Thousands Join Budapest Pride March To Protest Anti-LGBT Policies

People attend the annual Budapest Pride march on June 22.

Carrying rainbow flags and dancing through the streets, thousands of Hungarians celebrated the annual Budapest Pride parade on June 22 and vowed to keep protesting the government's anti-LGBT policies. Prime Minister Viktor Orban, in power since 2010, promotes a Christian-conservative agenda and in 2021 banned the "promotion of homosexuality" among under-18s despite strong criticism from rights groups and the EU. Gay marriage is not recognized in Hungary and only heterosexual couples can legally adopt children. Orban's government has redefined marriage as the union between one man and one woman in the constitution and has limited gay adoption.