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Globe and Mail
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
Budapest is ready to come out
Lau and Vivi, a young lesbian couple in Hungary, often hold hands walking through Budapest's streets. However, Lau has started to have troubling second thoughts about this show of affection since the government ramped up its anti-LGBTQ campaign. Right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who casts himself as a defender of what he calls Christian values from Western liberalism and whose supporters are mostly rural conservatives, has passed several laws affecting the lives of Hungary's LGBTQ community over the past decade. These include banning a change of gender in personal documents, legislation that effectively halts adoption by same-sex couples, and a law banning the use of materials in schools seen as promoting homosexuality and gender transition. In March, parliament passed a law that created a legal basis for police to ban Pride marches, key events for the LGBTQ community worldwide in campaigning for rights, celebrating diversity and highlighting discrimination. The governing Fidesz party said Pride could be harmful to children and so protecting them should supersede the right to assemble. 'Somehow unconsciously, I started to think whether I should dare to hold Vivi's hand in front of a child now,' said Lau, or Laura Toth, a 37-year-old DJ and sound technician working in Budapest's vibrant club scene. 'This does not mean I will not hold her hand now, but something started to work inside me.' Lau's partner, 27-year-old Vivien Winkler, says it is surreal that they should feel they are doing something wrong if they hug or kiss each other in the street, as they are in love and could even marry down the line – though in another country. Hungary has never allowed gay marriage, only civil unions. The couple fell in love two years ago. With their dog, they have moved into a cozy flat full of books and photos, and have set up a small studio in one room, where Lau makes her own music. She is set to release a track which she calls 'a queer love song.' Along with love, they also found true inspiration in each other. 'This LP is about my personal coming out story,' she said with a knowing smile, as this was not easy for her growing up in a town in eastern Hungary. With the help of therapy, she finally came out two or three years ago, first to her grandmother, who was more accepting than her parents. Vivien had a similar experience with her grandparents in Budapest who were very quick to embrace Lau as a member of the family. They are happy together and both regularly DJ in clubs. But they feel the air is thinning for LGBTQ people. 'We are continuously discussing that we may need to move abroad next year,' Vivien said. The Prime Minister told his supporters in February that Pride organizers 'should not even bother' planning the event this year. Some saw this as a tactic to hold on to conservative votes – in 2026 he faces elections and a new opposition party poses a serious challenge to his rule. 'We've defended the right of parents to decide how their children are brought up, and we've curbed views and fashions that are against nature,' the veteran leader said in May. Passage of the new law allowed police last week to ban the 30th Pride march due on Saturday. However, Budapest's liberal mayor said the march will be held on that date nonetheless, as a municipal event celebrating freedom, allowing it to circumvent the ban. Thirty-three foreign embassies including those of France, Germany and Britain, although not the United States, have backed the event. 'Pride will not ask for permission: this is a protest,' the Budapest Pride organizers have said. Lau and Vivi have attended Pride marches before but said this year's will be especially important. Laszlo Laner, 69, was an organizer of Budapest's first Pride in 1997 and played an active role in Hungary's gay movement after the collapse of the Communist regime in 1989. 'I think we will have the largest crowd so far, not only of LGBTQ people and sympathizers but also ... those who march for democracy, freedom of speech and the right to assemble,' he said. Hungarians were mostly accepting of the LGBTQ community, he added. This has been underpinned by polls. A survey by pollster Median in November, 2024, made for HATTER society, a Hungarian LGBTQ group, showed 53 per cent of Hungarians said it was acceptable for two men to fall in love, and 57 per cent said the same about two women. About 49 per cent would support same-sex marriage. People in Hungary are a lot less negative toward LGBTQ people than the government is trying to suggest, said Zsolt Hegyi, 57, who is gay and has never attended Pride but will join the march now. Events like Pride can help people who struggle to come to terms with their feelings to open up. 