Latest news with #Zoltan
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Major turnout as Budapest Pride defies Orban's ban in Hungary
With rainbow flags flying high, tens of thousands of people began marching Saturday for the Budapest Pride parade, defying a government ban that marks a major pushback against LGBTQ rights in the European Union. Organisers expect a record turnout of more than 35,000 people for the 30th edition of the Pride march in the Hungarian capital, despite a police ban imposed by Prime Minister Viktor Orban's nationalist government. "Many, many tens of thousands" are participating, organisers said on social media after the march started, as AFP journalists saw the festive crowd filling squares and streets along the route. "I am proud to be gay... and I am very scared that the government wants to bring us down. I am very surprised that there are so many people, I want to cry," a 66-year-old participant, who gave only his first name, Zoltan, told AFP. Orban's governing coalition amended laws and the constitution this year to prohibit the annual celebration, justifying his years-long clampdown on LGBTQ rights on "child protection" grounds. Orban said Friday that while police would not "break up" the Pride march, those who took part should be aware of "legal consequences". - Newly installed cameras - Parade organisers risk up to a year in prison, and attendees can face fines up to 500 euros ($590). The latest legal changes also empower the authorities to use facial-recognition technology to identify those who take part, and newly installed cameras have appeared on lamp posts along the parade route. But participants were defiant as the march began chaotically under a scorching sun. Marchers repeatedly had to pause to wait for police to stop traffic, according to AFP journalists at the scene. Akos Horvath, an 18-year-old student who came to Budapest from a city in southern Hungary, said it was "of symbolic importance to come". "It's not just about representing gay people, but about standing up for the rights of the Hungarian people," he told AFP on his way to the march. Dozens of European lawmakers also attended in defiance of the ban. "Freedom and love can't be banned," read one huge poster put up near city hall, the gathering point for the march. Earlier this week, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen called on the Hungarian authorities to reverse the ban, while EU equalities commissioner Hadja Lahbib travelled to Hungary and spoke in support of the parade on Friday. Thirty-three nations, including most EU countries, have also released a statement in support of the march. At a press conference Saturday, several French MEPs called on the EU to take tougher measures against Orban's government over the crackdown on civil rights and other rule of law issues. Budapest's opposition mayor Gergely Karacsony has insisted that no attendee should face any reprisals as the march is a municipal event that does not require police approval. Some people also gathered along the route to protest against LGBTQ rights at the urging of far-right groups, including by putting up a wooden cross adorned with protest messages. A woman who gave only her first name, Katalin, told AFP she agreed with the ban though she hoped there would be no clashes. "Disgusting... it's become a fad to show off ourselves," she said. - 'Polarising society' - Since Orban's return to power in 2010, the country of 9.6 million people has been steadily rolling back LGBTQ rights. But it is the first to ban a Pride march, with Orban saying he has been emboldened by the anti-diversity push by US President Donald Trump. "Orban is employing a tried-and-tested recipe ahead of next year's election by generating a conflict," political analyst Daniel Mikecz told AFP, saying that Orban was "polarising society". ros-bg-jza/js
Malay Mail
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
‘Love can't be banned': Budapest Pride defies Orban clampdown with record 200,000 crowd
BUDAPEST, June 29 — Record numbers of people marched in the Budapest Pride parade yesterday, defying a government ban that marked a major pushback against LGBTQ rights in the European Union. Organisers estimated up to 200,000 people took part in the 30th parade in the Hungarian capital, which was held in a festive atmosphere with rainbow flags flying high. Those numbers far exceed the previous record turnout of 35,000 people and came in spite of a police ban imposed by Prime Minister Viktor Orban's nationalist government. The governing coalition amended its laws and the constitution this year to prohibit the annual celebration, citing 'child protection' to justify the years-long clampdown on LGBTQ rights. But the opposition-run Budapest city hall decided to co-host the march so it could go ahead. 