Hungary's LGBTQ+ community defies government ban on Pride march

Hungary’s LGBTQ+ community is preparing for a face-off with the country’s autocratic government, and plans to push ahead with a march in the capital on Saturday despite a government ban and threats of legal repercussions.

BUDAPEST, Hungary — Hungary’s LGBTQ+ community is preparing for a face-off with the country’s autocratic government, and plans to push ahead with a march in the capital on Saturday despite a government ban and threats of legal repercussions.

The populist party of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in March fast-tracked a law through parliament that made it an offense to hold or attend events that “depict or promote” homosexuality to minors aged under 18. Orbán earlier made clear that Budapest Pride — marking its 30th anniversary this year — was the explicit target of the law.

But on Friday, Pride organizers along with Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony, European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib and Vice President of the European Parliament Nicolae Stefanuta said the march will take place Saturday despite official threats of heavy fines for participants and even jail time for the liberal mayor.

They expect the march to be the largest ever Pride event in Hungary.

“The government is always fighting against an enemy against which they have to protect Hungarian people ... This time, it is sexual minorities that are the target,” Karácsony told a news conference. “We believe there should be no first and second class citizens, so we decided to stand by this event.”