Hungary: New law bans Pride events and expands surveillance of LGBTQ+ gatherings

Hungary’s parliament has passed a law banning Pride events and granting authorities the power to use facial recognition technology to identify participants. This legislation, part of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s broader crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights, amends assembly regulations to prohibit events that violate Hungary’s so-called “child protection” law, which bans the “depiction or promotion” of homosexuality to minors. Violators face fines of up to 200,000 forints (approximately $546). The law has sparked widespread protests in Budapest, where thousands gathered outside parliament, chanting against the government and blocking the Margaret Bridge in defiance of police orders.
 
Compiled from: Associated Press, “A New Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill in Hungary Would Ban Pride Event and Allow Use of Facial Recognition Software,” U.S.News, Mar. 17, 2025 and Associated Press, “Hungary's New Anti-LGBTQ+ Law Bans Pride Events and Sparks Protests,” U.S.News, Mar. 18, 2025.