Hungary’s Parliament has cracked down on LGBTQIA+ rights with two major changes to the country’s constitution.
The Government will now have constitutional powers to block LGBTQ+ events from going ahead.
Another amendment passed on Monday (local time) means the country will only legally recognise two genders, male and female, and only a person’s gender assigned at birth.
Thousands of demonstrators rallied in Hungary’s capital city, Budapest, to protest the vote over the weekend ahead of its passage.
Hungary
Hungary has been ruled by right-wing populist party Fidesz, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, since 2010. Fidesz won a two-thirds majority at that year’s election.
Changes to Hungary’s constitution require a two-thirds majority, which enabled Fidesz to create a new constitution in 2011.
In the ensuing years, Orbán and Fidesz have been accused of corruption, controlling the media, and being anti-democratic.
Passed bill
Orbán has led a crackdown on LGBTQ+ people in Hungary since becoming PM.
For example, in 2021, the Parliament passed a law blocking any depictions of homosexuality in media made for under-18s.
Last month, Hungary’s Parliament passed a law banning Pride events and allowing authorities to use facial recognition software to identify attendees.
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That law has now been upgraded to a power in the country’s constitution by a two-thirds vote.
Another amendment passed on Monday includes the recognition of two sexes, male and female, and blocks the “possibility of changing birth sex,” according to local media.
Authorities will also now be able to strip dual citizens who break certain rules of their Hungarian citizenship.
The changes passed parliament with 140 votes for and 21 against.
A Government spokesperson said the vote reinforces “Hungary’s identity, stability, and constitutional clarity”.
The Opposition have not publicly commented on the outcome of the vote.
Protest
The changes follow extensive protests and disruptions to votes, including by members of minority parties, who have staged organised protests during parliamentary sessions.
Public opposition to the law has been led by Hungary’s satirical Two-Tailed Dog Party — a political party created to mock the Government.
Over the weekend, thousands gathered in Budapest for a demonstration led by Two-Tailed Dog, pretending to support the new amendments. Protesters wore all-grey outfits and carried banners reading “being uniform is cool”.
