As volunteers it’s our obligation to stand against discrimination and inequality. We came to this program to be a part of something big and in hope to make a difference. We do what we can both in our work and private life, for example by attempting to the CSD (Christopher Street Day*1) Pride Parade.
So of course whenever we read the news and see what’s going on in our world right now, it gets to us. Not only as volunteers but as humans.
In honor of pride month, we reflected on the kind of content we would like to make on our Blog for this particular month. Considering the situation of the LGBTQ+ community in Hungary, Emma who initially was born there, wrote an article reflecting on the problems mainly in Hungary, but all around Europe.
Why Pride month is so important – for everyone.
From the 1st of June until the end of the month we see rainbows everywhere: on posters, on packaging, on the street, on the internet. However, during this month, behind this overflow of colors is not just the intention to make a website, a product or even a whole city more vibrant: It’s pride month. A month to show solidarity, to celebrate diversity, to recognize a wider spectrum of sexuality and gender, and that anyone who doesn’t fit into the ideology of “Adam and Eve” is just as much a treasured and equal part of society. This month is to stand against anything that communicates exclusion.
Now, many think that we already live in times where this community has nothing to fear or fight for. Well, that’s not the case. Let’s take the latest and most drastic example that is happening within a EU country : Hungary has banned the right to assembly for pride parade in the name of protection of children, on the 18. Of March 2025. This law is based on a change in the constitution “stating that the protection and care of a child’s ‘proper physical, mental, and moral development’ shall supersede all other fundamental rights, with the exception of the right to life.” – quoted by Cristian González Cabrera in his article “Hungary Bans LGBT Pride Events – EU Commission Should Take Legal Action to Protect Rights to Free Assembly, Expression“ on the website of Human Rights Watch.
As a reaction, on the same day the law has passed, thousands of people went on the street to express their dissatisfaction with the government of FIDESZ*2, not only discriminating a fighting community, but also signaling that they will use their power, to cut the fundamental right to assembly, whenever they want based on the act of “protecting children”.
It’s not the first time, the Hungarian Government is discriminating against the LGBTQ+ community as Cristian González Cabrera elaborates further in the article: “In 2021 the government adopted a ‘repressive law’ banning the ‘portrayal’ and ‘promotion’ of LGBT content to children The law resulted in anti-LGBT smear campaigns, leading the EU Commission to bring a case against Hungary before the EU Court of Justice.” – Similar to Russia’s “gay propaganda” law.
While Hungary is a prime Example of why pride month is so important, it’s not the only European country that is keeping the LGBTQ+ community from being an equally recognized and respected part of society.
According to the official ranking of ILGA‑Europe Rainbow Map based on the Equality & Non-Discrimination, Family Recognition, Hate Crime & Hate Speech, Legal Gender Recognition & Bodily Integrity, Civil Society Space, Asylum and Sexual & Reproductive Rights / Education in a country Hungary is still on the 37th place in the ranking of 49 countries.
Fact is: Conversion Therapy*3 is only banned in 10 countries around Europe. In not even half of the European countries are same sex marriages legally allowed, and in almost the same amount of countries, there is no law that protects same-sex partnerships from discrimination. And if you think that Hungary is the only country whose government allows to play with basic human rights, the facts listed by ILGA – Europe Rainbow Map, are speaking volumes: “Freedom of assembly and association for LGBTQ+ communities are restricted or under attack in at least 14 countries.”
Recognizing damaging stigmas and standing for human rights of a community is not only profitable for the people who are a part of it, but for everyone else. Every one of us expects to be treated with fairness, equality and overall, with human decency. It’s the responsibility of each and one of us to take action in protecting basic human rights and with this, standing next to the LGBTQ+ community all around the year.
1* named after Christopher Street in New York City, where the Stonewall Riots took place in 1969, a pivotal moment in the LGBTQ+ rights movement.
2* Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Alliance is a conservative, right-wing populist political party in Hungary, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Founded in 1988 as a liberal youth movement (Fiatal Demokraták Szövetsége), it later shifted toward national conservatism and Euroscepticism. In power since 2010, Fidesz promotes Christian values, Hungarian identity, and strict anti-immigration policies. The party has faced criticism from the European Union and international organizations for undermining judicial independence, media freedom, and LGBTQ+ rights. Despite this, Fidesz remains the dominant political force in Hungary.
3*the practice of attempting to cause a non-heterosexual person to become heterosexual by using psychoanalysis, behavior modification, spiritual counselling, etc.
