The ongoing tension between Hungary's government and LGBTQ+ rights activists escalates as local leadership plans to push ahead with a Pride event amid official opposition.
**Budapest Pride March Set Against Police Ban: Mayor Promises Rally Will Proceed**
**Budapest Pride March Set Against Police Ban: Mayor Promises Rally Will Proceed**
Budapest's mayor is determined to hold the city's Pride march despite a police ban, emphasizing freedom of assembly.
In a bold response to police restrictions, Budapest's liberal Mayor Gergely Karacsony has vowed to organize the city's annual Pride march on June 28. This declaration comes after the Hungarian police banned the event, further intensifying the standoff between the nationalist Fidesz government, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and the LGBTQ community, which enjoys some legal backing from the courts.
Karacsony firmly asserted that the march, termed a "Day of Freedom," was a local event under the jurisdiction of city hall, free from constraints on freedom of assembly. The police's ban has been set against the backdrop of recent legal changes aimed at limiting public gatherings deemed to infringe on child protection laws regarding the promotion of homosexuality.
The mayor's statement on social media suggested a whimsical defiance against the ban, quipping that attempts to stop the Pride march might as well be akin to prohibiting a "procession of unicorns." With tens of thousands expected to attend from both Hungary and abroad, this year’s event aims to make a bold statement for freedom and equality.
The Fidesz government previously indicated in February its intent to prohibit this year's festivities. Subsequent legislative changes reinforced this stance, putting limitations on freedom of assembly that raise significant concerns among human rights groups. Tamas Menczer, communications chief for Fidesz, maintained that the protection of children justifies the imposition of these regulations, characterizing Pride not as a celebration of freedom but rather as an unsuitable festival that poses a threat to minors.
In response to the police ban, various human rights organizations, including the Rainbow Mission foundation, are planning solidarity activities on June 28, providing a platform for advocates while keeping authorities guessing about the specific nature of the events. Hungary's Supreme Court has previously ruled against police attempts to impose restrictions on Pride gatherings.
In a recent joint Facebook live session, Mayor Karacsony and spokesman Mate Hegedus outlined their vision for the day, highlighting that the procession intended to underscore messages of liberation rather than celebration of sexuality, thus sidestepping direct confrontations with the ban. The police continue to argue their case citing potential exposure for underage spectators, despite the primary focus of the event being the expression of freedom.
Amid the uncertainty surrounding the Pride march, legal experts from the Hungarian Helsinki Committee have advised participants on how to counter any fines enforced by law enforcement on that day, indicating that a significant turnout could complicate police enforcement efforts, thereby promoting the celebration of LGBTQ rights in Budapest.
