Thousands of people have protested in the Hungarian capital Budapest against a planned law banning information to young people about homosexuality and transsexuality. The protesters say the law violates the fundamental rights of children and families.
The protest took place right in front of parliament. Protesters waved rainbow flags. “With this, children will no longer dare to come out”, a leader of a childcare center told Reuters news agency, “while they should be given the chance to come out”.
Fidesz, Prime Minister Orbán’s conservative party, launched the plans last week; the vote on it is expected next day. Fidesz says the law is intended to protect children from paedosexuals. The ban would apply in the media but also in schools.
‘Cynical and tasteless’
Human rights organization Human Rights Watch calls the argument behind it an insult to the LGBTI community. According to spokesman Lydia Gall, the law is a “cynical, tasteless and deliberate attempt” to make them invisible in Hungarian society.
The law has already been compared to a controversial 2013 Russian law that bans “gay propaganda” and critics say is being misused to discriminate.
The chances of the law failing seem slim. Orbán’s party has a majority in parliament. A number of opposition parties plan not to attend the hearing at all.
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