The Hungarian government wants to require organizers of the annual Budapest Pride to hold the event indoors, citing the need to “protect children,” Reuters reports.
Gergely Gulyás, head of the Hungarian Prime Minister’s Office, stated that Pride should no longer take place in its usual format. According to him, holding the march in a closed space would eliminate “risks for children.” He also noted that the government plans to review the issue and draft a corresponding bill.
Earlier, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that Pride organizers “shouldn’t even bother” this year, as the event would be a “waste of money and time.”
For decades, Pride participants have marched along Andrássy Avenue, a central boulevard in Budapest. However, in 2021, Orbán banned the “promotion of homosexuality” among minors, despite criticism from the EU and human rights organizations.
