Hungarian MPs scrap Orbán’s anti-LGBTQ measures

On Tuesday, the Hungarian parliament amended child protection laws, eliminating provisions that stigmatized LGBTQ individuals. This decision was met with enthusiasm from LGBTQ and human rights activists, who urged further changes to other Orbán-era laws. The 2021 Child Protection Law, enacted during Viktor Orbán's tenure, prohibited the portrayal or promotion of homosexuality or transgenderism.

Since the April election defeat of Orbán, the Tisza government under Péter Magyar has been dismantling the previous government's legacy. Following the parliament's vote, the European Union announced that it would release €4.2bn of frozen funds, previously blocked due to alleged rule-of-law breaches under the Fidesz government. The new government's package of laws aimed to dismantle Fidesz legislation, addressing various aspects of child protection laws, including education and the right of assembly.

Péter Magyar's party, which holds a two-thirds majority in parliament, worked together to pass the measures. While both Fidesz and Tisza governments emphasized child protection, Fidesz promoted it as a means to appeal to conservative voters, while Tisza seeks to remove or soften the legislation without identifying as a liberal government.

The LGBTQ community has faced challenges, such as a Gay Pride march in Budapest in June 2025, which proceeded without restrictions despite a ban imposed by Orbán. The recent amendment marks a significant improvement in the protection of LGBTQ rights in Hungary.