In an act of defiance against a ban placed on the LGBTQ Pride march, Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacsony has been questioned by police as part of an investigation into his alleged involvement in organizing the event that took place on June 28. Despite warnings from Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s administration, which instituted legislation banning the march earlier this year, approximately 200,000 participants attended the rally, which quickly transformed into an anti-government demonstration.
Budapest Mayor Under Investigation for Organizing Banned Pride March
Budapest Mayor Under Investigation for Organizing Banned Pride March
Mayor Gergely Karacsony faces police scrutiny for his role in the illegal LGBTQ pride event that challenged the Hungarian government's restrictions.
Dressed in a rainbow T-shirt displaying Budapest’s coat of arms, Mayor Karacsony entered the National Bureau of Investigation on Friday to defend his position. He passionately addressed supporters outside, declaring, “Neither freedom nor love can be banned in Budapest.” Should he be charged and found guilty, Karacsony risks facing up to a year in prison for promoting a banned gathering.
The mayor expressed his belief that the accusations are unfounded and plans to file a complaint against them, emphasizing the principle that “if it cannot be banned, it cannot be punished.” The legal troubles come after a series of governmental actions against the LGBTQ+ community in Hungary, which included a law prohibiting gatherings that breach child protection regulations in relation to the promotion of homosexuality.
Notably, 2020 saw Hungary eliminate legal recognition for transgender individuals, followed by the 2021 legislation barring depictions of homosexuality to minors. In spite of this, Karacsony pledged that the Budapest Pride march would proceed under the auspices of the local municipality and insisted that the police lacked the authority to stifle a local event.
A previous announcement from the police indicated that they would not penalize attendees who might have faced fines for their participation in the pride march. Meanwhile, an investigation is ongoing against an “unknown perpetrator” for allegedly organizing the rally. The resilience of Budapest Pride continues to signal a vibrant pushback against Orban’s legal threats, rallying crowds in celebration of the LGBTQ+ community’s rights.
The mayor expressed his belief that the accusations are unfounded and plans to file a complaint against them, emphasizing the principle that “if it cannot be banned, it cannot be punished.” The legal troubles come after a series of governmental actions against the LGBTQ+ community in Hungary, which included a law prohibiting gatherings that breach child protection regulations in relation to the promotion of homosexuality.
Notably, 2020 saw Hungary eliminate legal recognition for transgender individuals, followed by the 2021 legislation barring depictions of homosexuality to minors. In spite of this, Karacsony pledged that the Budapest Pride march would proceed under the auspices of the local municipality and insisted that the police lacked the authority to stifle a local event.
A previous announcement from the police indicated that they would not penalize attendees who might have faced fines for their participation in the pride march. Meanwhile, an investigation is ongoing against an “unknown perpetrator” for allegedly organizing the rally. The resilience of Budapest Pride continues to signal a vibrant pushback against Orban’s legal threats, rallying crowds in celebration of the LGBTQ+ community’s rights.
