Thousands to join Budapest Pride march in protest over new anti-LGBT law

• Hungarian law on LGBT issues creates conflict with EU
• PM Orban depicts efforts as part of the struggle for Christian values
• The government is trying to turn LGBT people into outcasts, organizers say
• Over 40 embassies and cultural institutes support the LGBT festival

BUDAPEST, July 24 (Reuters) – Thousands of Hungarians wanted to take part in the annual Budapest Pride March on Saturday to show their support for LGBT people and to protest a law banning the use of materials in schools as a promotion be viewed by homosexuality and gender reassignment.

Hungary’s nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has been in power since 2010, has become increasingly radical on social policy, which he portrays as a struggle to protect traditional Christian values ​​from Western liberalism.

The European Commission has taken legal action against Orban’s government over the new law that came into force this month for discriminating against and violating European values ​​of tolerance and individual freedom.

Orban’s government, facing tough elections next year, says that matters like LGBT rights should be decided by national governments and says it will call a referendum on reform. It says that the law is not aimed at homosexuals, but at the protection of Hungarian children. Continue reading

The organizers of the Saturday March have called on supporters to stand up against hatred and to resist attempts by so-called “power-hungry politicians” to intimidate LGBT people.

“The recent past has been very challenging, troubling and frightening for the LGBTQ community,” it said in a statement.

“Instead of protecting minorities, the Christian Democratic Fidesz government is using laws to outcast members of the LGBTQ community in their own country.”

Several civil rights groups have criticized Orban’s reforms, and a poll by polling firm Ipsos last month found that 46% of Hungarians support same-sex marriage.

On Monday, more than 40 foreign cultural institutions and embassies in Hungary, including those of the United States, Great Britain and Germany, published a joint statement in support of the Budapest Pride Festival.

“Concerned about recent developments threatening the principle of non-discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, we encourage steps in every country to ensure the equality and dignity of all people regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” they said.

Reporting by Gergely Szakacs Editing by Gareth Jones

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