In Hungary Numerous activists protested against the law restricting information on homosexual and transsexuality, which came into force on Thursday. “We are not going to change any of our LGBTQ education programs or campaigns because of a homophobic and transphobic law,” said David Vig, director of Amnesty International Hungary, in Budapest. As a sign of protest, he stood in front of a ten-meter-high rainbow-colored heart in the capital.
Luca Dudits, a board member of the LGBT + right group Hatter Society, accused the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban of taking away citizens’ rights while portraying himself as a “freedom fighter” abroad. LGBT + activist Dorottya Redai, who lectures on homophobia and bullying in schools, was also concerned: “Teachers will now be afraid to invite us to their schools,” she said. LGBT + is the abbreviation borrowed from English for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other sexual minorities.
The controversial law prohibits, among other things, educational programs or advertising by large companies that express solidarity with homosexuals and transsexuals. There should also no longer be any educational books on this. The Fidesz party of the right-wing nationalist head of government Orban is also holding out despite sharp criticism ME stuck to the law.
The Hungarian broadcaster RTL Klub covered its advertising posters for a popular TV series with a picture of a gay couple as a protest on Thursday. “We are concerned that the law seriously violates freedom of expression and discriminates against non-heterosexual members of society,” read a sticker.
The law enforced by the Hungarian government was also heavily criticized abroad. ME-Commission President Ursula von der Leyen threatened legal action, MEMPs on Wednesday called for funds to be cut in Budapest. On Thursday condemned that ME-Parliament passed the law in a resolution “on the sharpest”. The regulation hollowed out democracy Hungary out. ME-Commission and the other member states are requested to immediately take legal action against Hungary initiate. 459 MPs voted for the bill, 147 MPs voted no, 58 abstained.
The Hungarian government, for its part, accused Brussels of an “unprecedented campaign”. According to her, the law is only intended to “give back” to parents the choice of how their children would be raised.
