For the third time in a row, Budapest police have banned a planned march against homophobia and transphobia, scheduled for June 28, citing a potential “threat to minors.” This was stated in an official decision issued by the city’s police department on Friday.
The document argues that the march could “turn into” a gay pride event — as both are planned for the same date — and claims there is a risk that children under 18 would “inevitably come into contact” with members of the LGBT community, which police say “violates Hungary’s Fundamental Law.”
The decision once again includes photos from previous pride events in Budapest, which authorities claim illustrate the “unacceptable nature” of such gatherings.
In two previous instances, organizers successfully challenged similar bans in Hungary’s Supreme Court, which ruled that police had failed to provide convincing evidence that the march violated national law.
Despite this, authorities continue to exploit legal loopholes and vague language in the legislation to block events in support of LGBT rights. Human rights organizations — including Amnesty International and the Hungarian Helsinki Committee — have filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court challenging the law that gives authorities the ability to ban peaceful pride marches.
