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Thousands defy ban: Budapest united in rainbow flags!
Despite the ban, thousands plan to take part in the Pride parade in Budapest on June 28, 2025 to fight for LGBTQ rights.
Thousands defy ban: Budapest united in rainbow flags!
On June 28, 2025, Deak Square in the heart of Budapest was filled with thousands of people who took part in the Pride parade despite a strict ban. The colorful rainbow flags that many held aloft were a direct sign of protest against the ban on the event by the Hungarian government under Prime Minister Viktor Orban. This decision came in the context of a new assembly law, which is increasingly criticized as an instrument of oppression and significantly restricts the freedom of the LGBTQ community to organize events. Goslarsche.de reported that many participants expected to face legal repercussions as authorities might use facial recognition technology to identify them.
The Pride parade, which was actually supposed to lead over a Danube bridge to the Buda side, is not only a celebration of diversity, but also a symbol of the cultural and political conflict between Orban and the liberal city leadership of Budapest. Gergely Karacsony, the city's mayor and himself an opposition leader, has spoken out clearly against the ban, declaring the event a municipal rally that, according to his recollections, is not subject to the controversial law. RFE/RL informs that the city administration and the Pride organizers are convinced that the ban is illegal.
Criticism of the government
The Orban government is criticized not only domestically but also internationally. Human rights groups and the EU itself have strongly condemned the restrictive measures. The “Propaganda Law” passed in 2021 criminalized the depiction and promotion of homosexuality and diverse gender identities to minors, according to Amnesty International further stigmatizes the rights of sexual and gender minorities.
The day, which marked the 30th edition of the Budapest Pride parade, was expected to attract around 35,000 participants, including numerous European MPs, diplomats and the EU Commissioner for Gender Equality, Hadja Lahbib. Despite threats from Justice Minister Bence Tuzson, who threatened Karacsony with a one-year prison sentence for organizing the Pride parade, the mayor was optimistic and stressed that participants need not fear reprisals.
The mood during the parade was one of solidarity and resistance. Organizers hope that their voices will not only be heard, but also help end the ongoing repression against the LGBTQ community in Hungary and beyond.