, colorful smoke.
After the legal adoption, JoJo Majerksik, a spokesman for Pride in Budapest, told The Associated Press that the organization received a pouring of support.
“A lot of people are mobilised,” Majercsik said. “It’s new compared to past attacks. “I didn’t care because I’ve never been to Pride before, but this year I’ll be there and take my family with me.”
Since returning to leading the country in 2010, Orbán has faced criticism for weakening democratic institutions, including accusations of gradually undermining the rule of law.
His government attempted to portray themselves as advocates of traditional family values, unleashing a crackdown similar to that of Russia as it adopted measures such as blocking same-sex couples from adopting children and banning mention of LGBTQ+ issues in school education programs.
Tamás Dombos, the project coordinator for Hungarian LGBTQ+ rights group Háttér Society, described the attack on Oban’s minority as a tactic aimed at distracting.
“It’s a very common strategy for authoritarian governments to not talk about real issues that affect people, such as inflation, the economy, the horrifying state of education and health care,” Dombos said.
Orban continued, “Leaving in people’s faces for 15 years, essentially rotting the country, and came up with these campaigns of hatred.”
Some suggest that the pride restrictions aimed at winning far-right voters as Orban faces an unprecedented challenge from former members of the Fides Party’s elite Magyaru ahead of next year’s election.
“It’s easy to win votes by limiting the rights of minorities in a conservative society,” Zaborx Heggy of the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (TASZ) told the Agens France Press.
However, he warned that for political gain, reductions in civil liberty are slippery slopes. “In the end, we can reach a situation where no one can protest except those who are not critical of the government’s position.”
