Protests erupted in Budapest after Hungary’s Parliament passed a law banning Pride events and permitting facial recognition technology to track attendees. The controversial law, backed by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party, sparked immediate backlash, with opposition lawmakers releasing rainbow-coloured smoke bombs inside Parliament and thousands of protesters gathering outside.
A Crackdown on LGBTQ+ Rights
The law, which passed 136-27, criminalises hosting or attending events that involve a “depiction or promotion” of homosexuality if minors could be exposed. Fines of approximately NZD $900 can now be imposed on attendees, and law enforcement has been granted powers to track individuals using facial recognition software.
Opposition politicians staged a protest inside Parliament, releasing rainbow smoke and distributing photoshopped images of Orbán kissing Russian President Vladimir Putin—a clear critique of Hungary’s growing alignment with anti-LGBTQ+ policies seen in Russia.
Outside, demonstrators blocked the Margaret Bridge over the Danube River, refusing to disperse despite police warnings.
Fears of a Russian-Style LGBTQ+ Crackdown
“It’s quite terrifying, to be honest, because we had the same in Russia. It was building up step by step, and I feel like this is what is going on here,” said Evgeny Belyakov, a Russian citizen living in Hungary. “I just only hope that there will be more resistance like this in Hungary because in Russia, we didn’t resist on time, and now it’s too late.”
This latest legislation builds on Hungary’s 2021 ‘child protection’ law, which already bans LGBTQ+ representation in schools and the media. That law has faced legal challenges from the European Union, which argues it violates fundamental rights and discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Hungarian bookstores have also been fined for failing to wrap books that discuss LGBTQ+ themes, highlighting the increasing censorship in the country.
LGBTQ+ Advocates Condemn the Law
“This is not child protection, this is fascism,” Budapest Pride organizers said in a statement.
The EU’s ongoing lawsuit against Hungary over its 2021 law could extend to this latest measure, further deepening tensions between the country and the bloc.
Despite the widespread outcry, business inside Parliament continued as the room filled with rainbow smoke, a striking image of the resistance against Hungary’s escalating anti-LGBTQ+ policies.
