Hungary Repeals Anti-LGBTQI+ Provisions

Hungary’s parliament has removed key restrictions on LGBTQI+ representation introduced under Viktor Orbán, however legal barriers affecting LGBTQI+ people remain.

Hungary’s parliament voted on 13 October to repeal anti-LGBTQI+ provisions in the country’s 2021 Child Protection Law, reversing a key element of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s campaign against LGBTQI+ visibility. The amendment passed with 139 votes in favour and 51 against, according to Hungarian outlet Telex.

The original law prohibited the portrayal or promotion of homosexuality and gender transition in content accessible to people under 18. Introduced under the guise of child protection, the restrictions affected education, advertising, media and access to books featuring LGBTQI+ characters.

Under the revised legislation, restrictions will focus on material considered seriously harmful to children’s development, including sexually explicit content, exploitation and abuse, rather than prohibiting references to sexual orientation or gender diversity.

The change follows an April ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union, which found that Hungary’s legislation violated EU law and contributed to the stigmatisation and marginalisation of LGBTQI+ people. The new government, led by Péter Magyar, has presented the amendments as part of a broader effort to dismantle elements of Orbán’s political legacy.

‘Only the first step’

Hungarian LGBTQI+ rights organisation Háttér Society welcomed the parliamentary vote, describing it as an important achievement after years of campaigning against the law.

In a statement published on 14 October, the organisation said it was happy the provisions had been repealed but stressed that the decision was only the first step towards equality. It called for further legislative changes to address what it described as the exclusionary legacy of the Orbán government.

The concerns extend beyond LGBTQI+ representation in schools and the media. Hungary still restricts legal gender recognition for transgender people, while same-sex couples face barriers to adoption. Other provisions affecting LGBTQI+ public gatherings also remain in place.

In September, Human Rights Watch warned that the proposed reforms would leave discriminatory provisions untouched, including constitutional language and restrictions under the Freedom of Assembly Act that have been used against Pride events. The organisation urged the government to address these remaining barriers. 

The repeal comes after years of confrontation over LGBTQI+ rights in Hungary. In 2025, Budapest Pride went ahead despite the Orbán government’s attempt to ban it, drawing a mass turnout. The march became a prominent demonstration of resistance to restrictions on freedom of assembly and LGBTQI+ visibility.

For activists, the latest vote represents a meaningful reversal of a law that helped legitimise discrimination. Yet the removal of restrictions on representation does not automatically guarantee equal rights in family life, legal recognition or public space.

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