Image reproduced from 公視新聞

On June 28, citizens in Hungary gathered for a massive Rainbow Pride parade in the capital city of Budapest, with estimates suggesting over 100,000 participants. This demonstration shows their opposition to the government's recent law that restricts LGBTQ+ events.

The conservative Hungarian government imposed a ban on LGBTQ+ themed activities including the Pride parade, which triggered public outrage. Despite these measures, citizens dressed in rainbow attire boldly stepped forward, gathering outside the city hall, raising various banners clear about their discontent against the repressive legislation.

One protester stated, "This is not just about the LGBTQ+ community, but about something much more important... this is our last stand to advocate for our rights." Participants came from over 30 different countries, along with 70 members of the European Parliament present, indicating widespread support for the march.

The government, led by nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, has gradually undermined LGBTQ+ rights over the past decade. Earlier this year, in March, new legislation was passed allowing authorities to ban Pride events on the grounds of protecting children. This law also grants police the right to use facial recognition technology to monitor participants, further raising concerns about civil liberties as the elections approach.

Opposition parties have criticized the law, viewing it as a tactic by the government to suppress democratic freedoms ahead of next year's elections, especially against Peter Magyar of the liberal party, who has recently pulled ahead of Orban in polls by 15 percentage points. Although Magyar has not explicitly stated his position on LGBTQ+ issues, he has expressed a call for protecting the rights of demonstrators.

On the day of the march, more than 70 Hungarian civil rights organizations released a joint statement supporting the event, asserting that the new law aims to intimidate society as a whole. Orban issued a warning on June 27 that organizers and participants may face legal consequences.

Despite the ban placed by the police citing child protection laws, Budapest's mayor declared it a city event that did not require government approval. Law enforcement maintained their position, insisting on enforcing the law related to child protection.