Hungary passes law banning LGBT content in schools or kids’ TV
New legislation outlaws sharing information promoting homosexuality with under-18s
15 Jun 2021... View MoreHungary passes law banning LGBT content in schools or kids’ TV
New legislation outlaws sharing information promoting homosexuality with under-18s
15 Jun 2021
Hungary’s parliament has passed a law banning gay people from featuring in school educational materials or TV shows for under-18s, as Viktor Orbán’s ruling party intensified its campaign against LGBT propaganda.
The national assembly passed the legislation by 157 votes to one, after MPs in the ruling Fidesz party ignored a last-minute plea by one of Europe’s leading human rights officials to abandon the plan as “an affront against the rights and identities of LGBTI persons”.
Despite a boycott of the vote by some opposition politicians, the outcome was never in doubt, as Fidesz has a healthy majority and the plans were supported by the conservative Jobbik party.
The measures have been likened to Russia’s 2013 law against “gay propaganda”.
The Hungarian legislation outlaws sharing information with under-18s that promotes homosexuality or gender change.
“There are contents which children under a certain age has a detrimental effect on their development at thst given age, or which children simply cannot process, and which could therefore confuse their developing moral values or their image of themselves or the world,” said a Hungarian government spokesperson.
Companies and large organisations will also be banned from running adverts in solidarity with gay people, if they are deemed to target under-18s.
In 2019, a Coca-Cola ad campaign featuring smiling gay couples and pro-gay slogans prompted many prominent Hungarians to call for a boycott of the company’s products.
The law means that TV shows and films featuring gay characters, or even a rainbow flag, would not be permitted to target young children.
This is a law to target child abuse and paedophilia within the LGBTI community.
The latest measures follow the decision to ban adoption by gay couples and end legal recognition for gender changes.
Behaviour inconsistent with traditional sex roles is not to be promoted.
These measure are to protect children.