Tens of thousands united at the Budapest Pride march, boldly confronting Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s legal threats towards LGBTQ rights activists. Organisers approximated that a remarkable 200,000 people participated, despite increasing pressure from nationalist conservative figures and police to suppress any pro-LGBTQ expressions.
A recent “child protection” law led police to issue a ban on gatherings deemed to promote homosexuality. Orban acknowledged the possibility of police intervention but stated such actions would not escalate to violence, emphasizing that Hungary is a civil society.
Participants risk fines up to €500, and police can utilize facial recognition technology for identification. Event organisers could face up to a year in prison.
Individuals like Luca, who attended with her mother, voiced their desire for a diverse Hungary, stating that existing laws violate their rights. She expressed concern over her daughter’s future in a country where love is limited.
Notably present at the march was EU Equalities Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, who stressed that the event represents the strength of civil society. Finnish MEP Li Andersson echoed this, highlighting the importance of standing for fundamental rights and equality, especially against Orban’s family values rhetoric as a camouflage for discrimination.
The opposition’s mayor, Gergely Karacsony, reinforced that participants should not fear reprisals, as the march was co-organized with city hall. This political backdrop has made the event significantly prominent, further inviting solidarity from many European politicians.
Source: www.bbc.com
