Hungary passes Constitutional Amendment to ban LGBTQ+ public events

Hungary’s parliament on Monday passed an amendment to the constitution that allows the government to ban public events by LGBTQ+ communities, a move legal scholars and critics say is another step toward authoritarianism as the populist government continues to restrict the rights of LGBTQ+ communities.

As the vote took place, opposition lawmakers used air horns in the parliament hall to disrupt the proceedings, but the vote continued unimpeded after a few moments.

The opposition lawmakers also hung a large banner reading "You can ban us, but not the truth!”

The amendment, which required a two-thirds vote, passed along party lines with 140 votes for and 21 against. It was proposed by the ruling Fidesz-KDNP coalition led by populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Ahead of the vote — the final step for the amendment — opposition politicians and other protesters attempted to blockade the entrance to a parliament parking garage. Police physically removed demonstrators, who had used zip ties to bind themselves together.

The amendment, the 15th to Hungary’s constitution since Orbán’s party unilaterally authored and approved the document in 2011, declares that children’s rights to moral, physical and spiritual development supersede any other fundamental right other than the right to life, including that to peacefully assemble.

The change codifies a law fast-tracked through parliament in March that — by relying on the country’s contentious "child protection” legislation which prohibits the "depiction or promotion” of homosexuality to minors aged under 18 — bans public events held by LGBTQ+ communities including the popular Pride event in Budapest that draws thousands annually.

(AP)