The Hungarian parliament has passed a law banning gay people from featuring in school educational materials or TV shows for the under-18 age group, as Prime Minister (PM) Viktor Orbán’s ruling party intensified its campaign against LGBT rights.
As per news reports, the assembly passed the legislation by a whopping 157 votes to one on Tuesday after the MPs of the ruling Fidesz party rejected a last-minute appeal by Europe’s leading human rights official to abort the plan as “an affront against the rights and identities of LGBTI persons.” Although some opposition leaders did abstain from voting, the outcome of the vote was never in question, as the Fidesz has a commanding majority and the far-right Jobbik party also backs their agenda.
News reports mentioned that the legislation bars sharing any information with the under-18 age group that the government considers to be promoting homosexuality or gender change. Any organisation or firm airing advertisements and endorsements in solidarity with the gay community will be penalised. Moreover, whether or not it is their intent, they will be charged for attempting to target the under-18 age group with such material.
A government spokesperson said, “There are contents which children under a certain age can misunderstand and may have a detrimental effect on their development at the given age, or which children simply cannot process, and which could therefore confuse their developing moral values or their image of themselves or the world.”
In 2019, a Coca-Cola advertisement campaign featuring smiling gay couples and anti-discrimination slogans prompted some prominent Fidesz party members to campaign for a boycott of the company’s products. Now, the new law curtails TV shows and films featuring gay characters or even a rainbow flag.
The Hungarian chapter of Amnesty International, which was at the forefront of organising protests against the law, stated that it was a “dark day for LGBTI rights and Hungary.” “Like the infamous Russian propaganda law, this new legislation will further stigmatise LGBTI people and their allies,” said Amnesty International’s director in Hungary, Dávid Vig. “Tagging these amendments to a bill that seeks to crack down on child abuse appears to be a deliberate attempt by the Hungarian government to conflate paedophilia with LGBTI people,” he said.
Similarly, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, criticised the law and said Hungary “has no business being in the European Union anymore.” The comments are an accurate depiction of widespread international displeasure with Hungary.
However, PM Orbán insists that his country’s law “had nothing to do with gay rights.” At a European Union summit, PM Orban told reporters that international counterparts and critics had misunderstood the new law. “This is not against homosexuality. It’s about the rights of the kids and the parents,” he said.
The issues of gay rights have once again drawn criticism of Orbán’s government and increased pressure ahead of parliamentary elections in 2022.
Hungary Passes Law Banning LGBT Content in Schools
The legislation bars sharing any information with under-18 age group that the Hungarian government considers to be promoting homosexuality or gender change.
June 26, 2021
SOURCE: HUNGARY TODAY