EU countries decry Hungary's Pride ban as Brussels considers legal action

[Lori Dee]

EU countries decry Hungary's Pride ban as Brussels considers legal action
Link to Full Article
Euro News - Jorge Liboreiro
Published on 17/04/2025

Hungary is facing the ire of its fellow member states after the country's parliament approved a law that prohibits the Pride parade.

The political backlash against Hungary's new law banning the public celebration of Pride parades continues to intensify, with a growing number of countries coming forward to denounce the legislation as an attack against human rights and the right to assembly.

Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, the so-called Benelux countries, issued a statement of condemnation during an informal meeting of equality ministers on Wednesday, several diplomats told Euronews.

The Dutch minister spoke on behalf of the group.

"We are concerned about the laws passed in Hungary that undermine LGBTIQ+ rights and restrict the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression," they said.

"Respecting and protecting the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all people, including LGBTIQ+ people, is inherent in being part of the European family. It is our responsibility and shared by the member states and the European institutions."

Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden supported the Benelux statement.

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We are not alone in this fight. People around the world with common sense are speaking out.

[Sephirah]

We are not alone in this fight. People around the world with common sense are speaking out.

Yeah... that's the thing. People have faced, and fought discrimination many times in the past. Put under the heel until smarter heads prevailed and realised that you know, it's not a good idea to go all Lord of the Flies. We are living in a world where most people want to just retreat into their shells and pretend the world isn't happening. Which is just dumb. But it will pass. As it has passed before. Eventually people realise that human rights matter. Not the rights of an outspoken author who has alienated most of the people who originally liked her.

Because you try and silence a group of people, that doesn't make them not exist. I would think feminists would understand that most of all. But they're okay as long as they get their win. Like all people are okay as long as they get their win. For all the kindness in the world, there is as much insecurity and antagonism. Because it's always easier to blame someone else.

These times, especially. It's like the whole world has gone mad. I suspect there is a lot of riding the coat tails of the Orange-utan. It won't always be like this. Especially since we have found the strongest evidence to date that we are not alone in the universe. Makes our petty squabbles seem a bit... well... petty.