‘Many are still afraid’: hope and caution in Budapest before first Pride since Orbán
LGBTQ+ people continue to reel from stigma spread by 16 years of rightwing populist government, says organiser
TL;DR
- Budapest Pride is set to take place, marked by recent political changes in Hungary.
- The LGBTQ+ community experienced significant stigma and rights crackdowns under Viktor Orbán's 16-year rule.
- Despite a change in government, many LGBTQ+ individuals still fear being open about their identity due to strong social stigma.
- The new government has shown a more open attitude but has not yet overturned legislation banning Pride events or other restrictive laws.
- Key remaining obstacles include laws restricting LGBTQ+ topics in schools and media, limiting adoptions by same-sex couples, and denying legal gender recognition.