Pride in LGBTQI+, Pride in Diversity, Pride in Democracy

STATEMENT

The Hungarian government of Victor Orban has passed laws and constitutional amendments that attempt to ban public events by LGBTQI+ people, including Budapest Pride, scheduled for the 28th June this year. The constitutional amendment authorises the use of surveillance technology to recognise the faces of people taking part in such activities. It also inserts in the constitution of Hungary that there are only two genders, and allows the possibility of suspending Hungarian citizenship from dual citizens from outside of the European Economic Area. The recent draft law on ‘transparency and the public sphere’ is a blatant attempt to silence opposition and all critique of a highly nationalistic and patriarchal vision of Hungary.

These laws are a deliberate affront to EU values as enshrined in Article 2 of the treaties, and represent a dangerous escalation in the suppression of dissent and scapegoating of minorities. Ongoing protests in Hungary against these changes are being actively repressed.

The Orban government is deliberately scapegoating parts of the population in sensationalist ways to distract from its own failures to improve the economic wellbeing of people in the country and to address massive corruption.

We cannot accept that in parts of Europe LGBTQI+ people are not able to be who they are and love who they want; we cannot accept that protest and public assembly are outlawed and suppressed; we cannot accept that advanced technologies are used to target parts of the population; and we cannot accept that migrants are treated with suspicion.

Following a recent delegation from the LIBE committee of the European Parliament to Budapest, members of the European Parliament from 4 parliamentary groups, the EPP, Greens, Socialists and Democrats and Renew, are calling on the European Commission to intervene in the ongoing ‘Article 7’ proceedings against Hungary at the European Court of Justice to suspend the legal changes in the country. 

We support this urgent demand, and call as civil society and citizens for the Commission to take this step to safeguard democracy for all of us.

The Budapest Pride will be celebrating its 30th anniversary this year on 28th June. It is one of the oldest Pride marches in Europe, and one of the most important celebrations of human rights in the region. This year its slogan is ‘We are Home’. 

We call on all Europeans to join the march in person or in spirit to support a free, equal and safe democratic home. A home free from violence and intimidation, in which everyone can be who they are. We call on all European authorities to ensure free and peaceful assembly, free expression and the possibility of civic protest as essential components of democracy.

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