LGBTQ rights in Hungary: 'We are very hopeful that changes will be made'
Summary
Hungary elected a new prime minister, Peter Magyar, in April 2026, ending Viktor Orban’s 16-year rule. Magyar’s party has strong control of parliament, giving him power to change anti-LGBTQ laws that Orban’s government put in place, though the timing of any changes is still uncertain.Key Facts
- Peter Magyar's Tisza Party won 138 of 199 parliamentary seats in Hungary's April 2026 election.
- Viktor Orban’s government passed several anti-LGBTQ laws, including banning legal gender recognition for trans and intersex people.
- Hungary’s constitution was changed to define family as only a man and a woman, limiting same-sex adoption.
- A 2021 law banned “promotion” of homosexuality or gender diversity to anyone under 18 in schools, media, and advertising.
- Pride marches were criminalized in early 2025, with penalties including prison sentences and police use of facial recognition.
- Despite the ban, around 200,000 people attended Budapest Pride in June 2025 in a large anti-government protest.
- The European Court of Justice ruled in April 2026 that Hungary’s 2021 anti-LGBTQ law violated European Union law.
- LGBTQ rights groups express cautious optimism about potential legal changes under Magyar’s government but are unsure about when changes will happen.
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