Hungary Under US, EU Pressure Over LGTBQ+ Policies

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Hungary’s self-declared “illiberal” Christian conservative government has come under pressure from the U.S. and its allies to end policies that they claim discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community.

The embassies of the United States, Germany, and 33 other countries urged Hungary “to protect LGBTQ+ rights” and scrap laws that “discriminate” against community members.

Their declaration came over the weekend when thousands carried Pride ‘rainbow’ flags and danced through the streets of Budapest to raise their voice for gay rights.

Critics said the LGBTQ+ rainbow six-color flags are a far cry from the Biblical rainbow, which has seven colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.

“God’s rainbow doesn’t have to change colors because of a lack of “fabric” or not fitting on a lamp post,” said Reasons for Hope, a Christian group “defending the Biblical worldview.”

Gay marriage is not recognized in Hungary, and only heterosexual couples can legally adopt children. Orbán’s government also redefined marriage “as the union between one man and one woman “in the Constitution and limits gay adoption.

BOOKSELLERS FINED

Last year, some booksellers were fined for selling books depicting homosexuality, which were not wrapped in plastic as required by controversial “child protection” legislation introduced in 2021.

And in November last year, a museum director was sacked after the institution allowed under-18s to visit a World Press Photo exhibition featuring LGBTQ+ content.

Orbán’s government has defended its policies, saying it wants to protect minors against LGBTQ+ “propaganda.”

However, with Hungary taking over the rotating European Union presidency from Belgium on July 1, the country is under pressure to change its traditional Christian family views.

U.S. Ambassador David Pressman, who is gay and raising two children with his partner, accused Hungary Sunday of using a “machinery of fear” to launch legal and rhetorical attacks on the LGBTQ community.

“Fear is something those who seek to undermine democracy trade on, and their currency is too often you and your families,” Pressman said at “a family Pride event” at the ambassador’s residence.

HUMAN RIGHTS

He wanted to give his speech at a human rights meeting in the Hungarian Parliament building but said he was blocked by a senior member of Orbán’s ruling party.

“The Speaker denied the parliamentarians’ request to host an event on human rights in parliament – a space meant to represent all Hungarians,” added Pressman, who had earlier carried an American flag to the Pride march.

Pressman recalled how he was filmed by Hungarian state media when a friend and fellow ambassador introduced him to his 5-year-old child during a previous Pride rally.

“The news that evening reported on ‘spotting’ my interaction with this child and sinisterly described that I was seen ‘interacting with children.’ They didn’t need to finish the sentence – they let fear do the rest,” he said.

Hungary’s government has vehemently denied wrongdoing, saying its actions aren’t against the LGBTQ+ community but about protecting families and what it views as Christian values.

Yet the EU’s executive European Commission has referred Hungary to the EU’s top court, saying perceived anti-LGTBQ+ legislation violates fundamental rights and the 27-nation bloc’s values.

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