Hungary adopted a text on Tuesday (June 15th) prohibiting the “
promotion
” of homosexuality among minors, causing concern among rights defenders, while the sovereignist government of Viktor Orban is increasing restrictions on LGBT people.
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The amendment was approved by 157 deputies, including those from the ruling Fidesz party, during a session broadcast live on television. The opposition boycotted the vote, with the exception of Jobbik, a far-right anti-Orban party, which voted in favor. "
Pornography and content that represents sexuality or promotes the deviation of gender identity, sex reassignment and homosexuality must not be accessible to those under the age of 18
", writes this document consulted by AFP, which thus intends to “
protect the rights of children
”.
In practice, educational programs or advertisements from large groups in solidarity with sexual and gender minorities, such as Coca-Cola representing a couple of men who had sparked calls for a boycott in 2019, will no longer be authorized. It will be the same for books, such as the collection of tales and legends defrauding homosexuality which had drawn the wrath of power in the fall of 2020. Series like
Friends
or films like
Bridget Jones
,
Harry Potter
or
Billy Eliot
, in whom homosexuality is mentioned, could also be prohibited for minors, the NGOs are alarmed.
Thousands of people took to the streets of Budapest on Monday evening to denounce this "
permanent propaganda
" of the government against the LGBT community.