200,000 defy ban at Budapest Pride as global solidarity grows
"Budapest today, and always, will stand with those whose freedom is being taken away!" said Budapest's liberal mayor
By Aaron Sugg
An estimated 200,000 people joined the Budapest Pride march last Saturday, defying a government ban enacted under Hungary’s new “child protection” law, which restricts LGBTQ+ displays.
Police warned attendees they could face fines of up to 500 euros and announced the use of facial recognition technology to identify participants. Organisers of the event risk up to one year in prison under the new legislation.
Marchers gathered in the capital city, carrying placards promoting unity and resistance, one protester being Swedish climate and political activist Greta Thunberg.
“You cannot ban love” – Greta Thunberg
In a video posted to her Instagram, Thunberg said: “Pride is both a protest but also a celebration of love and who we are. You cannot ban love.”
EU Equalities Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, formerly Belgium’s foreign minister, joined the march alongside Budapest’s liberal mayor, Gergely Karácsony. Karácsony described the event as “a powerful symbol of the strength of civil society.”
“Budapest today, and always, will stand with those whose freedom is being taken away!” said Karácsony in an Instagram post.
Because City Hall co-organised the march, it was legally protected as a municipal event and could not be blocked by police, Karácsony said.
Meanwhile, the Peter Tatchell Foundation organised a solidarity rally outside the Hungarian Embassy in London on 21 June to support the Hungarian LGBTQ+ community.
Tatchell, the foundation’s founder and veteran human rights campaigner, shared his perspective on the Budapest Pride turn out with Attitude: “Budapest Pride was a glorious victory for Hungary’s beleaguered LGBT+ community. The march went ahead and it was six times bigger than previous years.”
“Viktor Orban, tried to stop Pride. But he failed and suffered a rare defeat… Their attempted Pride ban violated the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Tatchell shared his fear “If Hungary is not sanctioned, it could embolden other right-wing member states to also crackdown on their LGBT+ communities.”