Hungary’s parliament votes to repeal most Orbán-era LGBTQ content restrictions
Lawmakers voted to remove most of the 2021 law’s restrictions on LGBTQ-related content for children, while retaining limits on sexually explicit and violent material.
Hungary’s parliament voted on October 13 to repeal most of the 2021 Child Protection Law’s restrictions on LGBTQ-related content accessible to children, in a reversal of measures introduced under former prime minister Viktor Orbán. Deutsche Welle reported that the amendments passed by 139 votes to 51; restrictions on sexually explicit or violent material accessible to under-18s remain.
What the 2021 law restricted
The law restricted the portrayal or promotion of sexual and gender diversity in material accessible to children. Deutsche Welle reported that age-appropriate books addressing these topics could be sold only in black packaging with warnings. It also reported that the European Court of Justice ruled in April 2026 that the law violated EU treaties.
Which LGBTQ rights issues remain unresolved
Tamás Dombos of Háttér Society welcomed the amendments in comments to the BBC, while saying the bill had required fixes. He identified same-sex marriage, adoption by same-sex couples and transgender people’s ability to change their official names as unresolved issues.
The BBC reported that the amendments were part of a package intended to undo legislation passed under Orbán. His Fidesz party and the Christian Democrats opposed them.
Sources and context
- Hungary: Lawmakers scrap Orban-era anti-LGBTQ+ provisionsDeutsche Welle
- Hungarian parliament scraps Orbán's anti-LGBTQ measuresBBC News
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