In brief
Hungary’s parliament passed a package of amendments that scrapped the 2021 child‑protection law, which had effectively banned the portrayal or promotion of homosexuality and transgender identities. The move was hailed by LGBTQ and civil‑rights groups as a reversal of Viktor Orbán’s hard‑line policy and a sign that the Tisza government is undoing the previous administration’s legacy. Parliament also voted to release EU funds that had been frozen because of rule‑of‑law breaches, signalling a mending relationship with Brussels. While activists welcome the change, they say further reforms are needed, including recognition of same‑sex marriage, equal parental rights and the ability for transgender people to change legal names. The announcement comes after the 2025 Budapest Pride march proceeded without restriction, challenging the Orbán government’s earlier attempts to ban the event.
Hungary’s parliament has approved a sweeping amendment to the 2021 child‑protection law that once prohibited the portrayal or promotion of homosexuality or transgender identities. The change is the first major reversal of Viktor Orbán’s hard‑line anti‑LGBTQ policy since he left office, and it marks a clear break in rhetoric by the new Tisza administration.
Civil‑rights organisations welcomed the decision, calling it an important step toward de‑stigmatizing sexual minorities. “We are very happy that this got adopted,” said Tamás Dombos of the Háttér Association, noting that the previous law had limited the scope of education, public assembly and media coverage relating to LGBTQ people.
Alongside the legal reboot, Hungarian MPs voted to lift the frozen €4.2 bn of EU funds tied to rule‑of‑law breaches during the Fidesz era. The European Commission had urged unlocking the money and readmitting Hungary to Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe programmes, a move that signals a mending relationship with Brussels.
The 2021 law had far‑reaching impacts, curtailing the inclusion of LGBTQ content in school curricula and restricting protest rights. Although the repeal removes the criminal provisions, activists say further reforms are required—namely the full recognition of same‑sex marriage, adoption rights for same‑sex couples, and the ability for transgender citizens to change legal names.
The reversal came after the 2025 Budapest Pride march moved forward largely unimpeded, a bold challenge to Orbán’s earlier promises to ban the event. While the new government is still cautious, the removal of the child‑protection law is seen as a milestone in Hungary’s gradual shift toward a more inclusive society.