'I am proud to be gay and I am very scared that the government wants to bring us down,' one participant, 66-year-old Zoltan, told AFP. 'I am very surprised that there are so many people, I want to cry,' he added. He declined to give his full name. 'Big embarrassment' Orban said Friday that while police would not break up the Pride march, those who took part should be aware of 'legal consequences'. Parade organisers risk up to a year in prison, and attendees can face fines up to €500 (RM2,500). The latest legal changes also empower the authorities to use facial-recognition technology to identify those taking part, and cameras had recently been installed on lamp posts along the parade route. Szabolcs Pek, lead analyst at research centre Iranytu Institute, said it would be difficult for Orban's Fidesz party to respond to the high turnout. 'This is a big embarrassment for Fidesz,' he told AFP. Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs in a post on X after the march claimed the opposition staged the parade 'at Brussels' command'. 'With Pride, the opposition incited against laws they don't like, mocked Hungary's sovereignty, and — with foreign backing — tried to force woke culture onto us,' he wrote. The march began chaotically under a scorching sun. Marchers repeatedly had to pause to wait for police to stop traffic, according to AFP journalists at the scene. 'I definitely wanted to come, if only to show my solidarity, and to show how important this issue is — not only to me, but to almost everyone living in Budapest,' economics student Marcell Szanto, 22, told AFP. Dozens of European lawmakers also attended in defiance of the ban. 'Love can't be banned' 'Freedom and love can't be banned,' read one huge poster put up near city hall, the gathering point for the march. Earlier this week, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen called on the Hungarian authorities to reverse the ban. Thirty-three nations, including most EU countries, have also released a statement in support of the march. Since Orban's return to power in 2010, the country of 9.6 million people has been steadily rolling back LGBTQ rights. It is the first EU nation to ban a Pride march, and Orban has said he has been emboldened by the anti-diversity push by US President Donald Trump. Some people also gathered along the route to protest LGBTQ rights, in demonstrations called by far-right groups, one of which featured a wooden cross adorned with protest messages. But opposition leader Peter Magyar said on Facebook that the government 'scored not a goal, but a huge own goal with their attempt to ban today's event'. Budapest mayor Gergely Karacsony in a post noting the big turnout thanked Orban 'for advertising for a more tolerant society'. One woman, who gave only her first name, Katalin, told AFP she agreed with the ban though she didn't want any clashes. 'Disgusting... it's become a fad to show off ourselves,' she said. — AFP
CNA
28-06-2025
- Politics
- CNA
Biggest-ever Budapest Pride defies Orban ban in Hungary
BUDAPEST: Record numbers of people marched in the Budapest Pride parade Saturday (Jun 28), defying a government ban that marked a major pushback against LGBTQ rights in the European Union. Organisers estimated up to 200,000 people took part in the 30th parade in the Hungarian capital, which was held in a festive atmosphere with rainbow flags flying high. Those numbers far exceed the previous record turnout of 35,000 people and came in spite of a police ban imposed by Prime Minister Viktor Orban's nationalist government. The governing coalition amended its laws and the constitution this year to prohibit the annual celebration, citing "child protection" to justify the years-long clampdown on LGBTQ rights. But the opposition-run Budapest city hall decided to co-host the march so it could go ahead. "I am proud to be gay and I am very scared that the government wants to bring us down," one participant, 66-year-old Zoltan, told AFP. "I am very surprised that there are so many people, I want to cry," he added. He declined to give his full name. "BIG EMBARRASSMENT" Orban said Friday that while police would not break up the Pride march, those who took part should be aware of "legal consequences". Parade organisers risk up to a year in prison, and attendees can face fines up to 500 euros ($590). The latest legal changes also empower the authorities to use facial-recognition technology to identify those taking part, and cameras had recently been installed on lamp posts along the parade route. Szabolcs Pek, lead analyst at research centre Iranytu Institute, said it would be difficult for Orban's Fidesz party to respond to the high turnout. "This is a big embarrassment for Fidesz," he told AFP. Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs in a post on X after the march claimed the opposition staged the parade "at Brussels' command". "With Pride, the opposition incited against laws they don't like, mocked Hungary's sovereignty, and - with foreign backing - tried to force woke culture onto us," he wrote. The march began chaotically under a scorching sun. Marchers repeatedly had to pause to wait for police to stop traffic, according to AFP journalists at the scene. "I definitely wanted to come, if only to show my solidarity, and to show how important this issue is - not only to me, but to almost everyone living in Budapest," economics student Marcell Szanto, 22, told AFP. Dozens of European lawmakers also attended in defiance of the ban. "LOVE CAN'T BE BANNED" "Freedom and love can't be banned," read one huge poster put up near city hall, the gathering point for the march. Earlier this week, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen called on the Hungarian authorities to reverse the ban. Thirty-three nations, including most EU countries, have also released a statement in support of the march. Since Orban's return to power in 2010, the country of 9.6 million people has been steadily rolling back LGBTQ rights. It is the first EU nation to ban a Pride march, and Orban has said he has been emboldened by the anti-diversity push by US President Donald Trump. Some people also gathered along the route to protest LGBTQ rights, in demonstrations called by far-right groups, one of which featured a wooden cross adorned with protest messages. But opposition leader Peter Magyar said on Facebook that the government "scored not a goal, but a huge own goal with their attempt to ban today's event". Budapest mayor Gergely Karacsony in a post noting the big turnout thanked Orban "for advertising for a more tolerant society". One woman, who gave only her first name, Katalin, told AFP she agreed with the ban though she didn't want any clashes.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Biggest-ever Budapest Pride defies Orban ban in Hungary
Record numbers of people marched in the Budapest Pride parade Saturday, defying a government ban that marked a major pushback against LGBTQ rights in the European Union. Organisers estimated up to 200,000 people had taken part in the 30th parade in the Hungarian capital, which was held in a festive atmosphere with rainbow flags flying high. Those numbers far exceed the previous record turnout of 35,000 people and come in spite of a police ban imposed by Prime Minister Viktor Orban's nationalist government. The governing coalition amended its laws and the constitution this year to prohibit the annual celebration, justifying his years-long clampdown on LGBTQ rights on "child protection" grounds. But the opposition-run Budapest city hall decided to co-host the march so it could go ahead. "I am proud to be gay... and I am very scared that the government wants to bring us down," one participant, 66-year-old Zoltan, told AFP. I am very surprised that there are so many people, I want to cry," he added. He declined to give his full name. - 'Big embarrassment' - Orban said Friday that while police would not break up the Pride march, those who took part should be aware of "legal consequences". Parade organisers risk up to a year in prison, and attendees can face fines up to 500 euros ($590). The latest legal changes also empower the authorities to use facial-recognition technology to identify those taking part, and cameras have recently been installed on lamp posts along the parade route. Szabolcs Pek, lead analyst at research centre Iranytu Institute, said it would be difficult for Orban's Fidesz party to respond to the high turnout. "This is a big embarrassment for Fidesz," he told AFP. The march began chaotically under a scorching sun. Marchers repeatedly had to pause to wait for police to stop traffic, according to AFP journalists at the scene. "I definitely wanted to come, if only to show my solidarity, and to show how important this issue is -- not only to me, but to almost everyone living in Budapest," economics student Marcell Szanto, 22, told AFP. Dozens of European lawmakers also attended in defiance of the ban. - 'Love can't be banned' - "Freedom and love can't be banned," read one huge poster put up near city hall, the gathering point for the march. Earlier this week, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen called on the Hungarian authorities to reverse the ban. Thirty-three nations, including most EU countries, have also released a statement in support of the march. And at a news conference Saturday, several French MEPs called on the EU to take tougher measures against Orban's government over the crackdown on civil rights and other rule-of-law issues. Since Orban's return to power in 