'They can get some encouragement that the world will not collapse after their coming out,' he said. Ballroom culture, which originated as a safe and inclusive space for Black and Latino LGBTQ individuals in New York, also offers a safe space in Budapest with its regular balls, where participants compete with dances in various categories. In Turbina, an arts and inclusive community space in the heart of Budapest, more than a hundred people gathered on March 15 for a ballroom event where participants donned costumes inspired by iconic queer personalities. Iulian Paragina from Romania, a dental technician who has lived in Budapest for four years, acted as Master of Ceremony and also danced. 'As a queer person, one of the biggest challenges is simply having the courage to live authentically,' he said. 'Personally, I used to feel relatively safe in Budapest, up to a point ... Today, our voices are being silenced, whether it's through banning Pride, limiting freedom of expression, or pushing harmful narratives.' The gradual erosion of LGBTQ rights has had a chilling effect on the community, said Armin Egres Konig, 25, who is trans and non-binary, and works as a social worker for HATTER society. They were personally affected by the 2020 law that made it impossible for transgender people to legally change genders, as it was enacted before their coming out. While they found an inclusive and accepting community at university, they find being trans can be difficult in everyday life. 'In the world out there it is very hard to be a trans person and I faced harassment in the street.' The Canadian Medical Association is fighting Alberta in court over a law limiting gender-affirming care, one of the recent changes that have made the province one of Canada's most restrictive places for trans youth. Alanna Smith spoke with The Decibel about the case. Subscribe for more episodes. Andrej Ivanov: Serbia is still struggling to show pride in its queer community. But things are getting better Rachel Browne: What my trans brother's coming-out taught me about allyship Pete Crighton: Queer folks can find common ground across generations
RNZ News
5 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Minister for Ethnic Communities Mark Mitchell condemns Destiny Church march: 'Not Kiwi, nor Christian'
Minister for Ethnic Communities Mark Mitchell. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi The Minister for Ethnic Communities says he was "appalled" by a Destiny Church march on Saturday which was neither "Kiwi, nor Christian". Church followers marched down Auckland's Queen Street on Saturday against "foreign religions", with leader Brian Tamaki saying the church was building a "Commonwealth crusade" to "reclaim Christian nations". A number of flags were also set on fire but were put out before firefighters arrived. Protesters at the Destiny Church rally in Auckland. Photo: RNZ In a post to Facebook, Minister Mark Mitchell said everyone had a right to freedom of speech and protest. "That does mean, however, that New Zealanders are free to condemn behaviour that is not in keeping with our values as a country and as a wider community. "I am proud to be the Minister of Ethnic Communities in a multicultural and diverse New Zealand, which has had a proud history of welcoming people from all walks of life." Destiny Church said the march was to take "a bold public stand for Christian values, Kiwi identity and the future of this nation". Mitchell said behaviour that incited discrimination or violence was "damaging" and condemned the "vile rhetoric and behaviour" of the Church and its associates. "The behaviour I saw was not Kiwi, nor Christian. "The use of taiaha, which is a culturally sacred weapon, to overtly stab at flags representing minority groups in our country, while being torn to pieces and burnt is not acceptable." Mitchell said the government had a strong focus in public safety. "Anything that threatens or disturbs the public's right to go about their lives free from threat of violence is something I take very seriously. "New Zealand welcomes all people, of all backgrounds and ethnicities, who are willing to behave in a way that is tolerant and reflective of our values. The actions I saw from Destiny Church this weekend in my view are not welcome in New Zealand." Protesters and counter-protesters at the Destiny Church rally. Photo: RNZ On Saturday, Acting Prime Minister David Seymour denounced the marching, saying it was "un-Kiwi". "What it means to be Kiwi is people come from all over the world, and so long as they come peacefully to build a better world, then they're welcome," Seymour said. "Brian Tamaki's various attitudes have all sorts of problems, but at their heart they're un-Kiwi attitudes because they're intolerant and uninclusive. "What I take issue with is his attacks on other New Zealander's right to practice their faith just as he has a right to practice his." It comes as faith and ethnic communities urge the government get moving on hate speech legislation in response to a Destiny Church march on the weekend. The Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand, the Combined Sikh Association of NZ, and the New Zealand Buddhist Council say the event was "despicable" and