Budapest Pride Proceeds Despite Orban Ban, Thousands Attend

The annual Budapest Pride march is set to proceed despite a government ban and legal threats under Hungary's new 'child protection' law that prohibits events promoting LGBTQ+ lifestyles to minors. Prime Minister Viktor Orban's administration, which has systematically curtailed LGBTQ+ rights and civil liberties, justifies the ban as protecting children, but critics see it as part of a broader crackdown on democracy ahead of elections. Tens of thousands of participants from around 30 countries, including European dignitaries such as European Commissioner for Equality Hadja Lahbib and about 70 Members of the European Parliament, plan to attend in defiance of the ban. Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony, organizing the event as a municipal gathering to bypass the ban, assured protections for participants and emphasized that love and equality cannot be outlawed. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and numerous EU countries have called on Hungary to allow the march, while Orban rejects interference and warns attendees of potential legal consequences, including fines and possible prison sentences. The event has become a potent symbol of resistance against Orban's nationalist government and its erosion of democratic freedoms and civil rights in Hungary.