Budapest Pride

In recent years, the LGBTIQ+ community came under a lot of pressure in Hungary. Since 2019, adoption by same-sex couples and the legal change of gender were banned by the Hungarian Parliament. Since July 2021, Hungarian law prohibits the promotion of LGBTIQ+ equality in places where children might be, such as schools, through a so-called anti-propaganda law. Forbidden Colours was internationally the leading organisation advocating against this law – which led to the start of an infringement procedure by the European Commission against the Hungarian government. 

Despite the political pressure, Budapest Pride continues to grow stronger year after year. When organising their Pride parade in June 2021 in the Hungarian capital, more than 35,000 people took part. The organiser, Viktoria Radvanyi, won the EMA for the Generation Change category at the MTV European Music Awards. Budapest Pride is one of the most visible LGBTIQ+ organisations in Hungary and Europe.

Throughout the year 2022, Forbidden Colours, with the financial support of the Brussels Capital Region, will provide financial support and consultancy to further professionalise Budapest Pride’s operations.