Regression of LGBTQAI+ Rights in Hungary

Hungary has experienced significant regression in LGBTQAI+ rights under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party since 2010. Key legislative changes include constitutional amendments in 2025 that allow the government to ban public LGBTQ+ events, such as Budapest Pride, alongside restrictive “child protection” laws from 2021 that prevent the depiction of non-heteronormative identities to minors. The current legal framework enables the use of facial recognition technology to penalize attendees of LGBTQ+ events and denies legal recognition to transgender and intersex individuals. The government justifies these measures by claiming to protect children’s moral development, while effectively suppressing rights associated with assembly, legal gender recognition, and same-sex adoption. This situation is further intertwined with the rise of extreme right political ideologies, promoting a narrative that positions LGBTQAI+ individuals as threats to traditional values. The legislation often occurs without public debate and is justified as a defense against perceived foreign liberal influences. The patterns in Hungary closely mirror aspects of Trumpism in the United States, characterized by right-wing populism, nationalism, and hostility toward minority rights, creating a polarized society where LGBTQAI+ communities are marginalized and treated as enemies of the nation.