The Hungarian Government stands by Gay People

July 20th. 2009

The Hungarian Minister of Justice and Law Enforcement, Tibor Draskovics promised to provide the participants of the coming Gay Pride March with full police protection. He also invited the members of the Szivárvány Misszió foundation – the group organizing the 14th Budapest Pride Festival and March - to a meeting on July 20th. 2009. Earlier, László Sólyom, the Hungarian president rejected the idea of meeting with the LGBT Alliance (which represents several GLBT organizations in Hungary) with refererring to his busy schedule (see http://www.budapestpride.hu/en/hungarian-president-refuses-to-stand-for-...). ”The police will take strong measures so that gay people like anyone else protected by the Hungarian Constitution can freely express their opinions and their belonging to a community” – said Draskovics on July 20th at the ministry building.

The meeting was initiated by Draskovics himself after Sólyom’s refusal to discuss with the LGBT Alliance the measures needed to take in order to ensure gay people’s right to assembly, after László Sólyom refused to stand up publicly in support of GLBT people.

Draskovics added, ”I hope that the majority of people will respect the rights of everyone and let those people celebrate proudly who want to celebrate their pride in being gay”. According to the Minister of Justice and Law Enforcement the atrocities commited against gay people at the Gay Pride Marches of the last few years are unacceptable because in Hungary everyone has an equal right to human dignity, a right it is the duty of the state to protect. ”The police’s reason for protecting Gay Pride March is not because it favors gay people more than anyone else but because in Hungary everyone has the right to express political opinion, and their belonging to an organization, to a lifestyle or community” – he said.

At the joint press conference Sándor Steigler, in name of the Szivárvány Misszió Foundation, said he is glad that the Hungarian government supports their rights as well as the September 5th Gay Pride Dignity March.

The meeting was especially important because on June 14th the movement Jobbik Magyarországért (Movement for a Better Hungary), the Magyar Gárda (Hungarian Guard), and other extreme right-wing organizations agreed to prevent the Gay Pride March by any means necessary.

The Hungarian GLBT Alliance is content with the ministerial announcement since providing equal rights and personal safety is one of the most important principles of democratic countries.