Despite the government ban, thousands of people marched in Hungarian capital, highlighting EU-wide resistance to anti-LGBTQ laws.
A record number of people are expected to attend the Pride march in Budapest, the Hungarian capital, violates a ban that marks an unprecedented return of LGBTQ rights in the European Union.
The event on Saturday comes after the coalition of Prime Minister Victor Orban earlier this year, following the law and constitutional amendments to the annual celebrations. The Orban government has consistently argued that the law defends traditional family values and protects children.
The Prime Minister has been encouraged by the anti-diversity attacks of US President Donald Trump, but his own initiative has protested at home, eliciting criticism from the EU and rights groups.
Nationalist leaders on Friday said police will not “disband” the 30th edition of the Pride March, but those who participated should be aware of “legal consequences.”
Despite the risk of fines, more than 35,000 people are expected to gather at 2pm (12:00 GMT) near Budapest City Hall, an hour before March begins.
Several EU countries and dozens of European politician ministers are expected to attend against bans reminiscent of events in Moscow in 2006 and in 2015 in Istanbul.
“We are not just standing up for ourselves… If this law has not been reversed, Eastern Europe could face a wave of similar measures,” said Pride Organizer Victoria Radvanini.
Earlier this week, the chief of EU Ursula von der Leyen called on Hungarian authorities to reverse the ban.
Thirty-three countries also spoke in support of the march.
Parade organizers take up to a year of risk in prison, but participants can face fines of up to 500 euros ($580). The latest legal changes will allow authorities to use facial recognition technology to identify those participating.
The newly installed cameras appear on the lamppost along the planned route of the march.
But Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacsony argued that attendees cannot face retaliation as this time a co-organised march at city hall was a city event and does not require police approval.
“Tomorrow, the police have only one task. That’s a serious job, to ensure the safety of the Hungarian and European citizens participating in the event,” Kalaksony said during a briefing on visiting EU equality Commissioner Hajja Rabib.
The far-right group announced multiple opponents along the planned route of the procession.
This week, Justice Minister Bens Tudsson sent a letter to the EU embassy to warn diplomats and staff not to join because of the police ban.
Several EU countries have notified citizens of possible fines through travel advisories.
Since Orban gained power in 2010, 9.6 million countries have steadily rolled back LGBTQ rights.
Legal changes effectively prohibit same-sex couples from adopting children, preventing transgender people from changing their names and gender in official documents, and the 2021 law prohibits homosexual “disclosure and promotion” for those under the age of 18.
In March, politicians passed a bill targeting the annual Pride March, amending the 2021 law to prohibit rallies that violate that provision.
A month later, Congress also adopted constitutional changes to strengthen the legal foundation of the ban.
“Olban is employing proven recipes by causing conflict ahead of next year’s election,” political analyst Daniel Micketts told news agency AFP. Orban “biased society,” he added.
Polls of voters suggest that Orban’s Fides party has lost ground to the opposition.
The first Pride March took place in New York in 1970 and created the gay rights movement in June 1969 to commemorate the anniversary of the city’s Stonewall riots.
