Hungarian parliament repeals anti-LGBTQ measures introduced under Orbán
Hungary’s parliament has amended the 2021 Child Protection Law, removing provisions that banned the “portrayal or promotion of homosexuality or transgenderism” and affected areas including education and freedom of assembly. The changes were passed by the two-thirds majority held by Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s Tisza party, which has been dismantling parts of Viktor Orbán’s legislative legacy since defeating him in April. Fidesz and the Christian Democrats opposed the amendments.
Minutes after Tuesday’s vote, Budapest announced that the EU had agreed to release €4.2 billion in funds frozen during the Fidesz government. The European Commission had said Hungary was addressing rule-of-law breaches affecting the EU budget and recommended restoring access to Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe.
Rights groups welcomed the reversal after years in which gay and transgender people were portrayed by Orbán’s government as threats to public morals. However, activists noted that Tisza has stopped short of endorsing full equality. They are seeking recognition of same-sex marriage, adoption rights for same-sex couples and the restoration of transgender people’s ability to change their names in official documents. Magyar, who has tried to retain conservative support, has described sexual-minority rights as a sensitive issue and said he must represent all Hungarians.
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