In a bold move against a government-imposed ban, the Budapest Pride parade is set to take place this weekend, stirring significant controversy in Hungary. Prime Minister Viktor Orban's ruling party enacted legislation in March that prohibits gatherings promoting homosexuality, branding the initiative as a measure to protect children. However, the legislation has created a potential pitfall for Orban, turning into a clash between the government and the opposition led by a rising conservative figure.
To circumvent the ban, Budapest's liberal mayor, Gergely Karacsony, has reimagined the Pride parade as "Budapest Pride Freedom," framing it as a municipal event celebrating the end of Soviet control in 1991. Predictions indicate that tens of thousands of participants, including over 70 members of the European Parliament, could join in what may become the largest Pride celebration in Hungary's history, with an expected turnout of at least 50,000.
The public's response to the ban could put Orban's government in a precarious position. Should the government choose to enforce the ban and penalize participants, it risks being seen as authoritarian. Conversely, allowing the parade to proceed might portray the administration as powerless, a dilemma that underscores the intensified political tension in Hungary surrounding LGBTQ+ rights.
