Hungary's parliament votes to reverse anti-LGBTQ legislation from Orban era

In a significant move on Tuesday, Hungary's parliament amended a 2021 law targeting the LGBTQ+ community, enacted during the tenure of former nationalist leader Viktor Orban. The original legislation imposed restrictions on the portrayal or promotion of sexual and gender diversity in materials accessible to children, often requiring books dealing with these issues to be sold in black plastic packaging with warnings.

Critics contended that the law propagated the extremist belief that automatically linked homosexuality with child abuse. The European Court of Justice had previously ruled in April that the law infringed upon EU treaties. In response, the parliament repealed most of the statute, preserving only the provision safeguarding minors from sexually explicit or violent content.

The amendment was approved by a vote of 139 in favor and 51 against, with the governing majority supporting the change. Hungary's previous leader, Viktor Orban, was removed from office in April. While his successor, Peter Magyar, remains a conservative and an advocate for stricter immigration policies, he has pledged to diverge from Orban's repressive policies concerning media, judiciary, and other matters.

EU commissioners Michael McGrath and Hadja Lahbib expressed their endorsement of the amendment, stating that it reflects a commitment to shared values. As a result, the European Union subsequently lifted €4.2 billion ($4.7 billion) in funding to Hungary following the vote.