Thousands of Hungarians took part in the Pride Parade in Budapest on Saturday.

It was the highest number of participants since the first march 26 years ago, said a spokeswoman for the organizers, Johanna Majercsik, the AFP news agency.

An AFP reporter estimated the number of protesters at more than 10,000.

In view of the criticized LGBTQ law and "anti-homosexual propaganda" by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, many people wanted to show "their support for the LGBTQ community," said Majercsik.

Dozens of diplomats from diplomatic missions in the Hungarian capital also took part in the colorful parade through the streets of Budapest.

In the past few years, the event had been massively disrupted by right-wing extremists.

This year homophobic abuse was registered, there were no other incidents.

The police separated the approximately 200 supporters of the right-wing conservative head of government Viktor Orbán from the participants in the parade.

The LGBTQ law banning "advertising" for homosexual and transsexuality came into force around two weeks ago.

Books on this subject must now be labeled in Hungary with the note “Prohibited for under 18-year-olds”, LGBTQ-related films are no longer allowed to be broadcast during prime time.

The official aim of the law is the protection of minors.

Activists, on the other hand, speak of a blow against the LGBTQ community.

The English abbreviation LGBTQ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer;

Critics in Hungary see members of these sexual minorities as being discriminated against.

The EU launched infringement proceedings against Budapest in response to the LGBTQ law.

Europe will never allow “parts of our society to be discriminated”, said EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen.