Hungary Submits Bill to Roll Back Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation

The Hungarian government has submitted a bill to parliament to amend anti-LGBTQ+ rules for minors that were introduced under the previous administration of Viktor Orban. The proposed legislation aims to remove references banning the promotion or display of homosexuality and gender transition to minors. Instead, the law would target material that can seriously impair the physical, intellectual, emotional, or moral development of a child. Prime Minister Peter Magyar, who ended Orban's 16 year rule in April, stated that the rules would apply regardless of sexual orientation and would bring the country in line with European Union regulations.

The 2021 law was created as an add-on to child protection regulations and was later used to ban Pride marches. In April, the European Court of Justice ruled that the law violated EU law and the identity of the bloc. Following this ruling, Hungarian police authorized Pride marches this year. Justice Minister Marta Gorog noted in May that revisions were necessary after the court found the restrictions contributed to the stigmatization and marginalization of gay and transgender people. Prime Minister Magyar also indicated on Saturday that the government is considering changing a 2020 law that restricted adoption to married couples, which effectively banned same sex couples from adopting.