BUDAPEST — Hungary's government presented a bill to Parliament on Sept. 14 seeking to repeal restrictions that banned the "promotion of homosexuality" to those under 18 years of age.
The legislation targets rules enacted by Viktor Orban's nationalist government, which held power for 16 years before losing an April election to Prime Minister Peter Magyar.
Orban's government passed the restrictions in 2021, banning the "display and promotion of homosexuality" and gender change within media content accessible to minors. Officials said the measures protected children.
The law drew criticism from international rights groups and the European Union. In April, the EU's top court ruled that the Hungarian restrictions violated EU law and contributed to the stigmatization and marginalization of gay and transgender people.
Following the court decision, Justice Minister Marta Gorog said in May that Hungary would need to revise its legislation regarding access to LGBTQ+ content.
Magyar has pledged to improve Hungary's relationship with the EU, viewing changes to democratic standards and minority rights protections as essential to integration. The new bill replaces the specific prohibitions on LGBTQ+ content with language banning materials that can "seriously impair the child's physical, intellectual, emotional or moral development." It focuses on pornographic and age-inappropriate sexual content, sexual exploitation and abuse of children, and sexual solicitation and manipulation.
On Sept. 12, Magyar also announced plans to change rules that have effectively prevented gay adoption in Hungary.
