Budapest: Around 100,000 people defied a government ban and police orders to march in what organizers called the largest LGBTQ+ Pride event in Hungary’s history, in an open rebuke of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government. Marchers risked potential police intervention and heavy fines to participate in the 30th annual Budapest Pride, which was outlawed in March by Orbán’s right-wing populist governing party.
According to France24.com, despite the government’s ban and the associated risks, the large turnout highlighted the determination and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community and its allies in Hungary. The event served as a platform for expressing opposition to the policies of Orbán’s administration, which has faced criticism for its stance on LGBTQ+ rights. The march symbolized a significant act of civil disobedience aimed at challenging the restrictions imposed by the government.
