Hungarian MPs on Tuesday passed a law banning pride events, allowing authorities to use facial recognition software to identify attendees and continue to defeat Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s right-wing populist party on the country’s 2SLGBTQ+ community.
With the support of Orban’s Fidez Party and its minority alliance partners, the law was submitted only a day ago to accelerate the process to push the parliament. The measure was passed by a 136-27 vote.
It amended Hungary’s laws on parliamentary laws to make activities that violate Hungary’s controversial “child protection” legislation a crime, which prohibits homosexuals from “description or promotion” of minors under the age of 18.
According to the text of the law, participating in a prohibited event will bring up to 200,000 Hungary fines ($785 CDN) that the state must forward to “child protection.” Authorities can use facial recognition tools to identify individuals participating in prohibited activities.
When the vote was held in the Hungarian Parliament in Budapest, opposition MPs lit the smoke bomb in the room, filling it with thick smoke.
Budapest Pride Grand Slam legislation
Budapest Pride marks its 30th anniversary this year and is scheduled to take place on June 28.
In a statement Monday after lawmakers first filed the bill, Budapest Pride organizers said the law aims to “replace” the 2SLGBTQ+ community to silence voices with criticism of the Orban government.
“This is not protecting children, it is fascism,” the organizers wrote. “The government is trying to limit peaceful protests by means of a minority. So as a movement, we will fight for the freedom of all Hungarians!”
Over the years, the Auban government has passed other laws, namely, rights groups and other European politicians condemn the suppression of sexual minorities.
In 2022, the EU Executive Committee filed a lawsuit with the EU’s Supreme Court, violating Hungary’s Child Protection Act 2021.
The European Commission believes that the law “discriminates against people based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.” The Hungarian government portrays itself as a champion of traditional family values and a defender of Christian civilization, from being called “gender madness” and believes that its policies are designed to protect children from “sexual propaganda.”
In addition to prohibiting “description or promotion” in television, film, advertising and literature (including in television, film, advertising and literature), Hungary’s “child protection” law prohibits mentioning 2SLGBTQ+ issues in school education programs and prohibits the public from “gender deviation from gender at birth”.