2010, the country of 9.6 million people has been steadily rolling back LGBTQ rights. It is the first EU nation to ban a Pride march, and Orban has said he has been emboldened by the anti-diversity push by US President Donald Trump. Some people also gathered along the route to protest LGBTQ rights, in demonstrations called by far-right groups, one of which featured a wooden cross adorned with protest messages. But opposition leader Peter Magyar said on Facebook that the government "scored not a goal, but a huge own goal with their attempt to ban today's event". Budapest mayor Gergely Karacsony in a post noting the big turnout thanked Orban "for advertising for a more tolerant society". One woman, who gave only her first name, Katalin, told AFP she agreed with the ban though she hoped there would be no clashes. "Disgusting... it's become a fad to show off ourselves," she said. ros-bg-jza/jj
Miami Herald
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Mariska Hargitay reveals shocking discovery in new documentary about her mom
Mariska Hargitay's new documentary tells her story just as much as it tells her mom's story. The 61-year-old Emmy-winning actress, best known for her role in NBC's 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,' is making her feature film directorial debut with her new doc titled, 'My Mom Jayne.' The film tells the legacy of Hargitay's mother, Jayne Mansfield, nearly six decades after her death. On June 13, Hargitay was joined by her husband, Peter Hermann, and their three kids at Carnegie Hall for a special screening of the film at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. And one scene, in particular, is going viral. In the documentary, Hargitay is talking to her brother, Zoltan, about the day they (along with their other brother, Mickey) survived a 1967 car crash that killed their mother, her then-boyfriend Sam Brody, and the driver. The three kids, all under 8 years old, were in the backseat of the car at the time of the crash. While recalling the accident, Zoltan remembered 'waking up in a car with a blonde-haired woman who had helped rescue the children' after the crash, according to People. At first, Zoltan thought the woman was his mother before realizing it wasn't. After being pulled from the wreckage, Zoltan remembers looking around and noticing that his sister, then 3-year-old Mariska, wasn't among them. When he asked where his sister was, the adults in the vehicle realized she was left at the scene, still inside the mangled car. Hargitay was found lodged under the passenger seat with a head injury, according to People. A 1967 New York Times article further revealed that Hargitay had 'head cuts and may require plastic surgery.' Zoltan had reportedly suffered a broken arm and cuts, while Mickey had cuts and bruises. 'Thank God Zolie woke up,' Hargitay's stepmom, Ellen, said of Zoltan in the documentary. According to Zoltan, Mansfield was originally in the backseat with her three kids, but moved to the front seat to continue the argument she was having with Brody, People reported. 'I often think about why she didn't just stay in the backseat with us,' Zoltan wonders, per HuffPost. 'But I remember her comforting me, telling me I was going to be fine. Twenty minutes later, half an hour, I heard her scream so loud, and that was it,' he recalled. Hargitay's new documentary premiered May 17 at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in France. It was there that Hargitay revealed that Mickey Hargitay, the only father she had ever known, wasn't her biological father. Instead, her real father was Brazilian-born Italian singer Nelson Sardelli, 90. Hargitay said she first learned the news when she was 30 years old. Upon meeting, Sardelli told Hargitay that he had 'been waiting 30 years for this moment.' While Hargitay struggled with the realization that she had been 'living a lie' her entire life, the revelation didn't change who she was — or where she came from. 'I grew up where I was supposed to, and I do know that everyone made the best choice for me,' she told Vanity Fair. 'I'm Mickey Hargitay's daughter — that is not a lie.' At the Tribeca Film Festival, Hargitay opened up about what it means to finally tell her story. 'This is my story to tell,' Mariska told People at the event. 'I had a rough time with the fact that somebody else told it before I did, and that was the impetus of the movie — that I wanted to tell my story.' She goes on to say that her story felt 'protected' until she was ready to tell it. 'I encourage a lot of women, and men, to tell their stories,' she told People, further describing it as 'empowering' before adding that it 'gives ourselves back parts of ourselves.' 'My Mom Jayne' is scheduled to make its official premiere June 27 on HBO and Max.
