Budapest Pride parade celebrates post-Orbán era

Budapest's streets vibrated with color and celebration as tens of thousands marched in Hungary's first Pride parade since the end of Viktor Orbán's 16-year tenure. The event, held amidst a heatwave, marked a significant moment for the country's LGBT+ community, who had faced years of anti-LGBT+ policies under the previous government.

While the number of participants was lower than the over 200,000 who protested a parade ban last year, the turnout exceeded that of previous years, according to an AFP journalist on the scene. Estimates placed the number of demonstrators around 35,000. Among the attendees were EU Commissioner for Equality Hadja Lahbib and Budapest's green Mayor Gergely Karácsony. Lahbib reflected on the previous year's massive march, stating, "That march not only made history. It helped change history, and what a difference in 1 year! The Pride of today is the latest proof of that new start. The wind of change is blowing through this great nation, and we all feel it."

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That march not only made history. It helped change history, and what a difference in 1 year! The Pride of today is the latest proof of that new start. The wind of change is blowing through this great nation, and we all feel it.

The recent election of pro-European conservative Peter Magyar, who ended Orbán's long rule, brought a wave of relief to Hungary's LGBT+ community. However, Magyar has not yet taken concrete steps to reinstate rights that were gradually eroded under Orbán's government, often justified in the name of "child protection." During his campaign, Magyar largely avoided the topic, but since his election, his government has signaled a shift, with Magyar stating earlier this month, "The government will not dictate to Hungarians how they should live their lives. Everyone is free to love whom they want and live with whom they want, as long as they do not break the law."

Authorities saw no reason to prohibit this year's Pride parade, and prosecutors dropped charges against last year's organizers. However, discriminatory laws enacted under Orbán remain in place. Notably, the European Court of Justice ruled in late April that Hungary's anti-LGBT+ legislation from 2021 conflicts with EU rules, indicating ongoing legal and political challenges ahead.

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The government will not dictate to Hungarians how they should live their lives. Everyone is free to love whom they want and live with whom they want, as long as they do not break the law.