Pride marchers lash law

Hungarian PM, ruling party draw criticism from European Commission

BUDAPEST: Thousands of Hungarians marched in Budapest’s biggest Pride parade on Saturday, amid tension sparked by a series of anti-gay steps by Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

After an “anti-pedophilia” law was adopted last month, Mr Orban’s critics at home and in Brussels have accused him of conflating pedophilia with homosexuality.

“Many people are dismayed at the new law and the anti-gay propaganda,” said Johanna Majercsik, a spokeswoman for the Budapest Pride organiser.

“They want to show their support for the LGBTQ community.”

More than 10,000 people reportedly took part in the parade, which moved along a main boulevard before crossing the Danube River to finish in a park.

Although Mr Orban portrays the bill as protecting children, LGBTQ leaders say it stigmatises gay people and aims to shore up the premier’s radical right-wing support before an election next year.

“I’ve never been at a Pride before, although I always rooted for LGBTQ people and understood their problems,” said Zsofi Varadi, a 46-year-old mother of two, before putting on a rainbow-coloured T-shirt.

“But this year I really got angry as there is so much propaganda against them.”

Rainbow-coloured flags hung from several balconies along the route, while placards carried by marchers mocked Mr Orban and his party Fidesz, whose politicians introduced the bill to parliament.

The PM said on Wednesday a national vote would be held to gauge support for the law after the European Commission launched legal action over the measure.

A group of about 200 counter-demonstrators along the route held banners reading: “Stop LGBTQ pedophilia”, and shouted homophobic insults over lines of police who separated them from the marchers.

“The anti-pedophilia law has given patriots like us a weapon to protect our children from deviants like them,” a speaker said through a megaphone.

Since the law was approved by the Fidesz-dominated parliament on June 15, several homophobic attacks have been reported, while LGBTQ activists warn of growing fear in their community.

“It’s kind of scary to be honest, to be myself as a gender fluid person, you can be beaten up or stuff like that,” said Artur, a 16-year-old marcher.

Several dozen ambassadors based in the Hungarian capital also attended the march, after over 40 embassies and foreign cultural institutes issued a joint statement of support for LGBTQ rights this week.