Hungary Repeals Controversial Anti-LGBTQ+ Law Enacted Under Orban

Hungary's new government, led by Prime Minister Peter Magyar, took its first legislative step to dismantle anti-LGBTQ+ laws enacted under long-serving former Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The newly elected parliament, dominated by Magyar's Tisza party, voted 139 to 51 to repeal a controversial 2021 law that banned the depiction of homosexuality and gender diversity among minors under the guise of child protection.

The European Union swiftly welcomed the move, praising it as a crucial signal of Hungary's commitment to shared European values. Despite being a conservative politician who previously spent years in Orban's Fidesz party before defecting over corruption concerns, Magyar framed the repeal as a necessary step to comply with EU law. He emphasized that the changes aim to strengthen general child protection rules without targeting specific sexual orientations.

Since securing a historic two-thirds supermajority in April, Magyar's administration has moved aggressively to dismantle the political and legal architecture built by Orban during his 16-year tenure. While the repeal of the 2021 law aligns Hungary with a recent ruling by the European Court of Justice, civil rights advocates note that significant hurdles remain. Transgender individuals still lack legal recognition of their gender identity, and same-sex couples remain barred from adopting children in the country.