In a move that critics are calling another step toward authoritarianism, Hungary’s parliament has passed a constitutional amendment that allows the banning of public events by LGBTQ+ communities.
The amendment, proposed by the ruling Fidesz-KDNP coalition, passed with 140 votes for and 21 against. This controversial decision has sparked protests and widespread international condemnation.
The amendment is an expansion of Hungary’s contentious “child protection” legislation, which prohibits the “depiction or promotion” of homosexuality to minors aged under 18.
It also codifies a law fast-tracked through parliament in March that bans public events held by LGBTQ+ communities, including the popular Pride event in Budapest.
The law allows authorities to use facial recognition tools to identify people attending prohibited events and imposes fines of up to 200,000 Hungarian forints ($546) for violations.
Opposition politicians attempted to blockade the entrance to a parliament parking garage ahead of the vote, protesting against the amendment. Police physically removed demonstrators, who had used zip ties to bind themselves together.
Despite their attempts to disrupt the vote with air horns, it proceeded after a brief pause.
Dávid Bedő, a lawmaker with the opposition Momentum party, harshly criticized Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his ruling Fidesz party. He accused them of “dismantling democracy and the rule of law” over the past 15 years and warned that they would do “everything in their power to stay in power” as the 2026 elections approach.
Critics argue that these measures do more harm than good, serving little purpose in protecting children and merely acting as a distraction from more serious issues facing the country. Dánel Döbrentey, a lawyer with the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, dismissed it as “pure propaganda.”
Adding further controversy, the amendment also states that the constitution recognizes only two sexes, male and female. This provision provides a constitutional basis for denying the gender identities of transgender people and ignoring intersex individuals.
Government spokesperson Zoltán Kovács defended the change as a “clarification that legal norms are based on biological reality,” not an attack on individual self-expression.
However, Döbrentey countered this claim, calling it a clear message aimed at “humiliating and excluding” transgender and intersex people.
This amendment follows a series of actions by the Orbán government seen as hostile to LGBTQ+ communities, media outlets, civil rights groups, and anti-corruption organizations. Orbán’s administration has been accused of using these measures to mobilize his right-wing base ahead of elections and deflect attention from other problems.
This controversial amendment signifies a troubling trend in Hungary’s political landscape, indicating an ongoing shift towards authoritarianism under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s ruling Fidesz-KDNP coalition.
The legislation is the 15th amendment to the constitution since Orbán’s party unilaterally authored and approved it in 2011. Critics argue that the pace of these amendments is speeding up, eroding democratic norms and the rule of law.
The implications for LGBTQ+ communities are stark. The legislation not only curtails their right to assemble publicly, but also threatens to erase transgender and intersex identities from legal recognition. This is a significant blow to LGBTQ+ rights and sets a worrying precedent for other nations with populist governments.
Hungary’s “child protection” policies, under which this amendment falls, have been criticized as a smokescreen for promoting conservative ideologies and mobilizing Orbán’s right-wing base ahead of upcoming elections. The government’s narrative, which frames these policies as necessary to protect children from “woke ideology” and “gender madness,” has been widely contested.
The use of facial recognition technology to enforce this legislation raises further concerns about privacy rights and freedom of assembly. As Ádám Remport, a lawyer with the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU), points out, mass surveillance can have a chilling effect on political protest and ideological expression.
Lastly, the amendment’s provision for suspending the citizenship of dual nationals deemed to pose a threat to public order or security casts a shadow over Hungary’s commitment to civil liberties. This measure appears as part of Orbán’s strategy to protect national sovereignty from perceived foreign influences, further consolidating his power.
In the face of these developments, international scrutiny on Hungary is likely to intensify. The country is already under pressure from the European Union over rule-of-law issues, and this latest legislation could exacerbate those tensions.
The passage of Hungary’s constitutional amendment has implications that reach far beyond its borders. It signals a worrying trend in which populist governments might feel emboldened to limit rights under the guise of protecting moral values or national sovereignty. The international community, including human rights organizations and the European Union, are likely to keep a close eye on the situation.
In an age where civil liberties are increasingly championed, Hungary’s latest amendment is a stark reminder that progress can sometimes be two steps forward, one step back. This situation underscores the importance of vigilance, advocacy, and international solidarity in protecting and advancing human rights around the globe.
