Hungary has enacted a new law that prohibits Pride events and authorizes the use of facial recognition technology to identify attendees.
This legislation, passed on Tuesday with a 136-27 vote, is part of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party’s ongoing crackdown on the LGBTQ+ community.
The law amends Hungary’s assembly law, making it illegal to hold or attend events deemed to violate the country’s “child protection” legislation. This existing legislation bans the “depiction or promotion” of homosexuality to minors. Violators face fines of up to 200,000 Hungarian forints ($546), directed towards “child protection” initiatives. The law was fast-tracked through parliament, being submitted and passed within two days.
The legislation has drawn strong condemnation. Opponents, including the Momentum party, staged a protest within parliament, setting off rainbow-colored smoke bombs. Budapest Pride organizers denounced the law as “fascism,” stating it aims to “scapegoat” the LGBTQ+ community and silence government critics. They argue it mirrors similar restrictive measures against sexual minorities in Russia.
The law’s passage is seen as a continuation of Orbán’s nationalist conservative agenda, which has aligned him with figures like Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump.
