Twenty EU countries have given Hungary both barrels over the official banning of LGBTQ+ events in Budapest, namely Pride.
Viktor Órban’s ruling FIDESZ party, which seems to have a very cosy relationship with Putin’s Russia, has introduced legal changes, which clobber organisers and participants of any such events, which obviously goes against Europe’s – and most decent countries’ – support for freedom of association.
The new legislation, passed last month, introduces fines of up to 200,000 forints (approximately £420) for anyone violating the ban on LGBTQ+ marches. As if that wasn’t enough, authorities plan to implement facial recognition technology to identify participants, which led to widespread criticism from various quarters, including a strong joint statement from countries such as France, Germany, and Spain, who labelled this as a violation of fundamental rights. These nations have committed to supporting legal actions against the Hungarian government.
The recent legislative moves in Hungary fit within a broader pattern of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment championed by Orbán’s administration. This includes earlier restrictions detailed in a Child Protection Law, passed in 2021, which clearly conflates homosexuality with paedophilia and limits the representation of LGBTQ+ issues in media and education. This law has incited legal challenges involving multiple EU countries, with the European Commission pursuing actions in the courts to uphold member states’ rights and freedoms.
Organisations such as LGBT Ireland have portrayed Hungary’s recent actions as a ‘full-frontal attack’ on human rights and there have been calls for the suspension of EU funding to Hungary until compliance with European values are re-established.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.burgasnews.com/2025/05/28/%D0%B5%D1%81-%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%BA%D1%83%D0%B2%D0%B0-%D1%83%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%8F-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BB/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/04/07/15-countries-including-germany-and-france-join-legal-case-against-hungarys-anti-lgbt-law – Fifteen European Union countries, including Germany and France, have joined a legal case against Hungary’s ‘Child Protection Law’, which restricts depictions of homosexuality and gender reassignment in media content and educational material for audiences under 18. The European Commission initiated the lawsuit, arguing that the law violates fundamental rights. The participating countries, along with the European Parliament, will act as third parties in the case. The Hungarian law, approved in June 2021, has faced significant criticism for conflating paedophilia with homosexuality and for its potential to stifle freedom of expression and assembly.
- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/16/meps-eu-court-hungary-pride-ban-lgbtq – Five Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have called for the European Court of Justice to suspend Hungary’s law banning LGBTQ+ events, including Pride marches. The law, passed in March 2025, allows authorities to use facial recognition technology to identify participants and imposes fines for attending prohibited events. The MEPs argue that the law infringes on fundamental rights and freedoms, urging the European Commission to seek an interim measure from the court to halt its implementation pending further legal action.
- https://www.lgbt.ie/lgbt-ireland-condemns-hungarys-pride-ban-and-threats-against-attendees/ – LGBT Ireland has condemned the Hungarian government’s enactment of legislation banning Pride events and authorising the use of facial recognition technology to identify and penalise attendees. The organisation describes the law as a ‘full-frontal attack’ on the LGBTQI+ community and a violation of fundamental human rights, including freedom of expression and assembly. LGBT Ireland calls for the European Commission to initiate infringement proceedings against Hungary and for the suspension of EU funding allocated to the country until it complies with EU laws and respects the rights of LGBTQI+ individuals.
- https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-07-14/us-and-europe-chide-hungary-over-anti-lgbtq-laws-ahead-of-pride – Ahead of Budapest’s Pride March, the US, most of the European Union, and other allies have criticised Hungary for its anti-LGBTQ campaign, which they argue is at odds with human rights law. The criticism underscores the deepening isolation of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, whose government has been intensifying an anti-LGBTQ agenda, potentially escalating tensions with the EU over the rule of law and human rights.
- https://www.euronews.com/2025/03/18/hungary-passes-law-banning-pride-events-in-new-blow-to-lgbtq-rights – Hungary’s parliament has passed a law banning Pride events and allowing police to use facial recognition software to identify attendees. The legislation, supported by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party and their minority coalition partner the Christian Democrats, amends Hungary’s law on assembly to make it an offence to hold or attend events that violate the country’s ‘child protection’ legislation, which prohibits the ‘depiction or promotion’ of homosexuality to anyone aged under 18. Attending a banned event will carry fines up to 200,000 Hungarian forints (€503).
