Anti-LGBTQ+ Hungarian PM named ‘king of Budapest pride’

Right-wing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has been named the ‘king of Pride’ after the country saw its largest–ever parade in Budapest in response to his anti-LGBTQ+ ban on the event.

The right-wing Fidesz party, which has seen Viktor Orbán as the European country’s Prime Minister since 2010, passed an anti-LGBTQ+ law banning Pride marches in Hungary in March this year on the grounds that the depiction of homosexuality was a threat to minors.

The ban, which was met by protests from opposition politicians and members of the public alike, proposed fines of up to 200,000 forints (£420/$550) for organisers of Budapest Pride, and anyone attending, claiming the event could be considered harmful to children.

In further response to the Hungary Pride ban, tens of thousands took to the streets of Budapest to defy Orbán over the weekend (28 June), including the city’s Mayor, Gergely Karácsony.

The event ended up being the country’s largest-ever parade by some way, far outnumbering the expected turnout of 35,000 – 40,000 people.

“We believe there are 180,000 to 200,000 people attending,” the president of Pride, Viktória Radványi told AFP (via The Guardian). “It is hard to estimate because there have never been so many people at Budapest Pride.”

Orbán’s political opponent, Péter Magyar, who leads the TISZA party, did not miss the opportunity to point out the irony of Orbán’s ban leading to the country’s largest ever Pride.

“Viktor Orbán became the king of Pride in Europe yesterday, because no one else has ever managed to mobilise such a large crowd for a demonstration against himself by inciting hatred,” Magyar wrote in a social media post.

Hungary’s fast-tracked ban made it an offence to hold or attend events that involve the “depiction or promotion” of homosexuality to minors. It also allows authorities to use facial recognition to identify people at Pride events.

According to Euro News, Orbán called the event “disgusting and shameful,” and claimed that neighbouring European country Brussels had “issued an order that there must be a Pride in Budapest.”

He added that a Pride parade “do[es] not fit into Hungarian culture”.

Before the parade, Orbán warned of “legal consequences” for attendees.

Mayor Karácsony told The Guardian: “The government is always fighting against an enemy against which they have to protect Hungarian people,” said Karácsony.

“This time, it is sexual minorities that are the target … we believe there should be no first and second class citizens, so we decided to stand by this event.”

After more than 3 hours we are still marching for equality and freedom at @budapestpride . This is easily the biggest Pride and perhaps biggest demonstration ever. #LetPrideMarch pic.twitter.com/MwkjcZuTuX

— Amnesty Hungary (@AmnestyHungary) June 28, 2025

Before the parade, Máté Hegedűs, a spokesperson for Budapest Pride, said it was the “constitutional right” of every Hungarian to “gather peacefully, to be together, and to march for our human dignity and our fundamental rights.”

“That’s what we will do on 28 June,” he added. “Courageously, authentically, organising our community.

“This fight is not only for the LGBTQ+ community, but for everyone. Together with Budapest, we will defend ourselves and those who are now afraid, those who are now silent, those who are now in danger. Civil society, Hungarian citizens. We will be the voice.”

In April, more than 10,000 protestors came together for what was the third major demonstration against Orbán following the passing of the Pride ban bill.

22 embassies, including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, signed an open letter expressing significant concern over the Pride ban, saying it restricts “on the right of peaceful assembly and the freedom of expression.”

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