Hungary: LGBT + and gender identity, new targets for Viktor Orban
Demonstration in Budapest, June 14, 2021 against the law prohibiting the promotion of homosexuality among minors.
AFP - GERGELY BESENYEI
Text by: Florence La Bruyère Follow
7 mins
Prior to Viktor Orban's return to power in 2010, Hungary was one of the most progressive countries in the region when it comes to sexual minorities.
Homosexuality had been decriminalized there from the beginning of the 1960s and the civil union between spouses of the same sex recognized in 1996. On June 15, 2021, the nationalist right-wing party of the Prime Minister adopted a law which prohibits the promotion of the homosexuality and sex change in children.
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From our correspondent in Budapest
,
The anger has not subsided. Wednesday June 16, two days after having gathered by the thousands on Kossuth Square where the Parliament sits, Budapesters will demonstrate again, this time in front of the palace of the President of the Republic, Janos Ader. Object of the wrath: the legislation passed on June 15 by the nationalist right (Fidesz) of Prime Minister Viktor Orban and by Jobbik, a radical right. Intended to strengthen sanctions against pedophiles, the text was modified at the last moment. It includes amendments that prohibit promoting homosexuality among minors. "
Pornography and content that depicts sexuality or promotes gender identity deviation, sex reassignment and homosexuality should not be accessible to anyone under the age of 18.
», He indicates. Viktor Orban follows in the footsteps of Vladimir Poutine, denouncing the opposition and the defenders of the rights, who denounce the amalgamation between pedophilia and sexual minorities, and point out the similarity of the text with a Russian law.
The LGBT + community, the new enemy
In 2010, when Viktor Orban returned to power, after eight years in the opposition, sexual minorities were the least of his worries.
The leader of the Magyar right is busy bringing the media in line and taking control of all the institutions to govern without sharing.
And Hungary is still riding a liberal wave.
After having the first member of the Soviet bloc to decriminalize homosexuality in the 60s, the country continues to open up to progressive ideas and, in 1996, authorizes civil unions between spouses of the same sex.
In 2015, the influx of refugees to Europe provided Orban with the opportunity to launch an anti-migrant campaign, supposedly orchestrated by George Soros and his liberal left allies. Driven with beating speed, the campaign began to run out of steam three years later. The Hungarian right, which until then regarded homosexuality as a private matter, is beginning to speak of it as a disease that must be cured. The president of the parliament, Laszlo Köver, describes same-sex couples as “pedophiles” who want to adopt a child in order to have a toy to have fun. "
This government is still trying to find an enemy.
Then, he mounted a communication campaign against his target and then he passed discriminatory laws.
He did it with the homeless, migrants, NGOs… I'm afraid that this time the target will be the LGBT community
”then analyzes Tamas Dombos, from the Hattér association, which defends the rights of sexual minorities .
Right turn any
In July 2018, Gay Pride takes place under high police surveillance and thousands of participants parade under a radiant sun ... but in empty streets, closed to passers-by. A new far-right group, “Notre Patrie”, called for a ban on the march. Dressed in a black T-shirt with the slogan "Normal people", its members taunt protesters from afar. On October 23, 2019, the anniversary of the 1956 uprising, extremists celebrate this national holiday by burning the rainbow flag. For Viktoria Radvanyi, spokesperson for Budapest Pride, this incident is no accident. "
The government is beginning to be openly hostile to LGBT people. And we see a link between the attitude of the government and the action of the neo-Nazis. Before 2019, these extremists weren't really interested in LGBT people. A handful were protesting against us during Gay Pride, but it ended there. And with the help of the police, we were managing the situation,
”she then told RFI.
The story of Elvira and Tamara perfectly illustrates the turn to the right of the Orban government. Previously Elvira was male, married and father of a family. After changing sex, in 2013 she decided to have her new identity recognized in the civil registry. Since the early 1990s, transgender people can easily change their papers, although no specific law regulates the procedure. Elvira receives her new identity card in four months. “
At the time, the administration was very pragmatic. The officials retroactively changed the birth register to include "female" next to my name; everyone was very courteous to me,
”she says.
Tamara, also transgender, was not so fortunate.
When in 2018, she submitted her request for a change of papers, the administration suspended all requests.
In May 2020, the right in power adopts an amendment which prevents the registration of a change of sex in the civil status.
The administration definitively rejects Tamara's request.
After having banned gay marriage and gender studies at the university, the sovereignist right of Orban modifies the Constitution on December 15, 2020. "
The mother is a woman, the father is a man
", proclaims the text which defines the sex as being only that of birth.
The LGBT + issue, a smokescreen
That same day of 2020, the Magyar right wing votes another crucial law, which redefines public money, like the “
expenses and claims of the State
”. From now on, the assets of foundations and state-owned enterprises, for example the national electricity company, are considered private money and will escape the control of the opposition. For the NGO Transparency International, this redefinition of public money is the door open to more corruption.
But this law goes unnoticed; the modification of the Constitution occupies all the "Unes". The ideal smokescreen, the LGBT issue is also a tactical tool for Viktor Orban. The text voted on Tuesday, June 15 combines sanctions against pedophiles and a ban on the “promotion” of homosexuality. This amalgamation between pedophiles and homosexuals is unacceptable, denounces Akos Hadhazy, opposition MP, who boycotted the text. But the pro-Orban press can thus shoot red balls on the opposition which supports pedophiles by "
refusing to vote sanctions against them
". A weighty argument for Orban, who is already preparing his weapons for the legislative elections of 2022. "
It is a diabolical trap, but the only moral choice was not to vote for this text
" sighs Akos Hadhazy.
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