Hungary passes constitutional amendment to outlaw public LGBTQ+ gatherings | DW News

Key Concepts:

• Constitutional amendment banning LGBTQ+ gatherings in public
• "Woke ideology" and "gender madness" as justifications
• Erosion of democracy and rule of law in Hungary
• Budapest Pride and planned march
• EU's stance on LGBTQ+ rights and potential legal action
• Public opinion vs. government policy on LGBTQ+ issues
• 2021 law banning "homosexual and transsexual propaganda" and its impact
• European Commission lawsuits and potential consequences

1. Constitutional Amendment and its Justification:

• Hungary's parliament passed a constitutional amendment outlawing LGBTQ+ gatherings in public spaces.
• The amendment was proposed by Prime Minister Victor Orban and framed as protecting children from "woke ideology" and "gender madness."
• Critics view this as a step towards authoritarianism and dismantling democracy.
• The amendment codifies a law that bans public LGBTQ+ events, allowing attendees to be tracked using facial recognition and fined.
• The government claims the changes are for conserving family values and children's rights.
• Orban stated his concern as a father and citizen about the "spiritual state" of the next generation, expressing worry about events like Pride.

2. Political Context and Opposition:

• The vote passed with 140 yes votes and 21 no votes.
• Opposition members disrupted proceedings with air horns.
• Protesters attempted to blockade Parliament but were dispersed by police.
• Critics argue the real reason is to maintain power, especially with elections approaching.
• "The past 15 years step by step they have been dismantling democracy and the rule of law and in the past 2 3 months we see that this process has been sped up and since the election is coming up next year it's going to be within a year uh they will do everything in their power to stay in power that is what this constitutional amendment is about"

3. Budapest Pride and Planned Response:

• Budapest Pride organizers plan to proceed with the march in June.
• The city's mayor hopes the event will be larger than ever.
• Luta Dudit from Hatter Society hopes for international support and a large turnout (over 50,000 people) at the march on June 28th.

4. EU's Reaction and Legal Framework:

• The EU Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, expressed solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community, emphasizing the right to live and love freely and the right to assemble peacefully.
• Members of the European Parliament, especially from the left, plan to attend Budapest Pride to show solidarity.
• The EU's legal framework includes founding values like democracy, freedom, respect for human dignity, equality, and the rule of law.
• The Charter of Fundamental Rights prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and guarantees freedom of assembly.
• The European Commission is analyzing the new laws and may take legal action if necessary.
• A case is pending at the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in Luxembourg regarding previous actions targeting the LGBTQ+ community.
• The EU Commission might be ready to act there but whether this will really impress the Hungarians to change their course this this is on another this is another question

5. Public Opinion in Hungary:

• Public opinion in Hungary is increasingly accepting of LGBTQ+ people.
• Hatter Society's annual polling shows growing support for marriage equality, adoption by LGBTQ+ people, and legal gender recognition.
• The percentage of Hungarians with an LGBTQ+ acquaintance has risen from around a fifth to 60% in the past 5 years.
• Dudit suggests Orban's anti-LGBTQ+ legislation has backfired, encouraging people to come out.

6. 2021 Law Banning "Homosexual and Transsexual Propaganda":

• The 2021 law has made sex education in schools nearly impossible, leading to a lack of access for entire graduating classes.
• Hungary has high rates of teenage pregnancy.
• Access to LGBTQ+ content, such as books, is restricted; books must be individually packaged in bookstores.
• The law has a chilling effect on addressing bullying of LGBTQ+ students, as teachers and psychologists are unsure if they can intervene.
• LGBTQ+ youth are disproportionately at risk of bullying and discrimination, raising concerns about their mental health.

7. Legal Challenges and Potential Outcomes:

• The European Commission and several European countries are suing Hungary over the 2021 law.
• 15 member states and the European Parliament have joined the European Commission's infringement procedure.
• The CJEU can impose fines and penalties if Hungary fails to implement its decisions.
• A decision is expected later in the year, with hopes that the "shameful Hungarian propaganda law" will be repealed.

8. Key Quotes:

• Victor Orban: "...as a father as a Hungarian citizen as a person who is concerned about the future of this country as a man who feels responsible for the spiritual state of the next generation i have always been worried about such a thing as pride"
• Luta Dudit: "...the right of children to protection and care shall proceed and take precedence over all other fundamental rights um unlike the exception of the right to life so this means that they would be able to ban uh the pride assembly uh and uh it would restrict the fundamental rights to any kind of freedom of assembly human dignity and privacy"

9. Technical Terms and Concepts:

• Constitutional Amendment: A modification to a country's constitution.
• Woke Ideology: A term used (often pejoratively) to describe awareness of social injustices, particularly those related to race and gender.
• Gender Madness: A derogatory term used to dismiss or ridicule discussions and expressions of diverse gender identities.
• Rule of Law: The principle that all people and institutions are subject to and accountable to law that is fairly applied and enforced.
• Facial Recognition Software: Technology that identifies or verifies a person from a digital image or video frame.
• Marriage Equality: Legal recognition of marriage between same-sex couples.
• Legal Gender Recognition: The process by which a person's gender identity is legally recognized.
• Infringement Procedure: A legal process by which the European Commission can take action against a member state for failing to comply with EU law.
• CJEU (Court of Justice of the European Union): The highest court in the European Union, interpreting EU law and ensuring its uniform application.

10. Synthesis/Conclusion:

Hungary's constitutional amendment banning LGBTQ+ gatherings represents a significant escalation in the government's efforts to restrict LGBTQ+ rights, framed under the guise of protecting children from "woke ideology." This move, along with the 2021 law banning "homosexual propaganda," has drawn criticism from both domestic and international actors, including the EU. While public opinion in Hungary is becoming more accepting of LGBTQ+ individuals, the government's actions are increasingly authoritarian. The EU is considering legal action, but the effectiveness of such measures in changing Hungary's course remains uncertain. The upcoming Budapest Pride march will be a crucial event, demonstrating the level of support for LGBTQ+ rights both within Hungary and internationally.