Hungary’s National Assembly passed a new bill on Tuesday prohibiting access to pornography and content depicting sexuality “for its own sake” for minors, as well as material promoting gender reassignment, homosexuality, or deviation from birth sex identity.
The legislation will also prohibit public meetings in Hungary that violate the prohibition set out in the Act on the Protection of Children, a move expected to result in the banning of Pride — an annual march promoting and supporting LGBT+ through the Hungarian capital — enraging organizers.
The law, proposed by the ruling Fidesz party, was approved by 136 votes in favor, 27 against, with no abstentions.
Under the new law, attendees of prohibited events could face fines of up to HUF 200,000 Hungarian (€503), penalties that cannot be replaced by community service or detention for misdemeanors. All collected fines will be allocated to child protection initiatives.
Child protection:
— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) March 18, 2025
Pride march:
Today, we voted to ban gatherings that violate child protection laws. In Hungary, a child’s right to healthy physical, mental, intellectual, and moral development comes first. We won’t let woke ideology endanger our kids.
Police will also be authorized to use facial recognition technology to identify individuals participating in banned events, including unauthorized Pride marches.
Orbán has defended the legislation as a necessary measure to protect children from what he describes as indoctrinating liberal ideologies and the perceived debauchery of Pride marches in Western Europe. His chief of staff, Gergely Gulyás, recently suggested that Pride events should be held indoors to prevent exposure to children, asserting that the law serves to uphold child protection principles.
— Based Hungary
Hungary Bans LGBT Pride Marches from Public Spaces:
"We believe that the country should no longer tolerate Pride marching in the protection of our children"
-PM Orbán Viktorpic.twitter.com/QL0T1nF0rR
Critics in the chamber accused Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government of intensifying its crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights ahead of the upcoming national elections. Opposition MPs protested the vote by igniting smoke bombs inside the chamber, filling the room with plumes of colored smoke.
Despite the legal restrictions, LGBT+ activists remain defiant. Organizers of Budapest’s annual Pride march have vowed to go ahead with the event on June 28, marking the 30th anniversary of the demonstration.
“The government is trying to restrict peaceful protests with a critical voice by targeting a minority. Therefore, as a movement, we will fight for the freedom of all Hungarians to demonstrate!” Pride spokesperson Mate Hegedus.
“People are still willing to come to Budapest Pride and show support to the community even if they have to pay fines,” they added.
