Hungary’s Parliament passed a new law banning LGBTQIA and pride events in public and also authorized the use of facial recognition technology to identify those attending such festivals.
The legislature got a 136 to 27 vote and was signed into law by Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Tuesday, as the country cracked down on LGBT activities. It however brought thousands protesting in the streets of Budapest, blocking vehicular traffic and the famous Danube’s Margaret Bridge.
LGBT activists interpreted the move as going against the freedom of the LGBTQ community in Hungary and spearheaded by Viktor Orban who was passed as an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump. The opposition also claimed that the LGBTQ law was aimed at silencing critics of the current administration.
A video of the moment the law was passed saw the opposition let out smoke bombs as protests rent the air. Proponents of the law said it was based on Hungary’s Child Protection law that prohibits the “depiction or promotion” of homosexuality to minors under the age of 18 years old.
Individuals found breaking the law would be ordered to pay 200,000 Hungarian forints, equivalent to $546, to “child protection”.
Hungary has been at the center of debate as regards issues on LGBT and children in the European Union. The country has been heavily criticized for its child protection law which prohibits the mentioning of LGBTQIA in schools and other educational programs for kids. The law also bans the depiction of LGBTQ in any electronic or print media that will be made available to children and carries a heavy fine for defaulters.
