Overview

• Hungarian police on June 19 invoked March’s child protection legislation to prohibit the June 28 Pride march in Budapest
• Mayor Gergely Karácsony declared the event a municipal celebration that does not require police approval and vowed to proceed
• The European Commission Justice Commissioner has said Brussels will examine the ban under EU treaties and may seek emergency measures from the European Court of Justice
• European Commissioner for Equality Hadja Lahbib and more than 70 MEPs have committed to attend the parade in solidarity with Hungary’s LGBTQ+ community
• The legislation empowering the ban allows police to use facial recognition technology on participants and impose fines of up to €500, with proceeds earmarked for child protection