Orbán Aims to Silence Budapest Pride: Organizers Vow to March Anyway

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has sparked outrage across Europe after threatening to ban this year’s Budapest Pride during his annual State of the Nation address at the Várkert Bazár in Budapest.

Speaking to an invited audience, with independent media barred from attending, Orbán announced Hungary must take an “offensive” stance against what he called LGBTQ+ “propaganda.” Addressing the organizers directly, he declared: "Don’t bother preparing this year’s parade—it’s a waste of time and money.”

But Budapest Pride organizers quickly pushed back, vowing the parade will go ahead as planned. In a public statement, they emphasized that despite recent government crackdowns on fundamental rights, Hungary’s constitution still guarantees freedom of assembly and expression. "A nation’s freedom is not measured by whether the government allows opinions that align with its own, but by whether it tolerates dissenting voices,” they wrote. Refusing to be scapegoated for political gain, they declared: "We will not be silenced. If necessary, we will march with tens of thousands of people — not just for the LGBTQ+ community, but for every Hungarian’s right to protest and speak freely.”

This year’s 30th Budapest Pride Festival and Parade carries the slogan “Itt(hon) vagyunk” (“We are here (at home)”), underscoring the community’s resilience despite repeated attempts to erase, intimidate, or silence them. "Oppressive forces have tried countless times to ban our parade, always without success. They won’t succeed now either,” the organizers stated.

Legal support is also in place, with the Hungarian Helsinki Committee reaffirming that “peaceful assembly is a cornerstone of democracy” and offering legal assistance if needed, as they have in previous years. Additionally, Terézváros Mayor Tamás Soproni expressed his district’s continued support, posting: “We welcome Budapest Pride with open arms once again this summer — the most free-spirited march of them all!”

The situation echoes the 2022 EuroPride in Serbia, where Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić attempted to cancel the event citing security concerns. Yet widespread international backlash forced the government to reverse its decision, with the prime minister ultimately guaranteeing police protection for the marchers.

As Budapest Pride faces its latest challenge, global solidarity is once again proving crucial. With tens of thousands expected to march, Orbán’s threats may backfire, turning this year’s Pride into a louder, prouder, and more defiant celebration than ever before.

This article was inspired by a story originally published on Humen Online, a leading platform highlighting LGBTQ+ experiences and perspectives in Hungary.