Diving Into Hungary’s Anti-LGBTIQ+ Policies

This week in your episode of KET Talks, Vincent Reillon and Rémy Bonny from Forbidden Colours discuss the situation of LGBTIQ+ people in Hungary. They are joined by David Bedö, a member of the Hungarian Parliament and chair of the newly established LGBTIQ+ intergroup in that parliament, and Noel Simon, the local coordinator of this intergroup.

A dire and worsening situation for LGBTIQ+ people in Hungary

David and Noel first comment on the recent anti-LGBTIQ+ laws adopted by the government of Viktor Orban. In May 2020, the Parliament adopted a law making it impossible for transgender people to change their legal sex. In December 2020, a modification of the Constitution was voted to prevent adoption by same legal-sex couples. And in June 2021, a law now known as the ‘Hungarian anti-LGBT propaganda law’ was adopted to forbid any promotion or depiction of LGBTIQ+ people and topics.

They explain how the current changes in Hungary, with the government controlling most of the media for example, makes it very hard for LGBTIQ+ organisations to counter the narrative of the government and for the opposition to regain power in order to stop these evolutions.

David and Noel are waiting for the EU to intervene. Five months after announcing it, the European Commission has finally filed the court case on Hungary regarding the ‘anti-LGBT propaganda law’. Yet, this procedure will take some time before, as they expect, the final ruling requires the government to repel the law. In the meantime,

An intergroup in the Hungarian parliament to show the support to diversity

A few months ago, David and Noel established a new intergroup in the Hungarian parliament working on LGBTIQ+ rights. 21 members of the Hungarian parliament from five political parties – all in the opposition – joined this intergroup chaired by David. Because of Orbán’s party Fides super majority in the parliament, these members do not expect to be able to influence legislation. Yet, this intergroup is important to show that LGBTIQ+ people still have support and a voice in the Hungarian parliament.

In 2023, the intergroup is projecting on working with civil society organisations – such as Budapest Pride and the Hatter Society, two of the main LGBTIQ+ NGOs in Hungary – to address bullying in school and restore the role of the equality body in the country that monitors discriminations. The intergroup will also develop international support for LGBTIQ+ people.

Doing so, David and Noel hope to build a brighter future for LGBTIQ+ people in Hungary. Even if none of them are expecting major political evolutions in the coming years.

To listen to this episode, click below.