Key facts
- Hungarian lawmakers voted Tuesday to remove anti-LGBTQ+ provisions from a 2021 child protection law.
- The amendment passed with 139 votes in favor and 51 against.
- The new law replaces bans on "portrayal" or "promotion" of sexual and gender diversity with protections against material that could "seriously impair" child development.
- Prime Minister Péter Magyar stated the changes align Hungary with EU regulations.
- Orbán's Fidesz party voted against the amendment, calling it "neutering" the original law due to EU pressure.
- The European Union welcomed the vote as an "important signal" of commitment to EU values.
Hungarian lawmakers voted on Tuesday to remove controversial anti-LGBTQ+ provisions from a 2021 "child protection" law enacted under former nationalist leader Viktor Orbán. The amendment, which passed with 139 votes in favor and 51 against, signifies a notable reversal of Orbán-era policies targeting the LGBTQ+ community since pro-EU Prime Minister Péter Magyar took power.
The original law had banned the "portrayal" or "promotion" of sexual and gender diversity in content accessible to children. The newly passed bill amends this to focus on protecting individuals under 18 from material that could "seriously impair the child's physical, intellectual, emotional or moral development."
Magyar stated that the changes aim to bring Hungary in line with European Union regulations, as Orbán's restrictions had been found to be in breach of the bloc's values. Tamas Dombos from the Hatter Society rights group described the removal of restrictions on LGBTQ+ content as an "important and positive step forward."
Orbán's Fidesz party voted against the amendment, accusing the government of "neutering" the law due to EU pressure. However, Magyar's Tisza party holds a significant majority, allowing the bill's passage without opposition support. The European Union welcomed the vote, with commissioners Michael McGrath and Hadja Lahbib calling it an "important signal" of commitment to common values.
Activists note that while this is a positive development, further legislative changes are needed to fully restore LGBTQ+ rights in Hungary, including legal recognition for transgender people and adoption rights for same-sex couples. Human Rights Watch also pointed out that other discriminatory provisions in Hungarian law remain intact.