Hungary: Lawmakers scrap Orban-era anti-LGBTQ+ provisions
Hungary’s parliament voted Tuesday to amend a 2021 law introduced under former Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The change removes most provisions restricting material about sexual and gender diversity.
The original law limited such content available to children. Books discussing these subjects, including in age-appropriate ways, could be sold only in black wrapping with warning labels.
The amendment keeps a rule barring sexually explicit or violent material for people under 18. It passed with 139 votes in favor and 51 opposed.
The European Court of Justice ruled in April that the law breached EU treaties. After the parliamentary vote, the bloc released €4.2 billion in funding to Hungary.
Orban left office in April. His successor, conservative Peter Magyar, has pledged to reverse some of his predecessor’s policies and challenge corruption and authoritarian structures. EU commissioners welcomed the vote as a sign of commitment to shared values.
Key points
- The amendment removes most LGBTQ+ content restrictions from the 2021 law.
- Protections against sexually explicit or violent material for under-18s remain.
- The EU released €4.2 billion in Hungarian funding after the vote.