Hungary Enacts Law Banning Pride Parades Amid Protests

Hungary's parliament has passed a controversial law banning Pride marches, which supporters claim is to protect children from harmful ideologies, while critics argue it infringes on fundamental rights. The law, backed by Prime Minister Viktor Orban's ruling Fidesz party, allows authorities to use facial recognition technology to identify attendees and imposes fines for participating in such events. Protests erupted in Budapest following the vote, with demonstrators expressing concerns over increasing repression of LGBTQ+ rights reminiscent of similar crackdowns in Russia. The law amends Hungary's existing 'Child Protection' legislation, which already restricts discussions of LGBTQ+ issues in schools and media. Despite the ban, Budapest's mayor has vowed to support this year's Pride event, asserting that 'Budapest is the city of freedom.' The legislation has drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations and the European Union, emphasizing the need for the right to peaceful assembly.