New Hungarian law could ban Pride events – majority of EU countries urge rethink

The country’s ‘child protection’ legislation prohibits the ‘depiction or promotion’ of homosexuality to minors aged under 18 (Omar Havana/AP)

A group of 17 European Union countries has called on Hungary to revise a new law that allows the government to ban public events by LGBT+ communities, as pressure mounts on the country’s populist government over democratic backsliding.

Countries including EU heavyweights France, Germany and Spain expressed concern, in a declaration, that the law passed in April allows for fines on people organising or taking part in Pride events, and the use of facial recognition software to identify them.