*****”Protesters in Hungary defy new law targeting LGBTQ+ Pride events”*****
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — In Hungary’s capital, thousands of demonstrators gathered for the fourth consecutive week on Tuesday to protest a recent law passed by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s nationalist government that bans LGBTQ+ Pride events. The legislation, rushed through parliament in March, prohibits events promoting homosexuality to individuals under 18 years old, sparking comparisons to anti-LGBTQ+ policies in Russia. As Orbán’s administration faces accusations of democratic regression ahead of next year’s national elections, weekly protests in Budapest have continued. Protesters on Tuesday crowded the Erzsébet Bridge over the Danube, demanding the repeal of the law. Some demonstrators planned to stay on the bridge overnight, with intentions to close all five central Danube bridges. There were no reports of violence. Legal experts and human rights organizations have criticized the law as Orbán’s latest crackdown on Hungary’s LGBTQ+ community and an unjust limitation on the right to assemble. Viktoría Vajda, a protester, declared that the time for negotiations with Orbán’s government is over. She emphasized the importance of standing up for minority rights and fundamental freedoms. The protests have defied police orders to disband from bridges and main roads in Budapest, and a separate demonstration against the law took place in the city of Miskolc. Critics argue that Orbán, accused of undermining democracy and enabling widespread corruption, has targeted the LGBTQ+ community through measures like banning same-sex adoption and restricting LGBTQ+ content accessible to minors. The new law includes provisions for using facial recognition technology to identify attendees at prohibited events, with fines of up to $545 for violators. Orbán’s party is aiming to enshrine the ban on public LGBTQ+ events in the constitution and plans to introduce further legislation prohibiting demonstrations from obstructing traffic. Critics view the law as a political tactic to rally conservative supporters as Orbán’s popularity wanes. János Stummer, a member of the opposition party, condemned the law for allowing Orbán unilateral power to dictate which events can take place in Hungary. Orbán’s government claims the law is aimed at safeguarding children from “sexual propaganda,” but opponents see it as a discriminatory move against sexual minorities.
