A new law recently approved by the Hungarian government could result in same-sex families facing the consequences for allegedly violating the nation’s constitutionally recognised definition of marriage and family.
The law, which Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén proposed in February 2023, allows citizens to report same-sex families with children to local authorities for breaching Hungary’s constitution, with delineates marriage as an institution between one man and one woman while also stating that “the mother is a woman, the father is a man.”
The bill includes numerous clauses outlining measures for authorities to investigate complaints in various areas, including workplace misconduct. It will now be sent to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s office and is expected to be signed into law soon.
This latest move is another step towards excluding LGBTQ+ individuals in the Central European nation. It follows France and Germany joining international efforts to counteract Hungary’s recent wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.
In 2022, the Hungarian government enacted a censorship law banning all queer content for individuals under 18, prompting several EU member states to initiate legal action against the country.
Fifteen EU member states, including France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, and Finland, have joined the EU Commission’s infringement lawsuit. The commission stated that the EU, which Hungary joined in 2004, has “no place for discrimination” and accused Orbán of violating “several EU human rights laws and values.”
Some EU members have suggested that Hungary should be expelled from the union if it continues to defy human rights laws. While not all countries joined the lawsuit, many have supported the legal proceedings and the commission’s commitment to LGBTQ+ rights.
Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský expressed regret that his country could not join the lawsuit. However, he emphasised that it would not back down on the issue.
In contrast, Hungarian Foreign Affairs State Secretary Tamás Menczer told the Czech Republic to “keep your hands off Hungarian children.”
According to a 2021 Ipsos survey, approximately 66% of Hungarians support same-sex marriage. However, the nation remains divided on LGBTQ+ rights, with 40% of respondents in the 2017-2020 World Values survey stating that same-sex couples should not be parents.
Last Updated on Apr 17, 2023
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