MPs in EU country vote to ban LGBTQ parades

The Hungarian parliament has passed a law that effectively bans LGBTQ pride events nationwide. Opposition members attempted to derail the vote on Tuesday by setting off smoke bombs within the chamber.

Passed in a 136-27 vote, the law broadens an existing ban on exposing minors to LGBTQ-themed content to encompass public assemblies. It also grants police the authority to film attendees for identification. Participants of outlawed gatherings face potential fines exceeding $500 under the new regulations.

The legislation was fast-tracked through an expedited process just a day after its introduction. Support came primarily from the ruling Fidesz party and its minority coalition partner, the Christian Democrats.

In a last-ditch effort to thwart the bill, opposition lawmakers set off colored smoke bombs, blasted Soviet-era music from speakers, and otherwise disrupted the session.

Following the approval of the law, thousands of protesters gathered outside the parliament, marching through central Budapest and ultimately blocking traffic on the Margaret Bridge, the second-largest in the city. Police reported two arrests amid resistance, though the demonstration remained largely peaceful.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been a vocal critic of LGBTQ “ideology,” viewing it as a threat to Hungary’s conservative Christian values and as a mechanism employed by globalist elites to undermine nation-states.

Detractors argue that Hungary is experiencing a decline in democratic principles under Orban’s leadership. Organizers of Budapest Pride, seen as a primary target of the new ban, have accused the prime minister of imposing “fascism” on the country.