Thousands defy Orbán with festive Pride parade backing gay rights in Hungary

BUDAPEST — Thousands of Hungarians marched in solidarity with the country’s LGBTQ+ community Saturday in protest at government rhetoric and new legislation targeting sexual minorities which has drawn condemnation from Hungary’s European Union partners.  

Members of the European Parliament joined the Pride parade through the streets of Budapest. Despite the tension, the mostly youthful participants maintained a festive mood, dancing to Abba songs and waving rainbow flags. However there was also a sense among participants – who included many high-school students – that this was an act of defiance. 

“In the past two years, we’ve had a government attack against the LGBTQI community, a lot of hate speech and also adoption of restrictive legislation when it comes to transgender rights, adoption, and most recently, a Russian-style propaganda law,” said Tamás Dombos, board member of Háttér Society, a Hungarian rights group.  

“A lot of people came to show their support and to show that not everyone thinks like our government,” he said. “It feels really nice that so many people turned up.” 

Organizers estimated the turnout at around 30,000. Under summer heat, the crowd packed downtown avenues and the landmark Szabadság bridge over the Danube. One participant said they could not remember a bigger turnout in over 20 years of attending Budapest Pride.

In June, the Hungarian parliament approved measures banning the promotion and portrayal of homosexuality or sex change issues to minors. The move, which impacts educational programs and advertising, sparked alarm within Hungary’s LGBTQ community and led the European Commission to formally launch legal proceedings against Hungary. 

Many teenagers told POLITICO the controversial legislation motivated them to attend a Pride march for the first time.  

“We believe that whatever is due to us in a heterosexual relationship, should be for everybody, regardless of what kind of relationship they are in,” said 19-year old Réka, who came to the parade with friends, for the first time. 

“The meaning of Pride is that you can love whoever you want,” added 16-year old Lia who was also attending her first and said she came in part because she has gay friends.

Small groups of far-right activists, some wearing “Defend Europe” tee-shirts, organized their own counter-protests. They waited for Pride participants near the banks of the Danube with large “Stop LGBT” signs and shouted insults. 

Pride participants responded with cheers and slogans like “to love is a human right.” Police kept the two sides apart. There were no immediate reports of violence.  

The issue of LGBTQ+ rights is expected to stay high on Hungary’s political agenda ahead of a key parliamentary election next year. 

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán unexpectedly called for a referendum on five questions related to sexual minority rights. Opponents criticized the move as an effort to shift public attention away from other issues which have put his nationalist government under pressure, such as recent revelations that government critics had their phones targeted in the Pegasus spyware scandal. 

In a video message, Orbán said the popular vote was needed because “Brussels has clearly attacked Hungary in recent weeks” over the restrictions on portrays of homosexuality.  “When the pressure on our country is so strong, only the common will of the people can protect Hungary,” he said. 

European politicians attending Saturday’s march insisted the EU’s commitment to fundamental human rights is at stake.  

“The European Union is not just an economic union,” said German Green MEP Terry Reintke. “It is a union that is based on values. And this includes fundamental rights of all citizens, not only white heterosexual men.” 

Reintke, who joined the parade and addressed the crowd, told POLITICO that “after the recent escalation” with Hungary’s new measures, a number of MEPs decided to came to Budapest to show that there is “solidarity from all over Europe.”

That view was echoed by Irish European People’s Party MEP Maria Walsh, who was also present. 

“I’m here as an activist ally and community member myself, as an out lesbian,” Walsh said.  “I think it’s incredibly important — now more than ever — that we show solidarity to community members.”

More international backing for Hungary’s LGBTQ+ community came from some 30 countries – including the United States, Israel, the United Kingdom and 19 EU members – whose embassies issued a joint statement of support. They expressed concern over “recent developments that threaten the principle of non-discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity.”

“We encorage steps in every country to ensure the equality and dignity of all human beings irrespective of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and stress the need for elected leaders and governments to show respect for and protect the rights of LGBTQI+ persons,” the embassies added.