LGBTIQ+ Pride Marches Demand Rights Worldwide Amid Heat and Political Shifts

Thousands took to the streets in various countries, including Mexico and Hungary, on June 27 to celebrate LGBTIQ+ Pride and advocate for respect and equal rights. While June is not universally Pride month, many nations held their marches to assert the community's ongoing fight against conservatism and right-wing advancements.

In Budapest, Hungary, tens of thousands participated in the 31st Pride march, the first since the end of 16 years of ultranationalist rule under Viktor Orbán. The event proceeded under the slogan "Pride was, is, and will be," with organizers noting a lack of police interference, a stark contrast to previous years. This marked a significant shift following the election of a new conservative government that has pledged to end the persecution of the LGTBI community.

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Pride was, is, and will be

However, the participation in Budapest was notably lower than in previous years, with estimates falling far short of the 380,000 who marched in 2023. Organizers suggested that extreme heat, with temperatures reaching 38 degrees Celsius, may have deterred some attendees. Despite the new government's positive messaging, organizers cautioned that concrete steps to repeal homophobic laws enacted under Orbán's administration have yet to be taken. These past laws had restricted LGTBI rights, including adoption, and linked homosexuality with pedophilia.

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Now we could organize Pride without questions, in a legal way, as the Police did not cause problems