Hungary's Parliament reforms controversial LGBTQ law

The Hungarian Parliament approved a bill to reform the controversial LGBTQ law on Tuesday with a two-thirds majority. This draft, submitted by the government under Prime Minister Péter Magyar, aims to remove provisions that banned the depiction of homosexuality in media accessible to minors.

According to reports, 139 representatives voted for the repeal, while 51 opposition members from Fidesz and 'Mi Hazánk' (Our Homeland) voted against the draft. The opposition criticized this measure, describing it as promoting 'LGBTQ propaganda.'

The changes to the law are partly in response to a ruling by the European Court of Justice, which deemed the previous regulations incompatible with EU law. Critics of the government, including the opposition, have expressed concerns regarding the possible impact of the reform on child protection.

Prior to the reform, the provisions of the so-called 'child protection law' heavily restricted the depiction of homosexual lifestyles in films and television shows for children. The government of Viktor Orbán introduced these regulations in 2021, leading to substantial international and national backlash.

The current reform marks a significant departure from the policies of the previous government. The measures have been described as the first notable easing of restrictions for the LGBTQ community in Hungary under Prime Minister Magyar, who took office in May of this year.

Magyar himself stated on Facebook that the voting behavior of the opposition is a 'shame' and that the reform is necessary to improve the rights of LGBTQ individuals. However, the exact implications of the law change are still being discussed in depth.