Hungary has officially become the latest battleground in Europe’s ongoing struggle over LGBTQ+ rights. President Tamas Sulyok has signed a law that outright bans the country’s annual Pride march, a move pushed by Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s right-wing Fidesz party. The reason? Officials claim the event is “harmful to children.” Critics, however, see it as yet another calculated attack on LGBTQ+ visibility in Hungary.
The law isn’t just a Pride parade ban—it’s a surveillance tool. Attendees can now be tracked using facial recognition technology, with police given the power to impose fines on those who dare to march. This has sent shockwaves across Europe, with human rights organizations and EU officials sounding the alarm. “The right to gather peacefully is a fundamental right,” tweeted Hadja Lahbib, the EU commissioner for equality. Meanwhile, Michael O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, called on Sulyok to veto the bill, but his concerns were clearly ignored.
Orban’s Anti-LGBTQ+ Crusade
For Orban, cracking down on LGBTQ+ rights is practically a political strategy. Facing economic troubles and a tough 2026 election, he’s doubling down on nationalist, conservative policies that have repeatedly put him at odds with the EU. This isn’t his first anti-LGBTQ+ move—Hungary has already passed laws restricting LGBTQ+ education, censoring queer representation in media, and limiting adoption rights for same-sex couples. Now, with this latest law, he’s making it even clearer: Hungary under Fidesz has no room for Pride.
But Hungary’s LGBTQ+ community isn’t going down without a fight. Protesters took to the streets of Budapest, blocking a central bridge in defiance of the law. Liberal Mayor Gergely Karacsony has also vowed that “Budapest is the city of freedom” and hinted that Pride organizers should go ahead despite the ban. “This year’s Pride might just be bigger than ever,” he declared. And organizers are already planning exactly that, setting the stage for a historic showdown on June 28.
The EU’s Patience Is Running Out
Brussels has had enough of Orban’s provocations. Hungary is already under scrutiny for democratic backsliding, and this latest move could worsen tensions. While Orban has repeatedly shrugged off EU criticism, there’s talk of potential legal action. His government has already faced funding cuts due to human rights concerns, and this latest crackdown could push the EU to tighten the screws even further.
The question now is: Will Orban’s Hungary face consequences, or will Europe once again struggle to hold one of its most rebellious members accountable? Meanwhile, on the streets of Budapest, the message from the LGBTQ+ community is loud and clear: Pride isn’t going anywhere.