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Globe and Mail
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
Huge crowds pack Budapest as banned Pride swells into anti-Orban rally
Tens of thousands of protesters marched through Hungary's capital on Saturday as a banned LGBTQ+ rights rally swelled into a mass anti-government demonstration, in one of the biggest shows of opposition to Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Crowds filled a square near Budapest's city hall in sweltering heat before setting off across one of the main bridges over the Danube, waving rainbow flags, some draped in capes and some carrying signs mocking Orban. 'This is about much more, not just about homosexuality ... This is the last moment to stand up for our rights,' Eszter Rein Bodi, one of the marchers, said. 'None of us are free until everyone is free,' one sign read. Budapest's Pride season brings defiance to Orban and dread for the future in Hungary Orban's government has gradually curtailed the rights of the LGBTQ+ community in the past decade, and lawmakers passed a law in March that allows for the ban of Pride marches, citing the need to protect children. Orban's opponents see the move as part of a wider crackdown on democratic freedoms ahead of a national election next year when the veteran prime minister – whose party has dominated Hungary's political scene for 15 years – will face a strong opposition challenger. Small groups of far-right counter-protesters attempted to disrupt the peaceful march, but police separated them and diverted the route of the march to avoid any clashes. Orban and his government, who promote a Christian-conservative agenda and have championed family values, have defended the restrictions saying that the need to protect children supersedes all other rights. Orban posted a photo with his grandchildren on the morning of the march, with the caption: 'This is what I am proud of.' Several of his supporters followed suit. Marchers included students, families and people from the countryside who said they had never attended a rally before. The Erzsebet bridge, built to carry six lanes of traffic, was engulfed with people. Local media sites including and Magyar Hang estimated the crowd at 100,000, though Reuters could not confirm that figure. 'The message is clear, they have no power over us,' Budapest mayor Gergely Karacsony told the rally. He thanked police for securing the march. March organisers said participants had arrived from 30 different countries, including 70 members of the European Parliament. More than 30 embassies have expressed support for the march and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called on Hungarian authorities to let the parade go ahead. The Budapest mayor had tried to circumvent the law by organising Pride as a municipal event, which he said does not need a permit. Police however banned the event, arguing that it fell under the scope of the child protection law. Orban provided some clues on Friday about what participants can expect when he warned of 'legal consequences' for organising and attending the march. Earlier this week Justice Minister Bence Tuzson warned in a letter sent to some foreign embassies in Budapest that organising a prohibited event is punishable by one year in jail, while attending counts as a misdemeanour. The law that allows for the ban of Pride lets police impose fines and use facial recognition cameras to identify people who attend. Mr. Orban's attacks on Pride initially increased his support, political analyst Gabor Torok wrote on Facebook on Saturday. But opinion shifted after the police ban and the legal debates surrounding the march, he said. The Prime Minister's dominance and ability to set the political agenda had faced increasing challenges from centre-right opposition leader Peter Magyar's Tisza party, which had a 15-point lead over Orban's Fidesz in a poll this month. Tisza, which has been avoiding taking a strong position on gay rights issues, did not specify in response to Reuters questions whether it believed the Pride march was lawful, but said those attending deserved the state's protection.
