As Mayor of Budapest, how do you see the current state of LGBTQIA+ rights in your city/region and in the EU, especially in face of growing attacks and democratic backsliding?
In Budapest and Hungary two completely opposite processes are underway. Our society is becoming more accepting of members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Meanwhile, in politics and government policy, they are a constant topic of contention. On the other hand, the general public is becoming more and more accepting in Hungary too, particularly in Budapest. Societal acceptance of same-sex marriage, of adoption by same-sex couples, as well as social acceptance of LGBTQIA+ minorities in general are continuously growing in Hungary and Budapest – even if this may be happening because the government is speaking against various minority groups. Not only have members of sexual minorities been victims or a political target in recent years, so have, for example, homeless people, immigrants, the European Union, or just about anything else that the government’s rhetoric somehow finds in conflict with some vaguely formulated national interest. For the vast majority of Hungarian citizens, it is obvious that it is our national interest to remain a European democracy where different social groups are accepted. It is in the national interest of Hungary to ensure that it is not hate, but rather love and acceptance that flourish.
Luckily, the government’s inflammatory political tools are increasingly ineffective and are starting to become ridiculous. It is ridiculous, for example, that bookshops must seal books that talk about accepting LGBTQIA+ minorities. In this context, the autobiography of Pope Francis was also seal-packaged. The government’s forced homophobic referendum became bizarre too, as it was set to happen on the same day as the parliamentary elections, yet they didn’t succeed in having it validated. The banning of Pride has also become ridiculous as, for example, 78% of Budapest residents disagree with that decision.
At the same time, though these instruments are ridiculous, they feel very serious to members of LGBTQIA+ minorities. Fear-mongering in specific social groups is a policy that we must strongly reject, and while it is fortunately ineffective, we must still act against it.
Are there any practical progressive measures your city/region has taken to protect and promote the rights, safety, and visibility of LGBTQIA+ people? How do you see the role of progressive cities and regions in standing up for LGBTQIA+ rights - not just locally, but as a counterforce to national inaction?
Education, training, and social institutions that effectively support LGBTQIA+ people are currently not operating with the support of the city council. That’s why we focus, above all, on political support. Each year, together with the organisers of Budapest Pride, we organize joint programmes –such as cultural events that promote the acceptance of LGBTQIA+ minorities. This will be particularly important as we mark the 30th anniversary of Budapest Pride. For the past 30 years, we have celebrated Pride in Budapest and we will commemorate it with a major international conference this June. Despite recent changes to the law on public assemblies aiming to ban the Pride march, we are determined to hold the 30th Budapest Pride, together with its organisers. And every European democrat is happily looking forward to this. Unfortunately, Hungary has suffered from the restrictive policy on gatherings for 15 years. This is no longer just Hungary’s problem, as more and more EU Member States are adopting similar policies, based not on cooperation or on acceptance, but instead on hatred. It is therefore crucial that local governments and city administrations push back against this trend. Large cities are very diverse, home to all kinds of people living side by side, and it is much easier to accept each other as we are. While cities can never be islands, I don’t like it when we find ourselves in confrontation with rural areas and smaller towns. Cities can be leading advocates/torchbearers for the policies that led to the creation of the European Union. That's why city leaders have a vital role to play: never to give in to the public sentiment, but to stand alongside fellow human beings who defend the values we proudly share as European citizens.
With Pride marches being banned and LGBTQIA+ communities targeted in some EU countries, what should the EU do to defend LGBTQIA+ rights and democracy?
The Hungarian Parliament's attempt to make Pride impossible in Hungary and to ban the Budapest Pride march is not just about Budapest or Hungary, it is also a big challenge for the European Union. Does the European Union make sense if one Member State can restrict one of our most natural and fundamental rights – the right to assembly? If this happens in any Member State of the European Union, it raises serious questions about whether the EU is sufficiently and effectively protecting the very values it was founded to promote. This case is therefore not just about Hungary, not just about Budapest. It is about the European Union. It is about whether the EU is simply an economic cooperation between national governments, or a union of the peoples and societies of Europe. If the European Union allows a Member State to restrict peoples’ fundamental rights to this extent, it means that it will have first- and second-class citizens. If that happens, then the very essence of the European Union will be called into question. That is why I believe the EU must learn how to stand up to situations like this. We need tools that guarantee that basic human rights of all European citizens are respected. The European Union must stand up to this situation, or risk losing its moral authority. On May 9, we celebrated the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. It is no coincidence that May 9 is Europe Day. On this historic anniversary, we were reminded that the European Union has no future if it is merely a political alliance of national governments or an economic association. The European Union only has a future as an ally to the people of Europe: if it stands for prosperity, human dignity and peace.
