Hungary’s National Museum faced a major shake-up on Monday as the government dismissed its director, Laszlo Simon. The controversy stems from the museum’s decision to host a World Press Photo exhibition that included LGBT content, contrary to a 2021 law banning the “display and promotion of homosexuality” to under-18s. This move had ignited tensions, with the far-right Mi Hazank party pushing for a government inquiry into the matter, citing the legal ban.
The Hungarian government, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, contends that the law’s purpose is to protect children, but it has faced criticism from the European Union and various human rights groups. In response to the government inquiry, the museum argued that it couldn’t ask visitors for identification to verify their age but did place a message on its website discouraging under-18s from attending the exhibition.
The Minister for Culture and Innovation announced Simon’s dismissal, citing his failure to adhere to the institution’s legal obligations. Simon, a former lawmaker in Orban’s conservative Fidesz party, acknowledged his removal but denied any intentional violation of the law. He highlighted that the museum promptly communicated the age restrictions on its website.
Despite the controversy, Simon ironically thanked Mi Hazank for generating publicity for the exhibition, as long queues of visitors formed outside the museum over the weekend. This incident adds to a growing list of clashes between the Hungarian government’s policies and LGBTQ+ rights, with recent fines imposed on booksellers for selling books depicting homosexuality not wrapped in accordance with the controversial legislation.