Hungary’s Justice Minister, Judit Varga, has submitted a counter-claim to the Court of Justice of the European Union, stating that Budapest would defend an education law that Brussels claims discriminates against people on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The law, passed by the country’s parliament in June 2021, banned the use of materials seen as promoting homosexuality and gender change at schools.
Varga said in a Facebook post that the government would stick to its stance that education is a matter for national governments to decide, and that the legislation was necessary to protect children. The government has denied that the law targets the LGBT community.
The European Commission referred Hungary to the Court of Justice of the EU over the anti-LGBT law in mid-2022. The commission has suspended the disbursement of billions of euros of much-needed EU funds to Hungary until Budapest implements reforms to improve judicial independence and tackle corruption.
The standoff between Hungary and the EU comes at a time when the EU is trying to uphold its internal market rules and fundamental values. The commission has said that the law violates these rules and the fundamental rights of individuals.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has been leading an anti-LGBT campaign in Hungary, has defended the law by claiming that it aims to protect children. In a speech last month, he said, “Gender propaganda is not just…rainbow chatter, but the greatest threat stalking our children. We want our children to be left alone…This kind of thing has no place in Hungary, and especially not in our schools.”
The Court of Justice of the EU will now decide whether Hungary’s education law is in line with EU laws and values. The EU’s decision to take legal action against Hungary sends a strong message that discrimination against the LGBT community will not be tolerated.
