Thousands March in Budapest Pride to Protest Orbán’s LGBT Policies

Thousands of Hungarians celebrated the annual Budapest Pride on Saturday, using the event to protest against the government’s stance on LGBT rights.

This year’s march drew significant attention due to the increasing criticism of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s policies. Orbán, in power since 2010, has implemented a series of Christian-conservative measures, including a 2021 law that bans “promotion of homosexuality” to minors. This law has faced severe backlash from human rights groups and the European Union.

Participants in the Pride march were adamant about their presence and visibility. “It’s crucial to be here… to show that we exist and that we matter,” said Anna Réti, a 30-year-old marcher. She highlighted the discrimination and hostility that many LGBT+ Hungarians encounter in their daily lives. “Recently, I wore rainbow accessories in public, and people stared at me,” she recounted.

Hungary does not recognise same-sex marriages, and adoption rights are restricted to heterosexual couples. The Orbán administration amended the constitution to define marriage strictly as a union between one man and one woman, thereby limiting adoption rights for gay individuals.

The government insists that the 2021 law is designed to protect children and is not targeted at the LGBT+ community. However, the legislation has sparked widespread concern among gay, bisexual, and transgender Hungarians.

Last year, several bookstores were fined for selling books depicting homosexuality without plastic wrapping, as mandated by the law. Additionally, a museum director was dismissed for allowing under-18s to view an exhibition featuring LGBT+ content at the World Press Photo event.

Ahead of Saturday’s march, embassies from the US, Germany, and 33 other countries called on Hungary to protect LGBT+ rights and repeal discriminatory laws. US Ambassador David Pressman was among the diplomats who joined the Pride parade.

“This is an amazing country with a rich history of people standing up and fighting for freedom. The marchers today are continuing that proud tradition,” he told reporters.

The embassies of more than three dozen countries, including Ukraine, released a joint statement before the 29th Budapest Pride, expressing solidarity with the LGBT+ community and condemning its persecution in Hungary.

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