Budapest Pride Rally: What to know about Hungary's huge crowd gathered in defiance of PM Orban
Tens of thousands of protesters marched through the streets of Hungary's capital on Saturday, as a banned LGBTQ+ rights rally in Budapest turned into anti-government demonstration, defying defying Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's legal threats against the LGBTQ rights activists and making it one of the biggest shows of opposition during Orban's tenure.
Despite mounting pressure from the ruling nationalist conservative politicians and the police of a major crackdown over the display of pro-LGBTQ material, the organisers estimate that more than 200,000 people may have part in the rally, while some of the demonstrators carried placards saying 'Solidarity with Budapest Pride', BBC reported.
Eszter Rein Bodi, one of the protesters, said 'This is about much more, not just about homosexuality…This is the last moment to stand up for our rights,' Reuters reported. Protesters risked potential police crackdown and heavy fines to participate in the 30th annual Budapest Pride, which has already been declared illegal by Orban's government in March.
Huge crowds swelled the streets of Budapest on Saturday against the systemic curtailment of rights of the LGBTQ+ community by the Orban's government in the past decade, and recently in March, a law was passed by the lawmakers that allowed for the ban of Pride marches, as it cited the need to protect children.
Police in Hungary had issued orders to ban any protests or demonstrations in favour of Pride rallies with a new 'child protection' law restricting gatherings considered to be promoting homosexuality. The opposition in Hungary see the move by Orban's administration as part of a wider crackdown on democratic freedoms ahead of elections next year.
Hungary PM Orban and his party have held that Pride, a celebration of LGBTQ+ visibility and struggle for equal rights, is a violation of moral and spiritual development of children's rights.
PM Orban-led government passed a legislation in March 2025 to curtail the Pride events being held in the country and restricted gatherings that were deemed to be promoting homosexuality. The controversial legislation also allowed the authorities to use facial recognition technology to identify all those taking part in the protest rally.
We hosted a delegation of Belgian political and civil society representatives who came to #Budapest to celebrate Pride. 🇧🇪🏳️🌈
Belgium is proud to stand in solidarity with the Hungarian #LGBTQI+ community. European values are rooted in respect, solidarity, and freedom for all. 🌈 pic.twitter.com/NiSjOKf1iq
— Embassy of Belgium in Budapest (@BelgiumBudapest) June 28, 2025
PM Orban, reacting to the recent protests and Pride rally in Budapest, declined the possibility of violent clashes between police and demonstrators but the leader of the right-wing populist governing party warned of potential legal repercussions for attendees.
'Of course, the police could break up such events, because they have the authority to do so, but Hungary is a civilised country, a civic society. We don't hurt each other,' Orban said, according to BBC.
PM Orban has said that there will be 'legal consequences' for those taking part in the Pride protests, being held for the rights of LGBTQ+ community. Attendees risk a fine of up to $586 (€500, £427) and they can be recognised via facial recognition.
Other than attendees, the organisers of the Pride rally could face prison sentences of up to one year, reports stated.
Pride Day is observed on June 28 every year to commemorate the Stonewall riots held in 1969. On that day, the gay community reportedly stood up against the raids by the New York Police Department on the Stonewall Inn bar in Manhattan, which was known as the meeting place of the community.
A year later, Pride Parade started taking place on June 28 to support and protect the LGBTQ+ community and their rights.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
UK government condemns 'death to the IDF' chants at Glastonbury
GLASTONBURY: The UK government said on Sunday that the BBC had questions to answer over criticism of Israel by musicians at the Glastonbury festival that police are probing. UK officers are studying videos of rapper Bobby Vylan leading crowds in chants of "Death, death to the IDF", a reference to the acronym for the Israeli army, during his set on Saturday. They are also examining comments by outspoken Irish rap trio Kneecap, one of whose members wore a T-shirt dedicated to Palestine Action Group, which is about to be banned under UK terror laws. The IDF chants, condemned by the Israeli embassy in London, were broadcast on the BBC, which airs coverage of Britain's most popular music festival. "I thought it's appalling, to be honest, and I think the BBC and Glastonbury have got questions to answer about how we saw such a spectacle on our screens," UK minister Wes Streeting told Sky News. The Israel embassy said in a statement late Saturday "it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival". But Streeting, Labour's health secretary, also took aim at the embassy, telling it to "get your own house in order". "I think there's a serious point there by the Israeli embassy. I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said, citing settler violence in the West Bank. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thị trường có dấu hiệu suy thoái không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo A spokesperson for the BBC said some of the comments by Vylan, part of British duo Bob Vylan, were "deeply offensive" and the broadcaster had "no plans to make the performance available on demand". 'A joke' Avon and Somerset police said Saturday that video evidence would be assessed by officers "to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation". Kneecap, who have made headlines in recent months with their pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel stance, led crowds in a chant against UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Starmer had said the band should not perform after its member Liam O'Hanna, known by his stage name Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence. He appeared in court earlier this month accused of having displayed a Hezbollah flag while saying "Up Hamas, Up Hezbollah" after a video resurfaced of a London concert last year. The Iran-backed Lebanese force Hezbollah and the Palestinian militant group Hamas are banned in the UK, and it is an offence to express support for them. O'Hanna has denied the charge and told the Guardian in an interview published Friday that "it was a joke -- we're playing characters". Kneecap regularly lead crowds in chants of "Free Palestine" during their concerts. Their fans revere them for their anti-establishment stance and criticism of British imperialism but critics call them extremists. The group apologised this year after a 2023 video emerged appearing to show one singer calling for the death of British Conservative lawmakers.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Donald Trump's ‘Big, Beautiful Bill' On Saturday Was Different Than Earlier Draft: What Are The Changes?