RNZ News
a day ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Big crowds gather in Hungarian capital to defy ban on Budapest Pride
By Olivia Kemp , CNN People gather for the 30th Budapest Pride March in Budapest, Hungary, on July 28. Photo: AFP/BALINT SZENTGALLAY Beneath a blaze of rainbow flags and amid roars of defiance, big crowds gather in the Hungarian capital Budapest for the city's 30th annual Pride march - an event that, this year, is unfolding as both a celebration and a protest. Moving through the capital in the sweltering heat, demonstrators carried signs reading "Solidarity with Budapest Pride" and waved placards bearing crossed-out illustrations of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Music played from portable speakers as people of all ages joined the march - families with pushchairs, teenagers draped in capes and older residents walking alongside activists. From the city's historic centre to its riverside roads, the procession swelled in numbers and noise - visibly reclaiming public space in defiance of a law designed to push them out. The march proceeded in open defiance of a police ban imposed earlier this year under sweeping new legislation that prohibits LGBTQ+ events nation-wide. Eszter Rein Bodi was one of those who joined the massive crowds in Budapest on Saturday (US Time), telling Reuters: "This is about much more, not just about homosexuality… This is the last moment to stand up for our rights." Krisztina Aranyi, another marcher, told the news agency "the right to assembly is a basic human right, and I don't think it should be banned." She added, "Just because someone does not like the reason why you go to the street, or they do not agree with it, you still have the right to do so." People gather for the Budapest Pride march in Hungary's capital on Saturday. Photo: Bernadett Szabo/Reuters via CNN Newsource Huge crowds turned out in the city for the parade, with many holding home-made banners aloft. One sign read "Transgender people are a blessing on this earth" while another banner read "Proud. United. Equal in every corner of the EU." At least 70 members of the European Parliament were expected to join the procession, officials told CNN in May. Van Sparrentak, who is a Dutch MEP from the parliament's "Greens/European Free Alliance" political group, told CNN that she would be attending Budapest Pride to "support the LGBTIQ+ community in Hungary, to let them know that they are not alone (and) to be visible as a community." "Pride is a protest, and if Orbán can ban Budapest Pride without consequences, every pride is one election away from being banned," she continued. Temporary cameras were installed along the path of the Budapest Pride march, months after legislation was passed allowing the use of facial recognition technology to identify participants. Photo: Balint Szentgallay/NurPhoto/Getty Images via CNN Newsource In March, Hungarian lawmakers passed legislation barring Pride events and permitting the use of facial recognition technology to identify participants - measures campaigners said was illegal and part of a wider crackdown on the LGBTQ+ community. Orban welcomed the ban, which he said would outlaw gatherings that "violate child protection laws". His government has pushed a strongly Christian and conservative agenda. The ban sparked lively protests in Budapest in March, with organisers of the city's Pride vowing to continue with the annual festival despite the new law and declaring: "We will fight this new fascist ban." A petition demanding police reject the ban has gathered over 120,000 signatures from supporters in 73 countries, urging authorities to "reject this unjust law" - believed to be the first of its kind in the EU's recent history - and ensure that the march proceeded "unhindered and peacefully, free from discrimination, harassment, fear or violence." - CNN
ABC News
a day ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Budapest LGBTQIA+ march swells into massive anti-government demonstration
Tens of thousands of protesters have marched through Hungary's capital as a banned LGBTQIA+ rights rally has swelled into a mass anti-government demonstration. In a major show of opposition to Prime Minister Viktor Orban, crowds set off across one of the main bridges, waving rainbow flags and with some people carrying signs mocking Mr Orban. Eszter Rein Bodi, one of the marchers, said: "This is about much more. Not just about homosexuality … This is the last moment to stand up for our rights." One sign read: "None of us are free until everyone is free." Mr Orban's government has gradually curtailed the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community in the past decade, with a law passed in March that allows for the ban of Pride marches, citing the need to protect children. Mr Orban's opponents see the move as part of a wider crackdown on democratic freedoms ahead of a national election next year when the veteran prime minister — whose party has dominated Hungary's political scene for 15 years — will face a strong opposition challenger. Small groups of far-right counter-protesters attempted to disrupt the peaceful march, but police separated them and diverted the route of the march to avoid any clashes. Mr Orban and his government, who promote a Christian-conservative agenda and have championed family values, have defended the restrictions, saying the need to protect children supersedes all other rights. The prime minister posted a photo with his grandchildren on the morning of the march, with the caption: "This is what I am proud of." Marchers included students, families and people from the countryside who said they had never attended a rally before. The Erzsébet Bridge, built to carry six lanes of traffic, was engulfed with people. Local media sites including and Magyar Hang estimated the crowd at 100,000, though Reuters could not confirm that figure. Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacsony told the rally that the message was "clear"; that the government had "no power over us". March organisers said participants had arrived from 30 different countries, including 70 members of the European Parliament. More than 30 embassies expressed support for the march and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called on Hungarian authorities to let the parade go ahead. Budapest's mayor had tried to circumvent the law banning the march by organising Pride as a municipal event, which he said did not need a permit. Police however banned the event, arguing that it fell under the scope of the child protection law. Mr Orban provided some clues on Friday about what participants could expect when he warned of "legal consequences" for organising and attending the march. Earlier this week, Justice Minister Bence Tuzson warned in a letter sent to some foreign embassies in Budapest that organising a prohibited event was punishable by one year in jail, while attending counted as a misdemeanour. The law that allows for the ban of Pride lets police impose fines and use facial recognition cameras to identify people who attend. Mr Orban's attacks on Pride initially increased his support, political analyst Gabor Torok wrote on social media, but he said opinion shifted after the police ban and the legal debates surrounding the march. Mr Orban's dominance and ability to set the political agenda has faced increasing challenges from centre-right Opposition Leader Peter Magyar's Tisza Party, which had a 15-point lead over Mr Orban's Fidesz in a poll this month. Tisza, which has been avoiding taking a strong position on gay rights issues, did not specify, in response to Reuters questions, whether it believed the Pride march was lawful, but said those attending deserved the state's protection. Reuters
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Big crowds gather in Hungarian capital to defy ban on Budapest Pride
Beneath a blaze of rainbow flags and amid roars of defiance, big crowds gathered in the Hungarian capital Budapest for the city's 30th annual Pride march – an event that, this year, is unfolding as both a celebration and a protest. Moving through the capital in the sweltering heat, demonstrators carried signs reading 'Solidarity with Budapest Pride' and waved placards bearing crossed-out illustrations of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Music played from portable speakers as people of all ages joined the march – families with pushchairs, teenagers draped in capes, and older residents walking alongside activists. From the city's historic centre to its riverside roads, the procession swelled in numbers and noise – visibly reclaiming public space in defiance of a law designed to push them out. The march proceeded in open defiance of a police ban imposed earlier this year under sweeping new legislation that prohibits LGBTQ+ events nationwide. Eszter Rein Bodi was one of those who joined the massive crowds in Budapest on Saturday, telling Reuters: 'This is about much more, not just about homosexuality … This is the last moment to stand up for our rights.' Krisztina Aranyi, another marcher, told the news agency that 'the right to assembly is a basic human right, and I don't think it should be banned.' She added, 'Just because someone does not like the reason why you go to the street, or they do not agree with it, you still have the right to do so.' Huge crowds turned out in the city for the parade, with many holding homemade banners aloft. One sign read 'Transgender people are a blessing on this earth' while another banner read 'Proud. United. Equal in every corner of the EU.' At least 70 members of the European Parliament were expected to join the procession, officials told CNN in May. Van Sparrentak, who is a Dutch MEP from the parliament's 'Greens/European Free Alliance' political group, told CNN that she will be attending Budapest Pride to 'support the LGBTIQ+ community in Hungary, to let them know that they are not alone (and) to be visible as a community.' 'Pride is a protest, and if Orbán can ban Budapest Pride without consequences, every pride is one election away from being banned,' she continued. In March, Hungarian lawmakers passed legislation barring Pride events and permitting the use of facial recognition technology to identify participants – measures campaigners say is illegal and part of a wider crackdown on the LGBTQ+ community. Orban welcomed the ban, which he said would outlaw gatherings that 'violate child protection laws.' His government has pushed a strongly Christian and conservative agenda. The ban sparked lively protests in Budapest in March, with organizers of the city's Pride vowing to continue with the annual festival despite the new law and declaring: 'We will fight this new fascist ban.' A petition demanding police reject the ban has gathered over 120,000 signatures from supporters in 73 countries, urging authorities to 'reject this unjust law' – believed to be the first of its kind in the EU's recent history – and ensure that the march proceeded 'unhindered and peacefully, free from discrimination, harassment, fear or violence.' CNN's Catherine Nicholls and Billy Stockwell contributed to this report.
