Pecs, Hungary– Hungarian police have prohibited a Pride march scheduled for October 4 in the city of Pecs, citing recent amendments to laws and the constitution that ban assemblies promoting homosexuality.
The Diverse Youth Network, which organized the event, has vowed to press ahead with the parade despite the ban. “The ban is a severe blow to the LGBTQ community,” the group said in a statement. “We refuse to be silenced. We will not be intimidated. We will not allow our rights to be trampled.”
This move is part of a broader crackdown on LGBTQ rights in Hungary, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government. In June, the government banned the Budapest Pride march, but over 200,000 people defied the ban and attended the event.
The EU has criticized Orban’s actions, and the mayor of Budapest was questioned as a suspect for organizing the parade. If charged and convicted, he faces up to a year in prison.
Orban has justified his crackdown on LGBTQ rights by citing “child protection.” However, LGBTQ advocates argue that these measures are discriminatory and undermine human rights.
The ban on the Pecs Pride march has sparked outrage among LGBTQ supporters, who see it as a major pushback against LGBTQ rights in the EU.
Despite the ban, the Diverse Youth Network remains determined to hold the event. The group’s stance is a testament to the resilience of the LGBTQ community in Hungary and their determination to fight for their rights. As the date of the parade approaches, it remains to be seen how the authorities will respond to the organizers’ defiance.
The ban on the Budapest Pride march is a stark reminder of Hungary’s escalating crackdown on LGBTQ rights. Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government has been using “child protection” as a pretext to justify its actions, claiming that LGBTQ visibility harms children.
However, this narrative is widely seen as a thinly veiled attempt to undermine civil liberties and silence queer voices. The European Union has condemned the move, with liberal MEPs and human rights groups arguing that it violates fundamental democratic rights.
Despite the ban, organizers of the Budapest Pride march have vowed to press ahead with the event. They argue that the right to assemble peacefully is a fundamental right that should be protected.
The determination of the LGBTQ community in Hungary is inspiring, and their actions have galvanized civil society and liberal opposition.
Weekly street protests have drawn thousands of citizens to defend freedom of assembly, LGBTQ rights, and democratic values.
The international community has also shown solidarity with the Hungarian LGBTQ community. Renew Europe, a liberal political group in the European Parliament, has declared its support for the community, stating that “Pride is a peaceful demonstration of equality & of the rights of the #LGBTIQ community.”
The European Commission has also voiced its support for the LGBTQ community in Hungary, emphasizing that everyone should be able to be who they are, live, and love freely.
The use of facial recognition technology to identify participants in Pride marches has raised serious concerns about privacy and surveillance.
The new law allows law enforcement to use AI-powered facial recognition to identify participants, who could face fines of up to €500. This move has been widely criticized as a breach of EU values and a threat to civil liberties.
The Hungarian government’s actions have significant implications for the country’s relationship with the EU. The EU has used budget freezes to sanction the Hungarian government in the past, and there are calls for further action to protect fundamental rights.
The European Commission has stated that it will closely monitor the situation and take action where necessary to protect the rights of the LGBTQ community.