New Zealand needs a strategy for social cohesion. In a letter to the government, all MPs and public sector agencies, the groups said there were "elements" in New Zealand who exploit the lack of effective hate speech legislation to gain notoriety for through "racist stunts". "With the rapid rise of hate incidents reported to the NZ Police, we now have similar conditions which gave rise to the terror attacks of 15 March. In an increasing diverse multi-faith and multi-ethnic Aotearoa New Zealand, there needs to be in place a sustained strategy for social cohesion." "This was clearly outlined and specified in detail in the Royal Commission, which have now been mostly abandoned." In the letter the groups requested: Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
21-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Destiny Church protesters set flags on fire in Auckland rally
Protesters at a Destiny Church rally in Auckland, 21 June 2025. Photo: RNZ Fire and Emergency crews have been called to a Destiny Church march in downtown Auckland after flags were set on fire. Hundreds have marched from Aotea Square down Queen Street in what the church billed as a rally "in defence of faith, flag and family". At one point flags - which an RNZ reporter said appeared to include rainbow flags and flags representing mainstream media - were set alight. Rally goers then put the flames out with water and arriving fire crews then left without taking action. During the march, people chanted "no immigration without assimilation". Destiny Church said the march was to take "a bold public stand for Christian values, Kiwi identity and the future of this nation". Church leader Brian Tamaki claimed "uncontrolled immigration" in the United Kingdom had led to spikes in crime and a collapse in British identity. Tamaki said the church was building a "Commonwealth crusade" to "reclaim Christina nations". Protesters and counter-protesters at a Destiny Church rally in Auckland, 21 June 2025. Photo: RNZ The Destiny marchers were met by about 20 counterprotestors waving tino rangatiratanga and Palestine flags. A large number of Police were also in attendance. Ahead of the march, Tamaki said church leaders had sent an open letter to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon calling for a reversal on a position that the country has no official religion. He said a demand included enforcing a "no immigration without assimilation" policy. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Associated Press
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Southern California Family Wins Christlit Book Award For Debut Novel: 'Trusting Timothy: A Story About Cheating'
'Trusting Timothy' is celebrated by reviewers for its heartfelt message and powerful storytelling about God's Word. The family will also appear at a book signing this weekend at Barnes & Nobles in Huntington Beach. Southern CA - Children's story 'Trusting Timothy: A Story About Cheating,' teaches the importance of Christian values in everyday life by demonstrating how God's Word is the only true answer to equip you for success. Written by a standout homeschooling family, the Bryants, this debut novel has recently been recognized with the Christlit Book Award. Internationally recognized, the Christlit Book Award is dedicated to acknowledging and honoring remarkable authors who skillfully integrate themes of faith into their literary creations. The program is known for showcasing powerful narratives that inspire and connect with audiences of every generation. 'Our family is deeply honored and truly blessed to receive this award,' said Bobby Bryant II. 'From day one, I envisioned 'Trusting Timothy' would be different from other children's stories and that's because it was a labor of love built together, piece by piece, with my kids. Through this book, I hoped to plant seeds of excellence in the hearts of young readers everywhere, and most importantly to remind them that with God, all things are possible.' While the idea may have originated from Bobby Bryant II, this book has developed into a unique family-built venture designed to teach and inspire the next generation. From writing to providing input on illustrating, the Bryant family all contributed their gifts and talents to create this amazing work of literature. 'Trusting Timothy: A Story About Cheating' not only delivers a powerful message, but also serves as a testament to the creative freedom and flexibility that homeschooling provided for the Bryant Family. The story follows Timothy, a young boy faced with a difficult choice: whether he should follow along with his new friends, or stand up for what is right. 