In a bold show of unity and resilience, Budapest’s 30th Pride March took place on 28 June 2024, attracting an estimated 200,000 participants despite a government ban. This record turnout highlighted the deepening support for the LGBTQ+ community in the face of increasingly restrictive measures imposed by Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s nationalist government.
Overwhelming Support
Participants at the parade expressed a mix of pride and fear, with many like 66-year-old Zoltan voicing their concerns about the government’s crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights. “I am proud to be gay and I am very scared that the government wants to bring us down,” he shared, echoing sentiments felt by many.
Government Restrictions
Orban’s administration has implemented several controversial laws targeting the LGBTQ+ community over the past decade, including a ban on gender changes in official documents and legislation curtailing adoption rights for same-sex couples. Most recently, a law was passed that allows police to ban Pride marches, purportedly to protect children from harmful influences.
Defiance and Solidarity
- Hundreds of European lawmakers, alongside foreign embassies, showed up to back the event.
- Opposition figures have branded the government’s attempts to ban the march as a significant misstep.
- Budapest’s liberal Mayor Gergely Karacsony labelled the parade a celebration of freedom, further bolstering public defiance against the ban.
Voices from the Community
For many attendees, the march was not just about LGBTQ+ rights but a broader call for democratic freedoms. Participants like Lau and her partner Vivi, a young lesbian couple, expressed both joy and apprehension over their right to publicly display affection amidst a climate of increasing hostility.
Statistics indicate a shifting public sentiment; a 2024 survey revealed that 53% of Hungarians found it acceptable for same-sex couples to exist, while 49% supported same-sex marriage.
The Road Ahead
The overwhelming turnout at the Pride march marks a significant cultural moment for Hungary. Many in the LGBTQ+ community are now discussing the prospect of relocating abroad, indicating that the path for equality and acceptance will require ongoing advocacy and solidarity within and beyond Hungarian borders.