Officials from all over Europe plan to march in Budapest Pride on June 28 to remind the country’s conservative lawmakers that Pride is a protest.
According to LGBTQ Nation, the EU officials are protesting a new law passed in Hungary this spring banning Pride events. The new draconian legislation officially makes holding a public Pride event a criminal offense according to Outright International.
The bill was pushed through hastily thanks to an initiative from nationalist-populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán that imposes crackdowns on civil rights throughout the country leading up to the 2026 general elections. It passed with a wide margin, with 136 votes in favor and only 27 against. The bill is aligned with Orbán’s rhetoric surrounding LGBTQ+ rights, i.e. that they are a threat to society, namely minors.
The new legislation also allows authorities to use facial recognition technology to identify citizens who attend these events in spite of the ban.
Budapest Pride organizers have promised the event is still on and called upon “international allies, activists, and friends” to march on the Hungarian capital. Members of six groups in the European Parliament are planning to attend according to Kim van Sparrentak, a co-president of the EU’s Intergroup.
The call saw answers from figures like van Sparrentak, a Dutch member of European Parliament with the “Greens/European Free Alliance.” Sparrentak said she would attend to show support for the LGBTIA+ community in Hungary. “Pride is a protest, and if Orbán can ban Budapest Pride without consequences, every pride is one election away from being banned,” she said.
LGBTQ Nation reports Marc Angel, a member of Luxembourg’s parliament and vice president of European Parliament, will also attend in solidarity. What’s more, early last week, a group of 20 EU member countries signed a letter imploring Hungary’s leaders to revise the recent “anti-LGBTIQ+ legislation.” The letter also called on the European Commission to “expeditiously make full use of the rule of law toolbox at its disposal” if Hungary is unresponsive.
Countries that signed the letter include Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.
