All our history is full of fighting for our freedom so we don't want this gender ideology. This, according to one of the protestors, Edda Budahazy, was the sort of thing that happened in the United Kingdom 'and we don't want to be like you'.

Judit says that two years ago, at the time of the last march, she came because she wanted to have fun but this year is different: “we felt we have to show up and show ourselves and show that no one can destroy us.”Īsked about the anti-Pride protestors along the route, she adds: “I just wish them the best.” They have attended the Budapest Pride march because they say “if there are a lot of people, we can make a difference”.Īsked whether she is optimistic about the future, Lilla says she is optimistic about the people of Hungary but not the government. They believe the government’s new laws are homophobic and stress that it’s a basic human right to love whoever you want. Lilla and Judit are a young Hungarian couple living in Budapest. Lilla Tokovics and Judit Mezö-Krizsa, Pride marchers When I spoke to some of these protestors, the bile dripped from their words, with fanciful tales of nursery-age children being driven into homosexuality, or forced into sex changes. There weren't many people at either of them, but they were loud and belligerent. The one job they did have was to separate the marchers from a couple of counter-protests. To be honest, the police mostly looked bored. They weren't exactly joining in with the party, but nor were they menacing anyone. The police presence was significant, but also unobtrusive.

She says it leaves her angry and frustrated but resolved to fight for equality for all.Īsked about the politics, she says “Orban is just starting” and that the Hungarian Prime Minister will roll back rainbow rights further, adding “enough has to be enough.” Referring to the EU’s student exchange programme, Walsh says she can’t imagine a young person from Ireland leaving home for the first time, embracing the benefits of freedom of movement in the European Union, only to have to go back into the closet. She’s determined to put an end to what she describes as “blasé discrimination” in Europe. As a lesbian and European politician, Maria Walsh MEP says it’s integral for her to show that she is physically and emotionally invested in the cause of LGBT+ rights.

What happened to victor pride