Experience

Seventeen EU countries condemn Hungary’s pride and protest ban as human rights groups launch legal challenge

Posted by Timothy on

In a move that has sparked widespread outrage across Europe, the Budapest police have formally banned an LGBTQIA+ march scheduled for 1 June 2025, citing its resemblance to Budapest Pride. This is the first known use of Hungary’s newly enacted ‘Anti-Pride’ law, and it has triggered an intense backlash from human rights organisations, 17 European Union member states, and LGBTQIA+ advocates who argue the decision is part of a broader, alarming pattern of state-sponsored discrimination.

The peaceful demonstration, organised by five of Hungary’s leading human rights groups—including Amnesty International Hungary, Háttér Society, the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, Rainbow Mission Foundation (which organises Budapest Pride), and the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union—was intended to raise awareness of homophobia, transphobia, and the lingering consequences of ‘Paragraph 33‘, which stripped trans people of legal gender recognition in 2020.

Organisers notified authorities of the planned event on 24 May. Less than a week later, police issued a ban, claiming the march violated recent legislation on child protection because it resembled previous pride parades. 

Anti-pride

The decision follows sweeping legislative changes introduced earlier this year. On 18 March, Hungary’s parliament passed an anti-pride law banning assemblies that violate the country’s 2021 anti-LGBTQI ‘propaganda’ law. 

Then, on 14 April, an amendment to Hungary’s Fundamental Law prioritised the “right of the child to moral development” above other constitutional freedoms—excluding only the right to life.

 Critics say this creates a legal basis for denying freedom of assembly to LGBTQIA+ groups under the guise of protecting minors.

“This decision illustrates how arbitrary the application of the law has become” said the organisers in a joint statement. 

“Visibility is being criminalised. We are not allowed to gather if our gathering ‘looks queer’.”

Politcal orchestration

The timing adds to the sense of political orchestration. Just days before banning the 1 June march, police had approved and protected another LGBTQIA+ demonstration with similar aims, held on 17 May. Which is the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT or IDAHOBIT)

And back in February, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (Fidesz) openly warned Budapest Pride organisers not to bother planning this year’s event. The government’s message is increasingly unambiguous: public expressions of LGBTQIA+ identity are unwelcome.

17 EU member states

The ban has raised alarm far beyond Hungary’s borders. On 27 May, 17 EU member states jointly condemned the Hungarian government’s legislative and constitutional changes targeting LGBTQIA+ people. 

In their strongest declaration yet, these countries affirmed that the bans, censorship, and systemic erasure are not merely domestic matters—they represent a clear breach of the EU’s foundational values.

Despite this, the European Commission has remained conspicuously silent. 

Forbidden Colours

Forbidden Colours, an advocacy group monitoring LGBTQIA+ rights across the EU, has sharply criticised Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for her lack of action. 

“Seventeen governments and the European Parliament have now spoken”, said Rémy Bonny, the group’s Executive Director. “The silence of the Commission — and of its President — is not just disappointing. It’s shameful.”

Forbidden Colours is urging von der Leyen to publicly support the member states’ joint statement, launch infringement proceedings against Hungary, seek interim measures from the European Court of Justice to suspend the law, and apply financial conditionality against the Orbán government for breaching EU values.

Resilient

The banned march’s organisers are challenging the police decision in court, vowing not to let this setback deter them. “This case allows us to develop the legal arguments to defend Budapest Pride”, they said. 

“Budapest Pride will happen on 28 June. It will be bigger than ever.”

As LGBTQIA+ people across Hungary and Europe prepare to march, one thing is clear: Pride is not just a celebration. 

It is a political statement, a defence of dignity, and an insistence on being seen. In a country where even a peaceful walk can be deemed too queer for public space, the act of marching has become a vital expression of resistance.

The world is watching. So are the communities who refuse to be erased.

VERBATIM | Declaration of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden

Diplomatic statement, 27.05.2025

“We are deeply concerned by recent legislative and constitutional amendments infringing on the fundamental rights of LGBTIQ+ persons which were adopted by the Hungarian Parliament on 18 March and 14 April 2025 following other anti-LGBTIQ+ legislation already introduced in previous years.

Under the pretext of child protection, these legislative amendments allow fines to be imposed on participants and organisers of events, such as the annual Pride celebrations. The amendments also allow for facial recognition software to be used at such events, and for banning such events. We are concerned by the implications of these measures on freedom of expression, the right to peaceful assembly, and the right to privacy.

We are highly alarmed by these developments which run contrary to the fundamental values of human dignity, freedom, equality and respect for human rights, as laid down in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union.

Respecting and protecting the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all people, including LGBTIQ+ persons, is inherent in being part of the European family. This is our responsibility and shared commitment of the member states and the European institutions.

We therefore call upon Hungary to revise these measures, to ensure the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all its citizens are respected and protected, thus complying with its international obligations.

We share the concern expressed by the European Commission in this regard and call on the Commission to expeditiously make full use of the rule of law toolbox at its disposal in case these measures are not revised accordingly.”

LGBTQIA+ and travel