Hungary’s LGBTQ+ community is refusing to back down in the face of yet another blow to its rights. In a move that critics say directly targets the country’s Pride parade, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government has passed a sweeping new law restricting public assembly — just in time to cast a shadow over the 30th anniversary of Budapest Pride.
The law, approved by a two-thirds majority in Hungary’s parliament, effectively criminalizes any gathering that could be interpreted as promoting LGBTQ+ rights to minors — including Pride events. Slated to take effect in April, the law also grants authorities the use of facial recognition technology to track and penalize participants. Fines for breaking the law range from the symbolic to the severe — up to £415 — but for many, it’s about far more than money.
“This isn’t just about Pride, or the right to assembly,” said Laurka Lanczki, a content creator. “This means that they can do whatever they want.” Alongside her fiancée, Lili Janca, the couple of nearly a decade is now considering leaving Hungary. The constant pressure, the lack of a future for LGBTQ+ families — it’s all added up. “We have talked about moving abroad before,” Janca said. “And this was the tipping point.”
Protest and pushback, but fear lingers
Despite fears of legal repercussions, the LGBTQ+ community is rallying. “We won’t be deterred or scared,” said Jojo Majercsik, spokesperson for Budapest Pride. Whether or not a full parade happens on June 28, the community promises to be visible. That promise comes with risks, however. Legal experts warn that participants could be fined and prosecuted under the new law — even as they appeal.
In a country where a writer’s novel can be yanked from a festival for “promoting homosexuality,” activists see this as just another turn in Hungary’s steady march toward authoritarianism. “This new law has shown how vulnerable our rights are,” said writer Krisztián Marton, whose book Crybaby was recently removed. “I could be banned from writing,” he added. “But the real victims are LGBTQ+ youth who won’t see themselves in stories.”
Budapest Pride has historically drawn tens of thousands, but recent years have seen a shift. Where once there was cautious optimism, there is now defiance — and a deep sense of fatigue. “The public mood has been so depressing and hopeless for so long that we resigned ourselves to being passive victims,” Marton said. But the new law? “This step has awakened a civic drive in me.”
A growing exodus — and an aging sense of déjà vu
For many in Hungary’s LGBTQ+ community, the writing is on the wall. Some are making plans to leave the country, echoing the refugee waves from past decades when identity alone could get you locked up — or worse. “I’ve never been to Budapest Pride,” said Judit, 75, a former underground protester during the Soviet era. “But I think it’s normal that people want to show their identity.” She’s seen oppression before, but today’s Hungary? “I think it’s never been this bad.”
The law, pushed through by Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party, is part of a wider strategy as Hungary gears up for its 2026 election. With a new rival, Péter Magyar, gaining traction, LGBTQ+ rights have once again been turned into political cannon fodder.
Pride, power, and protest
This isn’t just a Hungarian story — it’s a European one. Hungary’s crackdown signals a broader trend of anti-LGBTQ sentiment weaponized for political gain. In the middle of it all, people like Corvus — a 20-year-old transgender activist who can’t legally change their name or gender — are marching anyway. “The government wants to silence our voice and deny our existence,” they said. “They will not succeed.”
Budapest Pride, with all its glitter, flags, and fierce resolve, has become more than a party — it’s a protest. And the world is watching.