Last Updated: Donald Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill': In a late-night post on social media, Trump declared a 'GREAT VICTORY' after the bill cleared the Senate Donald Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill': Senate Republicans took a major step toward delivering President Donald Trump his ' big, beautiful bill" late Saturday. The bill cleared a key procedural vote, 51-49. Republican leaders must now satisfy numerous holdouts still demanding changes to the bill. In a late-night post on social media, Trump declared a 'GREAT VICTORY" after the bill cleared the Senate, offering praise to four key senators who shifted their votes to get the procedural bill over the finish line. Tech billionaire Elon Musk, however, doubled down on his criticism of the White House's 'Big Beautiful Bill", calling it 'utterly insane" and 'political suicide". The Senate must agree on a final version of the bill before sending it to the floor for a vote. The BBC report said that as it is likely to include some of the changes to the original House bill, it will return to the House for another vote where it may see more challenges. With BBC, CNN, Agencies Inputs About the Author Manjiri Joshi First Published: June 29, 2025, 14:52 IST News explainers Donald Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' On Saturday Was Different Than Earlier Draft: What Are The Changes?
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Russia launches major airstrike on Ukraine; F-16 pilot killed while repelling it
A Ukrainian F-16 fighter pilot was killed while defending against a massive Russian aerial assault involving hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles, authorities said on Sunday. Explosion lights up the sky over the city during a Russian drone, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine June 29, 2025. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY(REUTERS) The attack, one of the largest in recent weeks, marks a renewed escalation in Russia's night-time air raids as the war enters its fourth year. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for greater Western support to bolster Ukraine's air defences following the overnight onslaught, which damaged homes and infrastructure and injured at least seven people. 'This war must be brought to an end – pressure on the aggressor is needed, and so is protection. Protection from ballistic and other missiles, from drones, and from terror. Ukraine needs to strengthen its air defence – the thing that best protects lives,' Zelenskyy said in a post on X. He added, 'Just this week alone, there have been more than 114 missiles, over 1,270 drones, and nearly 1,100 glide bombs.' According to the Ukrainian military, Russia launched 477 drones and 60 missiles of various types overnight. Ukrainian forces destroyed 211 drones and 38 missiles, they said. 'To repel the massive attack, all available means of the defence forces that can operate on enemy air assets were deployed,' the military added. Airstrikes leave trail of destruction The airstrikes, recorded in six locations, left a trail of destruction across several regions. Explosions were heard in Lviv, Poltava, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy, and Ivano-Frankivsk, according to regional governors. In the central Cherkasy region, six people including a child were injured. Three multi-storey buildings and a college were damaged, governor Ihor Taburets said. One woman was injured in Ivano-Frankivsk. Industrial sites were also hit in Mykolaiv and Dnipropetrovsk. Photos released by local authorities showed buildings with charred walls and shattered windows, and rescuers evacuating residents. Ukraine confirmed that it had lost its third F-16 jet since the start of the war during this operation. The Ukrainian Air Force paid tribute to the pilot, who it said 'used all of his onboard weapons and shot down seven air targets.' 'While shooting down the last one, his aircraft was damaged and began to lose altitude. The pilot did everything he could to steer the jet away from a settlement but did not have time to eject,' they added. The military said 225 drones were likely lost in the attack, either neutralised through electronic warfare or decoys without warheads. Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine's urgent need for advanced defence systems, urging the United States and allies to act with 'leadership' and 'political will.' During a recent meeting in The Hague, he appealed to former US President Donald Trump to facilitate the sale of more Patriot missile batteries. Ukraine has not publicly disclosed how many F-16s it currently operates, but they have become a key component of its air defence strategy. Meanwhile, officials in the western Lviv region said critical infrastructure had been targeted, though they did not elaborate on the damage. With Reuters inputs
