Hungarian government writes to Ireland and EU ministers to criticize anti-LGBT law

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Activists demonstrate in front of the Hungarian Parliament in Budapest.

THE HUNGARIAN GOVERNMENT has written to Minister for Children Roderic OGorman to defend the country’s new anti-LGBT laws, following criticism from the Irish government and other EU heads of state.

Justice Minister Judit Varga contacted the minister earlier this week, along with several other EU ministers, after several member states berated Hungary for introducing child protection laws last month .

A bill approved by the Hungarian parliament last week bans the sharing of content promoting homosexuality to children and adolescents, which has an impact on education in schools.

The legal text of the bill states that in order to ensure the protection of children’s rights, pornography and content that represents sexuality for its own purposes or that encourages deviation of gender identity, gender change and homosexuality should not be made available to people under the age of eighteen.

Ministers across Europe, including OGorman, criticized the legislation before it became law this week. OGorman himself described it as homophobia disguised as a child protection measure.

Ahead of an EU summit in June, the heads of 17 member states signed a letter criticizing the law for discrimination based on sexual orientation.

This letter declared that hatred, intolerance and discrimination had no place in our union. This is why, today and every day, we defend LGBTI diversity and equality so that our future generations can grow up in a Europe of equality and respect.

The letter, signed by the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Spain, among others, continued: Respect and tolerance are at the heart of the European project.

In a reprimand, sent to OGorman and others on July 6, the Hungarian government accused critics of the laws of disrespecting the central European country.

The letter also claimed that the new laws would ensure stronger action against pedophile offenders and that the law was drafted to protect children.

He adds that the law promulgated by Hungary applies to Hungarians and not to other EU member states.

Hungary is a free and sovereign country, which insists on its rights guaranteed by EU treaties; therefore, neither the Commission nor any other European body can dictate how Hungarian parents raise their children, it says.

In Hungary, we consider it particularly important to protect our family values ​​and our culture. Parents must be able to decide how to raise their children, and no one should be forced or coerced into putting up with their children receiving sexually explicit content without their clear consent.

European Parliament

The letter was sent in response to a resolution by the Hungarian parliament controlled by the Viktor Orbans Fidesz party which instructed the Minister of Justice to relay the government’s anger to her European counterparts.

Victor Orban. Source: PA

In that resolution, Orban said: Heads of government and other government officials from many EU member states, as well as several EU officials, have allowed themselves such harsh and undemocratic statements in relation to the law on child protection adopted by the Hungarian Parliament, which crossed a red line.

The tone and claims they made evoke the colonialist instincts of the lost ages and the disrespectful claims of power of actors who consider themselves superior. Hungary must defend itself against harsh and anti-democratic political and anti-democratic attacks using all available European legal instruments.

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Hate speech is also prohibited when it is directed against Hungary.

This week, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen called the new laws a disgrace during a debate in the European Parliament.

Parliament voted on Wednesday to condemn Hungary’s laws as a blatant violation of EU equality principles.

Orban then fired back yesterday, claiming the bill was about child protection and noting that according to the EU Charter Brussels has no right to interfere in the way Hungarian children are raised .

The European Parliament and the European Commission want LGBTQ activists admitted to schools and kindergartens, we don’t want that, he added.

Speaking about the letter, a spokesperson for the Children’s Department said: The minister previously said the laws passed in Hungary are a clear attempt to target and erase the visibility and self-expression of LGBTI people in Hungarian society. It is homophobia disguised as a child protection measure.

The minister also notes that Ireland has joined with 15 other EU member states in condemning the law.

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