Budapest Pride is going to celebrate its 30th anniversary this year, and we are proudly expecting this jubilee edition. Yet the conference happens against the backdrop of growing political repression in Hungary. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government has come under fierce international scrutiny for its efforts to dismantle democratic institutions. These are actions that especially attack civil liberties and LGBTQ+ rights. As the march approaches, organizers and participants are preparing to rally against these restrictions and affirm their right to love freely and openly.
The annual event has a history of being a dynamic, powerful platform for pushing forward LGBTQ+ rights. Today it is under serious attack by the Hungarian government. In the past few years, their officials have placed harmful restrictions on the right to protest peacefully, including attacks on Budapest Pride. This includes using facial recognition software to identify people who are attending prohibited gatherings. To intimidate anyone who dares, they are warning of fines up to €500 (£425).
Viktor Orbán’s government has portrayed any criticism of its moves as an attack, a threat even, akin to orders from the old communist guard. He stated, “She thinks she can dictate to Hungarians from Brussels how they should live,” in reference to European Union officials advocating for LGBTQ+ rights. This antagonistic approach has incited even greater backlash within Hungary and internationally.
The government has taken drastic measures to prevent attendance, but hundreds of thousands of participants are still expected to mar Pride’s opening march. Beyond a celebratory commemoration, this gathering represents a dynamic and determined movement for what’s needed and deserved. Máté Hegedüs, one of the organizers, emphasized the importance of the event in his statement: “Our slogan this year is that we are at home. We want to show that LGBTQ people are an important part of Hungarian society. What they have to say is just as important as anybody else.
Local supporters will be joined by international politicians, rights campaigners and others. Together, they represent more than 30 countries and are all planning to join the march. Among those expected to attend are Ireland’s former taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, and Spain’s minister of culture, Ernest Urtasun. Alongside them will be 70+ members of the European Parliament and the mayors of Brussels and Amsterdam. Their presence amplifies the event’s importance as a global beacon of hope and resistance to repressive, anti-democratic governance.
A previous Europan Government collapse, but Civil Liberties Union for Europe which has been tracking the harm of authoritarian attacks on LGBTQ+ rights. Andrew Ryder, a scholar from Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, will be participating in the march. He joins in the struggle of many who seek full equality and justice. Ryder’s participation exemplifies the academic community’s stance against government repression.
Márta Pardavi, co-chair of Hungary’s Helsinki Committee, described the current climate an “extraordinary scenario.” She focused on the challenges individuals face when they pursue freedom to express their identities in the way they wish. She remarked, “This means you will have a lot of people with very, very different views on the streets,” indicating that the march will likely attract both supporters and opponents.
This means that Orbán’s government has already adopted new legislation. This law provides a legal framework to ban these Pride events under the pretext of protecting children. This controversial law has generated tremendous consternation among human rights groups and activists. They unreservedly and robustly contend that it is an infringement of essential freedoms. A petition by Amnesty International called for individuals to “reject this unjust law,” asserting that all citizens should be able to gather “unhindered and peacefully, free from discrimination, harassment, fear or violence.”
Bence Tuzson, a government spokesperson, declared that “the legal situation is clear: the Pride parade is a legally banned assembly,” reinforcing the government’s intent to clamp down on the event. He added that “those who take part in an event prohibited by the authorities commit an infraction,” signaling a tough stance on potential participants.
In reaction to these changes, hadja lahbib, EU foreign affairs representative, took to Twitter to restate the EU’s commitment to supporting and protecting LGBTQ+ individuals. She stated, “It is a core value to gather peacefully, to be who you are, to love who you want.” Lahbib made clear that these values are non-negotiable and must not be undermined by any one member state.
As the weekend approaches, three countermarches organized by groups with ties to the extreme right may further complicate matters during Budapest Pride. This disruption would only add to the growing tensions as sometimes dramatically different narratives collided on the streets of Hungary’s capital.