Yesterday, Budapest witnessed a spectacle that will be remembered for a long time! Tens of thousands of people took to the streets to support LGBT rights, despite brutal threats and repression from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Budapest’s Mayor, Gergely Karácsony, did not hesitate to stand with his citizens and oppose Orbán’s attempts to suppress freedom and minority rights.
Imagine this – the police banned the Pride Parade, citing a new law that supposedly protects children but in reality serves as a cover to ban gatherings promoting homosexuality. Orbán threatened legal consequences for participants, including fines up to 150,000 euros and even one-year prison sentences for organizers. To make matters worse, the police used facial recognition technology to identify and intimidate participants.
But what did the participants do? Nothing less than show courage and solidarity! Luka, a 34-year-old woman, came with her mother because she wants a country of diversity, which she says they currently do not have. Barnabás, a 22-year-old from the provinces, though not part of the LGBT community, came to express solidarity and said being invisible and ostracized is terrible.
The parade also gathered dozens of Members of the European Parliament, including Finnish MEP Li Anderson, who emphasized that this is a fight for basic human rights, not just LGBT rights. Orbán uses family values as an excuse to justify bans, but rights are rights – and that is clear to everyone who took to the streets of Budapest.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called on Orbán’s government not to block the event, but Orbán coldly refused, claiming law enforcement is an internal matter for Hungary.
This event is not just a parade – it is a symbol of the fight for freedom, equality, and a civilized society. If you think this is just another political drama, think again. This is a war for rights many take for granted. So, what do you think? Is Orbán’s repression a sign of weakness or strength? Drop a comment, let the street voices be heard!
