Police in Budapest have banned the city’s annual Pride march, but the city’s liberal mayor is determined to go ahead with the event. Mayor Gergely Karacsony announced that the Pride march will take place on June 28, despite the police’s decision.
This clash is part of a larger struggle between the nationalist government led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Hungary’s LGBTQ community. The government has been critical of Pride events for some time, and earlier this year, Orban declared that organizers should not bother planning for this year’s march. This was followed by new laws that restrict gatherings that could be seen as promoting homosexuality to children.
Mayor Karacsony argues that the police do not have the authority to ban what he calls a "Day of Freedom," organized by the city council. He insists that this event does not fall under the restrictions on freedom of assembly. "They might as well try to ban a procession of unicorns," he remarked on social media.
Tens of thousands of participants are expected to join the event, which aims to celebrate freedom and diversity. The mayor emphasized that the event will not feature the typical Pride elements like trucks or dancers, but will focus on promoting the idea of freedom for all.
However, the police are firm in their stance, claiming that the event could expose minors to inappropriate content, violating the child protection law. They have warned that participants identified through facial recognition technology could face fines ranging from £14 to £420.
Despite the ban, the Rainbow Mission foundation, which organizes Pride in Hungary, plans to hold multiple events on June 28 to show solidarity with the LGBTQ community. They have kept the authorities guessing about which event would be considered the official Pride celebration.
In response to the police’s ban, human rights organizations are advising attendees to refuse any on-the-spot fines. They encourage participants to challenge any fines they receive through proper legal channels. The more people that join the event, they argue, the less likely the police will attempt to enforce the ban.
As the date approaches, the tension between the city’s government and the national authorities continues to rise, with many watching closely to see how this situation unfolds.