Rtl today – Criticism chorus: Hungary’s LGBTQ community braces for ‘propaganda’ bill

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For Dorottya Redai, a Hungarian LGBTQ activist who visits schools to fight homophobia, the new Hungarian law which prohibits “promoting” homosexuality among minors came as no surprise.

The law, which comes into force Thursday, has drawn widespread criticism, with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen calling it a “shame” and warning of the consequences if it is not rectified.

“For years the ruling Fidesz party has eliminated references to sexual minorities or gender equality or gender from the school curriculum,” said Redai, 48, in Budapest.

“It’s as if homosexuals don’t exist, but they do exist,” she said, pointing to teacher training booklets and LGBTQ-themed books published by her lesbian association Labrisz.

In recent years, Fidesz politicians, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, have “equated homosexuality with pedophilia,” she added.

The ban on “displaying or promoting” homosexuality or sex reassignment to under-18s is part of a larger “anti-pedophilia law” that was originally limited to measures tougher on child sexual abuse.

But the latest changes to the bill, approved by the Fidesz-dominated parliament last month, included bans and restrictions on sex education as well as media content.

– ‘Self-censorship’ –

While the measures were compared to the 2013 Russian bill that bans “gay propaganda” for minors, lawyers said it was not yet clear what penalties would be imposed for breaking the law. .

“It’s vague,” said Redai, who has helped run one of Labrisz’s “Getting To Know LGBT People” programs in about 40 to 50 schools a year since 2004.

“For us, the real impact will be self-censorship, teachers will no longer invite us to their schools for fear of getting into trouble with parents or the school’s central management office,” she said.

“But schoolchildren will continue to talk a lot about being gay, although it is still a taboo for most teachers, they are not trained to talk about these social issues,” Redai continued.

“We talk to them about homophobic or transphobic discrimination or bullying at school, it’s important where young people learn about LGBTQ issues – the internet is not always the best source,” she said.

– ‘Propaganda’ –

The latest legislation is seen by his supporters as part of Orban’s plan since he took power in 2010 to turn Hungary into a socially conservative so-called “illiberal” stronghold.

In 2019, a Coca-Cola advertising campaign featuring smiling gay couples prompted some prominent Fidesz members to call for a boycott of the company’s products.

In December, parliament approved an effective ban on adoption by same-sex couples, while a year ago a ban on legally changing sex came into effect.

“Leave our children alone! Orban last year declared his sympathy for a far-right politician who publicly shredded a fairy tale book published by Labrisz that included gay characters.

Orban insists the new law is about “child protection” and has brushed aside the outrage in Brussels.

“No one except parents should have a say in children’s sex education (…) the law prohibits sexual propaganda – homosexual and heterosexual – targeting children,” the office told AFP on Tuesday. government press release.

“Sex education should only be provided by professionals, with the authorization of parents who have been made aware of the program,” he said.

– Find “enemies” –

Some analysts say Orban’s move is aimed at strengthening his electoral base ahead of next year’s election which is expected to be a close race and to respond to far-right Our Homeland party’s calls for an anti-LGBTQ crackdown.

“As this law is unlikely to be truly enforced legally, it is more akin to trolling or drama to provoke conflict and polarize society,” Bulcsu Hunyadi, analyst for the political think tank, told AFP. Capital.

During his decade in power, Orban “sought out enemies to present to his constituents, from the EU and civil society organizations to migrants, asylum seekers and George Soros,” Hunyadi said.

“And now that the coronavirus pandemic could abate and the elections are near, the anti-gender discourse is intensifying, but it is playing with the lives of citizens for short-term political gain,” he said. declared.

Since the law was passed, several homophobic attacks have been reported in local media, and Redai is concerned that “people are being encouraged by this law to voice their assault on other people.”

“In a political climate where we are turned into enemies, LGBTQ people, especially those living in the countryside who have not yet gone out, must be terrified,” she said.

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