CBS News
a day ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Hungary's LGTBQ community defies government ban to march in Budapest Pride
With rainbow flags flying high, tens of thousands of LGBTQ Hungarians and their supporters took to the streets of Budapest for a Pride parade, defying a government ban and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's legal threats against activists. Organizers for the 30th edition of the Pride march in the Hungarian capital said they expect a record turnout of more than 35,000 people. A person attends the Budapest Pride March in Budapest, Hungary, June 28, 2025. Lisa Leutner / REUTERS "This is about much more, not just about homosexuality, .... This is the last moment to stand up for our rights," Eszter Rein Bodi, one of the marchers, told Reuters. "None of us are free until everyone is free," one sign read. Orbán's populist party in March fast-tracked a law through parliament that made it an offense to hold or attend events that "depict or promote" homosexuality to minors aged under 18. Orbán earlier made clear that Budapest Pride was the explicit target of the law. People carry a Rainbow flag as they take part in the Budapest Pride parade in downtown Budapest on June 28, 2025. ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP via Getty Images Hungary's recent law allows authorities to use facial recognition tools to identify individuals who attend a prohibited event. Being caught could result in fines of up to 200,000 Hungarian forints ($586). Organizers face up to one year in prison. But on Friday, Pride organizers, along with Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony, European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib and Vice President of the European Parliament Nicolae Stefanuta, said the march will take place Saturday despite official threats of heavy fines for participants and even jail time for the liberal mayor. "The government is always fighting against an enemy against which they have to protect Hungarian people ... This time, it is sexual minorities that are the target," Karácsony told a news conference. "We believe there should be no first and second class citizens, so we decided to stand by this event." Participants on Saturday remained defiant. "I am proud to be gay... and I am very scared that the government wants to bring us down. I am very surprised that there are so many people, I want to cry," a 66-year-old participant, who gave only his first name, Zoltan, told AFP. People pose for a photographer as they take part in the Budapest Pride parade in downtown Budapest on June 28, 2025. PETER KOHALMI/AFP via Getty Images One woman told CBS News partner BBC she was attending because she wants a country of "diversity" for her children. "We have a law that bans people who are different from others to gather. This is why we are here. Because it's hurting our rights. That's why we came," Luca, 34, said. She told the BBC she is worried about her 4-year-old daughter's future living "in a country where she can't love anyone she wants to." Critics of the Pride ban and other Hungarian legislation targeting LGBTQ+ communities say the policies are reminiscent of similar restrictions against sexual minorities in Russia. Orbán, seen as Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest ally in the European Union, has in recent years prohibited same-sex adoption and banned any LGBTQ+ content, including in television, films, advertisements and literature that is available to minors. His government argues that exposure to such content negatively affects children's development. But opponents say the moves are part of a broader effort to scapegoat sexual minorities and consolidate his conservative base. People attend The Budapest Pride March in Budapest, Hungary, June 28, 2025. Lisa Leutner / REUTERS Speaking to state radio on Friday, Orbán downplayed the possibility of violent clashes between police and participants, but warned that attending Pride "will have legal consequences." "Of course, the police could break up such events, because they have the authority to do so, but Hungary is a civilized country, a civic society. We don't hurt each other," he said. More than 70 members of the European Parliament, as well as other officials from countries around Europe, are expected to participate in Saturday's march. Lahbib, the European Commissioner, said Friday that "all eyes are on Budapest" as Pride marchers defy the government's ban. "The EU is not neutral on hate," she said. "We cannot stay passive. We cannot tolerate what is intolerable." Counter demonstrations On Thursday, radical right-wing party Our Homeland Movement announced it had requested police approval to hold assemblies at numerous locations across the city, many of them on the same route as the Pride march. A neo-Nazi group said it too would gather Saturday at Budapest City Hall, from which the Pride march is set to depart. The group declared that only "white, Christian, heterosexual men and women" were welcome to attend its demonstration. A spokesman of a far-right Hungarian organization speaks to journalists at their protest in the same place as the 30th Budapest Pride March in Budapest, Hungary, on July 28. Balint Szentgallay/NurPhoto via Getty Images A woman, who only gave her first name as Katalin, told AFP on Saturday she agreed with the ban though she hoped there would be no clashes. "Disgusting... it's become a fad to show off ourselves," she said.
