Roderic O’Gorman: Budapest Pride was a rebuke to Orbán, we must keep an eye on his response

Corrosive, ignorant and hate-filled commentary saturates our online discussion spaces, with our trans community being particular targets. This is not spontaneous or manifest of real public opinion - it is by design of the few who seek to manipulate the many, writes Roderic O’Gorman

The LGBT+ Community were joined by tens of thousands of ordinary Hungarians, young and old, single and in families, in a vast show of solidarity in Budapest on Saturday. Photo: AP/Rudolf Karancsi

On Saturday afternoon, I joined up to 200,000 Hungarian citizens who took to the streets of Budapest to show that the attacks by prime minister Viktor Orbán on the gay, lesbian and trans community would be tolerated no more. 

In 30 degree heat, this enormous crowd slowly walked the 2.5km Pride Parade route, from the City Hall, crossing the gigantic Elizabeth bridge, and finishing along the west bank of the Danube river. There were so many people, it took over three hours to cover the short route.