Hungary Moves to Ban Budapest Pride, Citing 'Child Protection' Law

The proposed bill, likely to pass, introduces fines and facial recognition technology to enforce the ban, drawing criticism from organizers and rights groups.

Hungary's ruling Fidesz Party submitted a bill to ban the Budapest Pride march, citing the 2021 'child protection' law that prohibits the depiction or promotion of homosexuality to minors.
The bill includes provisions for fines of up to 200,000 Hungarian forints ($546) for organizers and attendees, as well as the use of facial recognition technology to identify participants.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a proponent of the ban, has described the Pride event as unnecessary and aligned the move with his government's promotion of 'traditional family values.'
Budapest Pride organizers have condemned the proposed ban as a violation of constitutional rights to freedom of assembly and expression, vowing to resist the restrictions.
The ban coincides with Budapest Pride's 30th anniversary and has drawn renewed criticism from the European Union over Hungary's broader crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights.