Tens of thousands of people gathered in Budapest on Sunday to defy a government ban on the 2025 Pride march ahead of the Hungarian elections next year.
The mass protest came after Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony called on people to “come calmly and boldly to stand together for freedom, dignity and equal rights.”
Crowds took to the streets with pride flags and signs that mocked Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, outstripping the original expected turnout of 30,000-40,000 people.
Organisers of the march suggested that an estimated 180,000-200,000 people turned up at the rally, despite threats of legal action by the government. Senior citizens and parents with young children all gathered on the streets of Budapest.
After a law banning the promotion or depiction of homosexuality to minors was fast-tracked, participants from around the world came to Hungary to participate in the march.
This record-breaking gathering marked the 30th anniversary of Budapest Pride.
After the government ordered to ban the march, the Budapest mayor declared it a municipal event, allowing the event to proceed as planned.
The Hungarian government has received a wave of criticism, accusing it of diminishing democratic values and undermining the rule of law.
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Participants, when speaking to various press outlets, explained why they decided to participate in the march despite government pressure. Akos Horvath, resident in a Southern Hungarian town, told AFP, “It’s not just about representing gay people, but about standing up for the rights of the Hungarian people.”
Another participant said, “This is about much more, not just bout homosexuality, [...] This is the last moment to stand up for our rights.”
While the government has not issued any official statement in response to the march, Hungarian Justice Minister Bence Tuzson posted a video on social media, threatening to imprison the Budapest mayor for up to a year.
No police crackdowns were reported, with the prime minister claiming that the police would not reach the levels of physical abuse that threaten to break up the country.
