Hungary Moves to Ban Budapest Pride Parade in Public Spaces

The government cites child protection and constitutional amendments as justification for restricting the annual LGBTQ+ event.

Hungary's government announced plans to prohibit the Budapest Pride march from taking place in public spaces, citing a proposed constitutional amendment prioritizing child protection.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's chief of staff, Gergely Gulyás, stated that the event's public format will no longer be tolerated, referencing the need to balance freedom of assembly with children's rights.
The constitutional amendment would declare that a child's right to physical, mental, and moral development supersedes other rights, except the right to life.
Budapest Pride organizers condemned the decision, arguing it infringes on basic freedoms and freedom of assembly, which are enshrined in Hungary's constitution.
The move follows a series of anti-LGBTQ+ measures in Hungary in recent years, including restrictions on same-sex adoption, transgender rights, and the promotion of LGBTQ+ content to minors, which have drawn criticism from the European Union and rights groups.