Hungarian Lawmakers Lit Rainbow Smoke Bombs To Protest The Far-Right Government Banning LGBTQ Pride
Opposition lawmakers also threw leaflets with a photo of Hungarian president Viktor Orbán and Russian President Vladimir Putin kissing.
Hungarian opposition lawmakers lit rainbow smoke bombs to protest the parliament passing a law to ban the annual LGBTQ Pride parade in the country.
The official ban comes after the Hungarian government under far-right prime minister Viktor Orbán told Budapest Pride organizers in February that the parade “will not take place in a public form” this year as part of a move to “protect” children, according to Politico.
On Tuesday, March 18, the parliament passed a law that removes the people’s right to assemble if they violate a 2021 law that bans LGBTQ content for children.
Passed with 136 votes in favor and 27 against, the law essentially bans Pride, and authorities will fine anyone who attends with 200,000 Hungarian forints (about US$550).
The government is also planning to use facial recognition to identify people who attend the event, according to AP.
After the law was approved, opposition lawmakers set off colorful smoke bombs to form a rainbow inside the chamber in protest.
They also threw leaflets with a photo of Orbán and Russian President Vladimir Putin kissing.
Meanwhile, thousands of people gathered outside the parliament to protest the government’s move, eventually blocking a bridge in central Budapest.
Pride organisers said they will continue to plan for this year’s parade, which has been held annually in the capital Budapest.
“It’s nothing more than political theater — the ruling party is using the LGBTQ community for its own gain. But we refuse to be anyone’s scapegoat,” Budapest Pride organisers said in a statement.
Since taking power, Orban's government has cracked down on LGBTQ rights, passing a law making it impossible for people in Hungary to change their gender in 2020.
It also amended the constitution to stop same-sex couples from adopting children.
In 2021, it passed a law banning LGBTQ content for children.
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Isha Jain
Wendy Chuang
