A new law banning assemblies that support LGBTI rights came into effect in Hungary earlier this year, in a direct attack on LGBTI people, their allies, and the right to protest. As a result, the Budapest Pride march due to take place on 28 June is under threat.
Eszter Mihály, LGBTQI+ Rights Officer at Amnesty International Hungary, has been leading the organization’s campaign “Let Pride March” and is calling for national police to ensure the event in Budapest goes ahead without repression, surveillance, or intimidation.
In this interview, she shares more about her work as an activist and lawyer, the reality of being LGBTI in Hungary and why Pride must go ahead.
What made you join the fight for LGBTI+ rights?
After graduating from law school, I was determined to become a human rights lawyer, believing that a just society is measured by its treatment of the most vulnerable. Initially, I focused on human rights violations in the prison system, but when the government started to target LGBTI individuals and those advocating for their rights, I shifted my focus.
I had the opportunity to work on cases against the ban on legal gender recognition for transgender people but soon realised that addressing individual cases wasn’t enough. I wanted to utilize broader tools to encourage social change and affirm dignity and equality. This is why I joined Amnesty International Hungary’s team as an LGBTI rights officer.
What’s been the reality for LGBTI+ rights and communities in Hungary over the past few years?
Since 2010, there has been a growing stigmatization of LGBTI individuals in the narratives promoted and legislation adopted by the ruling parties in Hungary. This trend has seemingly reached its peak with recent legal amendments that permit the banning of Pride marches and protests supporting LGBTI rights.
The amendments also allow authorities to impose sanctions on organisers and participants and to use facial recognition technology to identify them. Attendees of a banned Pride march could face fines of up to 200,000 HUF (500 euros).
What do you make of the government’s escalating crackdown on LGBTI+ rights?
The escalating crackdown on LGBTI rights in Hungary can be understood as a deliberate political strategy. Orbán’s government frames LGBTI rights as a foreign trend that threatens national identity and sovereignty, and the visibility of LGBTI identities as harmful for children’s moral development. This pattern of regression is not happening in isolation but follows a broader global “anti-gender” trend where marginalized groups are targeted to divert attention from systemic issues such as corruption or the failings of public services.
State-driven rhetoric that portrays LGBTI rights and visibility as threats to children or traditional values can heighten social hostility. This kind of framing leads to increased stigma and scapegoating within communities, schools, and workplaces.
The crackdowns on LGBTI rights are part of a wider effort to suppress independent voices, including human rights organizations, often labelling them as foreign agents. A new Bill on the “Transparency of Public Life” was recently submitted, which could allow the government to blacklist various organizations that receive foreign funding and are deemed to threaten Hungary’s sovereignty.
How is the LGBTI+ community and its allies responding to the crackdown on their rights and potential ban of Budapest’s Pride on 28 June?
There is more interest in participating in Budapest Pride than ever before.
The Rainbow Mission Foundation, the organiser, has publicly confirmed its commitment to hold the event this year. In support of LGBTI rights, Amnesty Hungary, Háttér Society, the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, and the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union have organised protests and are taking legal action to challenge both the police’s decision to ban a protest supporting LGBTI rights and the underlying law. Budapest’s mayor, Gergely Karácsony, has also announced that the march will proceed as an official municipal event.
Moreover, Amnesty International has launched a “Let Pride March” campaign to rally global support and encourage the Hungarian police to ensure safe participation on June 28 collecting more than 100,000 signatures from more than 70 countries.
What is special about the annual Pride march in Budapest?
Budapest Pride has undergone remarkable transformation since its first march in 1997, evolving from a modest, heavily policed gathering into a powerful symbol of love and resistance.
My first experience in 2015, followed by several years of volunteering to support the organisers, has shown me the profound creativity, courage, and solidarity that define the event today, despite increasing government repression. Around the time I started to attend, the police still maintained barricades “for protection,” but year-by-year, we managed to break these barriers and started marching freely.
The joy, unexpected hugs, and the sight of queer couples kissing freely in public, perhaps for the first time without fear, are my favourite moments that inspire hope and resilience.
What does this year’s Pride represent?
This year’s Pride march is not just about LGBTI rights; it is a test of whether the human right to peaceful assembly can survive in Hungary, and if Hungary can ban and criminalise Pride with minimal pushback, other European countries might follow suit.
I believe Budapest’s determination will prevail, showing that LGBTI people are integral to Hungarian society, not “foreign ideologies”.
What support have you received internationally?
We have witnessed significant international solidarity. A cross-party group of Members of the European Parliament, Hadja Lahbib, the EU Commissioner for Equality, and Graeme Reid, the UN Independent Expert on Protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, have announced their intention to march in Budapest in defiance of the ban.
How do you imagine the future of the LGBTI+ community in Hungary?
I strongly believe that resilience and solidarity can drive meaningful change, especially in the face of adversity. The growing visibility of LGBTI people can serve as a powerful counteraction to the government’s campaign of hate and discrimination. Looking ahead to next year, Hungary will hold parliamentary elections that present a crucial opportunity for us to reclaim our human rights.
I envision a future in which LGBTI individuals are not perceived as outsiders or threats to society, but are instead embraced as integral members of all communities. It is my hope that through our collective efforts, we will foster a safe society that truly reflects the values of love and diversity.
Where do you draw hope from when it gets difficult to fight?
I find a deep sense of hope in the knowledge that I am not alone in this. I’ve encountered countless incredible individuals, each dedicated to our shared mission with remarkable bravery.
How can Amnesty’s supporters – and others – help the LGBTI+ community in Hungary?
People outside Hungary play a crucial role. Solidarity is not an empty slogan: it is a successful strategy. In a country where resistance is met with censorship and smear campaigns, international visibility and financial support can be lifesaving, since many NGOs in Hungary operate on nearly non-existent budgets, especially with their funding under threat.
Call out your own government to pressure Hungary through diplomacy when human rights are violated. If you’re in the EU, push for stronger enforcement of the rule of law mechanisms (like Article 7) and new infringement procedures to challenge laws violating human rights.
Don’t allow Hungary’s anti-LGBTI laws to become “old news”. Keep the conversation going and amplify our voices.