Hungary bans Pride marches in latest crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights

Pro-Pride protests have taken place in Hungary (Image: @Noirsoldat_/X)

Hungary has officially banned LGBTQ+ Pride marches, triggering protests across the country and international condemnation.

The law, fast-tracked by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party, was passed in parliament on Tuesday, 18 March. It prohibits public events that the government claims could harm children’s “moral development.”

This builds on a 2021 law banning the portrayal of homosexuality and transgender topics to minors. Under the new law, anyone attending or organising a Pride march faces fines of up to €500 (£420). Police have also been granted powers to use facial recognition technology to track participants.

During the vote, opposition MPs lit flares inside parliament in protest. Meanwhile, demonstrators blocked Budapest’s Margaret Bridge, chanting: “Assembly is a fundamental right,” BBC News reported.

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