'Trusting Timothy' teaches the importance of Christian values in everyday life by demonstrating how God's Word is the only true answer to equip you for success. You can purchase your copy of 'Trusting Timothy: A Story about Cheating' here on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. About the Author(s): Bobby Bryant II: Bobby Bryant II loves spending time with his family. He really cherishes family vacations. He enjoys watching movies in his free time. He is also a big sports fan. Learning and always trying to improve is important to Bobby, so he loves to read as many books as he can. Bobby Bryant III/B.J.: Bobby Bryant III, referred to as B.J. by family, friends and loved ones, is passionate about playing the piano. He also really likes listening to different types of music. Ava Bryant: Ava Bryant loves spending time with family and friends, including her two dogs. In addition to writing books, she enjoys coding, art, Sudoku, long-distance running and making YouTube videos. Joseph Bryant: Joseph Bryant, from a young age, has enjoyed reading books and writing stories of his own. He enjoys playing chess, the guitar and basketball. He is also a very big fan of the Golden State Warriors. Event Details: The Bryant family will be hosting an Author Storytime at Barnes & Noble in Huntington Beach on Saturday, June 7th at 11 a.m. There is no cost for entry and RSVPs are not required. Media Contact Company Name: Flo Agency Contact Person: Kelly Clarke Email: Send Email Phone: (603) 953-6050 Country: United States Website: Press Release Distributed by To view the original version on ABNewswire visit: Southern California Family Wins Christlit Book Award For Debut Novel: 'Trusting Timothy: A Story About Cheating'
Globe and Mail
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
Southern California Family Wins Christlit Book Award For Debut Novel: 'Trusting Timothy: A Story About Cheating'
"'Trusting Timothy' is celebrated by reviewers for its heartfelt message and powerful storytelling about God's Word." The family will also appear at a book signing this weekend at Barnes & Nobles in Huntington Beach. Southern CA - Children's story 'Trusting Timothy: A Story About Cheating,' teaches the importance of Christian values in everyday life by demonstrating how God's Word is the only true answer to equip you for success. Written by a standout homeschooling family, the Bryants, this debut novel has recently been recognized with the Christlit Book Award. Internationally recognized, the Christlit Book Award is dedicated to acknowledging and honoring remarkable authors who skillfully integrate themes of faith into their literary creations. The program is known for showcasing powerful narratives that inspire and connect with audiences of every generation. 'Our family is deeply honored and truly blessed to receive this award,' said Bobby Bryant II. 'From day one, I envisioned 'Trusting Timothy' would be different from other children's stories and that's because it was a labor of love built together, piece by piece, with my kids. Through this book, I hoped to plant seeds of excellence in the hearts of young readers everywhere, and most importantly to remind them that with God, all things are possible.' While the idea may have originated from Bobby Bryant II, this book has developed into a unique family-built venture designed to teach and inspire the next generation. From writing to providing input on illustrating, the Bryant family all contributed their gifts and talents to create this amazing work of literature. 'Trusting Timothy: A Story About Cheating' not only delivers a powerful message, but also serves as a testament to the creative freedom and flexibility that homeschooling provided for the Bryant Family. The story follows Timothy, a young boy faced with a difficult choice: whether he should follow along with his new friends, or stand up for what is right. 'Trusting Timothy' teaches the importance of Christian values in everyday life by demonstrating how God's Word is the only true answer to equip you for success. You can purchase your copy of 'Trusting Timothy: A Story about Cheating' here on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. About the Author(s): Bobby Bryant II: Bobby Bryant II loves spending time with his family. He really cherishes family vacations. He enjoys watching movies in his free time. He is also a big sports fan. Learning and always trying to improve is important to Bobby, so he loves to read as many books as he can. Bobby Bryant III/B.J.: Bobby Bryant III, referred to as B.J. by family, friends and loved ones, is passionate about playing the piano. He also really likes listening to different types of music. Ava Bryant: Ava Bryant loves spending time with family and friends, including her two dogs. In addition to writing books, she enjoys coding, art, Sudoku, long-distance running and making YouTube videos. Joseph Bryant: Joseph Bryant, from a young age, has enjoyed reading books and writing stories of his own. He enjoys playing chess, the guitar and basketball. He is also a very big fan of the Golden State Warriors. Event Details: The Bryant family will be hosting an Author Storytime at Barnes & Noble in Huntington Beach on Saturday, June 7th at 11 a.m. There is no cost for entry and RSVPs are not required. Media Contact Company Name: Flo Agency Contact Person: Kelly Clarke Email: Send Email Phone: (603) 953-6050 Country: United States Website:
